Losartan
Losartan Dosages: Your GoodRx Guide
Key takeaways:
Losartan (Cozaar, Arbli) is a common medication used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). It’s also prescribed to lower the risk of stroke and help protect the kidneys in certain people.
The usual starting dose of losartan is 50 mg once daily for adults. If you’re living with liver problems or taking a diuretic (water pill), your starting dose may be lower.
Losartan is available as a lower-cost generic medication. GoodRx can help you save over 70% off the average retail price at certain pharmacies.
Losartan (Cozaar, Arbli) is a medication that treats high blood pressure (hypertension) and other medical conditions. In 2022, it was one of the most prescribed medications in the U.S.
Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). It works by blocking angiotensin II (a protein) from binding to specific receptors in the body. Usually, angiotensin II causes your blood vessels to tighten and narrow, which can increase blood pressure. Blocking it relaxes your blood vessels, which helps lower your blood pressure and increase blood flow in the body. Losartan and other ARBs also have many other positive effects, including protecting the heart and kidneys.
Taking losartan properly can help you get the most from your medication. Below, we’ll cover the FDA-approved losartan dosages. Keep in mind that you should follow your prescriber’s instructions for taking losartan, even if it’s different from what’s discussed below.
Losartan comes in 25 mg, 50 mg, and 100 mg oral tablets. The maximum recommended losartan dosage is 100 mg per day for its approved uses in adults. Losartan is sometimes prescribed off-label for heart failure. In this case, the maximum recommended dosage is typically 150 mg.
Your losartan dosage will depend on what you’re taking it for. Below, we’ll review the typical losartan dosages for each approved use of the medication.
The losartan dosage for high blood pressure in adults usually starts at 50 mg once daily. Your prescriber may increase or decrease your dosage from there based on how you respond.
In some cases, your prescriber may start you with a lower losartan dosage of 25 mg daily. This typically applies if you’re taking a diuretic (water pill) or are often dehydrated. This helps reduce the risk of your blood pressure dropping too low (hypotension).
Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) is a condition where the lower left chamber of your heart thickens. The usual starting dosage of losartan for people living with high blood pressure and LVH is 50 mg once daily. From there, your prescriber may add hydrochlorothiazide (Microzide), a diuretic, or increase your losartan dosage to 100 mg daily based on how you respond.
Losartan and other ARBs can help slow down the progression of diabetic nephropathy (kidney damage). The typical losartan dosage for people living with diabetic nephropathy and hypertension starts at 50 mg once daily. Your prescriber may increase it from there up to 100 mg once daily based on how you respond.
Keep in mind that losartan is only approved for people with diabetic nephropathy who also have a history of high blood pressure. But it’s also prescribed off-label for diabetic nephropathy even if your blood pressure isn’t high. In this case, follow your prescriber’s instructions, as there isn’t an approved dosage for this use.
Losartan is also approved for hypertension in children ages 6 and older. The losartan dosage for children is based on the child’s body weight.
The typical losartan dosage for hypertension in children is 0.7 mg per kg of body weight once daily (up to 50 mg). Depending on your child’s response, their prescriber may increase the dose up to 1.4 mg per kg of body weight (up to 100 mg) daily. Doses over 100 mg daily (or 1.4 mg/kg — whichever is lower) aren’t recommended.
When to take losartan (Cozaar): Find out what the best time is to take losartan — plus other pharmacist-backed tips for taking it.
Things to avoid: Some medications can raise your risk of certain losartan side effects. Read about notable losartan interactions and how to avoid them.
Losartan side effects: Here’s what side effects to watch for when taking losartan and when to seek medical care.
Keep in mind that losartan is currently only available as an oral tablet. An oral suspension under the brand name Arbli was recently approved, but it won’t be available until mid-2025. In the meantime, if your child has trouble swallowing pills, let your prescriber know. They can work with a compounding pharmacy to have them make an oral suspension from the tablets that’s easier for your child to take.
People living with liver problems may need to start with a lower losartan dosage of 25 mg daily. This is because your liver breaks down losartan. Liver problems can interfere with that process, which can lead to higher losartan levels in the body and raise your risk of side effects. A lower dosage helps prevent losartan levels from going too high.
If you forget a dose of losartan, take it as soon as you remember. But if your next dose is coming up soon, skip the missed dose and return to your usual dosing schedule. Don’t double your dose to make up for the missed dose.
If you miss more than one dose of losartan in a row, reach out to your prescriber for guidance. They can help you get back on track with your medication. It may help to use a medication reminder app or a daily pill box to help prevent missed doses in the future.
The maximum recommended dose of losartan is 100 mg per day. If you take too much losartan, your chance of experiencing side effects is higher. This may include dizziness, low blood pressure, and high potassium levels.
Even if your symptoms feel mild, it’s a good idea to reach out to your prescriber or contact Poison Control at 1-800-222-1222 for guidance. But if you experience serious side effects such as fainting, a racing heartbeat, or chest pain, it’s best to seek emergency care.
Losartan is available as a brand-name medication as well as a lower-cost generic. GoodRx can help you save over 70% off the average retail price of generic losartan. Generic losartan’s price at certain pharmacies is less than $7.30 with a free GoodRx discount.
You shouldn’t take losartan twice a day unless your prescriber tells you to. It’s typically a medication you’ll only take once a day. Some prescribers may recommend dividing losartan into twice daily doses if a once-daily dosage isn’t working well to control your blood pressure. But research suggests that taking losartan twice a day isn’t any more effective than the recommended once-daily dosage.
You shouldn’