Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) is a combination medication that contains two first-choice options for lowering blood pressure. This medication is taken by mouth once daily. Like other blood pressure medications, Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) can cause you to feel dizzy, especially when you first start this medication or when your provider raises your dose.
Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) is a combination of two medications that work together to lower blood pressure:
| Common Brands | Hyzaar |
|---|---|
| Drug Class | ARB / Diuretic (water pill) combo |
| Controlled Substance Classification | Not a controlled medication |
| Generic Status | Lower-cost generic available |
| Availability | Prescription only |
The following side effects may get better over time as your body gets used to the medication. Let your healthcare provider know immediately if you continue to experience these symptoms or if they worsen over time.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you experience any of the following.
Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention.
Check with your doctor immediately if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare
Black, tarry stools
blood in the urine or stools
cough or hoarseness accompanied by chills or fever, lower back or side pain, or painful or difficult urination
fainting
pinpoint red spots on the skin
pounding heartbeat
severe stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting
skin rash
swelling of the feet or lower legs
unusual bleeding or bruising
Incidence not known
Bleeding gums
blistering, peeling, loosening of the skin
blurred vision
chest pain or tightness
chills
coma
confusion
dark-colored urine
decreased frequency of urine
decreased urine output
difficulty swallowing
dizziness
fast, irregular, pounding, or racing heartbeat or pulse
increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight
increased thirst
irritability
joint or muscle pain
large, flat, blue, or purplish patches in the skin
large, hive-like swelling on the face, eyelids, lips, tongue, throat, hands, legs, feet, or sex organs
light-colored stools
loss of appetite
lower back or side pain
muscle cramps, pain, spasms, stiffness, or twitching
nausea or vomiting
numbness or tingling in the hands, feet, or lips
painful knees and ankles
persistent non-healing sore
pink growth
puffiness or swelling of the eyelids or around the eyes, face, lips, or tongue
raised red swellings on the skin, the buttocks, legs, or ankles
red, irritated eyes
red skin lesions, often with a purple center
reddish patch or irritated area
redness or other discoloration of the skin
restlessness
seizures
severe sunburn
shiny bump
sores, ulcers, or white spots in the mouth or on the lips
swelling of the face, ankles, or hands
trouble breathing
upper right abdominal or stomach pain
unusual tiredness or weakness
weak or irregular heartbeat
white, yellow or waxy scar-like area
yellow eyes and skin
Some side effects may occur that usually do not need medical attention. These side effects may go away during treatment as your body adjusts to the medicine. Also, your health care professional may be able to tell you about ways to prevent or reduce some of these side effects. Check with your health care professional if any of the following side effects continue or are bothersome or if you have any questions about them:
Rare
Incidence not known
Acid or sour stomach
belching
change or loss of taste
difficulty having a bowel movement (stool)
general feeling of discomfort or illness
inability to have or keep an erection
indigestion
loss in sexual ability, desire, drive, or performance
trouble sleeping
Other side effects not listed may also occur in some patients. If you notice any other effects, check with your healthcare professional.
Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to the FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) can cause some serious health issues. This risk may be even higher for certain groups. If this worries you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist about other options.
Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) shouldn't be taken by pregnant females because it can cause severe harm and even death to unborn babies. If you find out that you're pregnant while taking Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide), stop and let your provider know right away. If you're pregnant before starting Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) or thinking of becoming pregnant during treatment, discuss with your provider about safer options to treat your blood pressure.
Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) can cause your blood pressure to drop too much, which can make you feel dizzy, tired, or lightheaded. This side effect is more common when you first start Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) or when the dose is raised. Make sure to stay well-hydrated. If your blood pressure drops too much and you feel dizzy, make sure to sit down slowly while holding onto something and let your provider know. If you fall and hit your head, get medical help right away. If you feel dizzy, lightheaded, faint, tired, or confused while taking Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide), contact your provider right away.
Sometimes, Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) can affect your kidneys and cause them to not work as well. The risk is higher for people who have certain types of kidney problems, such as renal artery stenosis or very severe heart failure. Your provider might order lab tests every so often to make sure your kidneys are healthy and working properly. If you develop kidney problems, or if your kidney problems worsen while taking Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide), your provider might recommend that you stop taking this medication. Let your provider know if you're urinating less often than usual, as this could be a sign that your kidneys aren't working as well.
Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) can affect the level of certain electrolytes in your body, including sodium, potassium, and magnesium. Your provider might order bloodwork regularly while you're taking this medication to make sure your electrolyte levels are in a safe range. Let your provider know if you experience a fast heart beat, weakness, low energy, muscle pain or cramps, less urination than usual, nausea, or vomiting. These can be signs of electrolyte changes in your body.
In addition, hydrochlorothiazide can change the way your body responds to blood sugar. It can also raise your cholesterol levels. Your provider might also check your blood sugar and cholesterol levels regularly while you're taking this medication.
Though rare, some people experience vision changes within hours or weeks after starting Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) because of the hydrochlorothiazide part of the medication. Tell your provider right away about any vision changes or eye pain and stop taking Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) as soon as possible. In some cases, surgery might be required to avoid permanent vision loss.
Rarely, Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) can cause worsening of or new lupus. Let your provider know if you notice a rash across your cheeks and nose or feel very tired.
Although certain medicines should not be used together at all, in other cases two different medicines may be used together even if an interaction might occur. In these cases, your doctor may want to change the dose, or other precautions may be necessary. When you are taking this medicine, it is especially important that your healthcare professional know if you are taking any of the medicines listed below. The following interactions have been selected on the basis of their potential significance and are not necessarily all-inclusive.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is not recommended. Your doctor may decide not to treat you with this medication or change some of the other medicines you take.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines is usually not recommended, but may be required in some cases. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Using this medicine with any of the following medicines may cause an increased risk of certain side effects, but using both drugs may be the best treatment for you. If both medicines are prescribed together, your doctor may change the dose or how often you use one or both of the medicines.
Contraindications are specific health conditions or situations in which a person should not take a medication due to safety concerns. If you have any of the following conditions or if any of the following apply to you, let your healthcare provider know because Hyzaar (losartan / hydrochlorothiazide) will not be safe for you to take.
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The two medications that make up Hyzaar are both first-choice medication options for treating high blood pressure. In clinical studies of people with high blood pressure, Hyzaar worked better at lowering blood pressure than either losartan or hydrochlorothiazide alone. Keep in mind that though you can't directly feel the effects of blood pressure medications, controlling your blood pressure with Hyzaar helps to prevent severe and life-threatening heart problems that can come from high blood pressure, such as heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.
Typically, providers prescribe Hyzaar for people who've already been taking either losartan (Cozaar), hydrochlorothiazide, or another blood pressure medication. But they might consider switching a person to Hyzaar if their blood pressure isn't well-controlled by a single blood pressure medication. Or providers might prescribe Hyzaar for people who have been taking and are responding well to losartan (Cozaar) and hydrochlorothiazide, but want a combination medication for convenience. Hyzaar isn't typically recommended for people who are newly diagnosed with high blood pressure. But if your blood pressure is severely high and you haven't taken a blood pressure medication before, your provider might consider Hyzaar for you.
In general, it's not completely clear when the best time of day to take blood pressure medications is. Some studies show taking them at night can control blood pressure better, which results in a lower risk of severe heart problems. But, this effect hasn't been consistent with other studies. Hyzaar contains hydrochlorothiazide, which can make you urinate to get rid of extra fluid and lower your blood pressure. Some people prefer to take Hyzaar in the morning rather than at night so they can avoid waking up several times throughout the night to go to the bathroom. You should take Hyzaar at the same time every day so the levels of medication in your body stay consistent.
Let your provider know if you're allergic to sulfa-containing medications. The hydrochlorothiazide in Hyzaar contains sulfonamide, a sulfa medication. However, not all sulfa medications trigger the same allergic reaction. If you had a reaction to sulfa-containing antibiotics, such as sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (Bactrim), it's unlikely that you'll be allergic to Hyzaar. However, it's still best to check with your provider if you can take this medication.
No. Both medications in Hyzaar have risks for unborn babies. Losartan can cause severe harm to your unborn baby by interfering with their kidney development and health if taken during the second or third trimesters of pregnancy, which can be life-threatening. Hydrochlorothiazide can raise the risk of low platelets or jaundice in babies born to mothers who take it during pregnancy. Additionally, animal studies show that Hyzaar can pass into breast milk, though it's not clear how this might affect the nursing baby. If you're pregnant, thinking of getting pregnant, or breastfeeding and are taking Hyzaar, contact your provider right away. Your provider will likely prescribe you a different medication that's safer during pregnancy.
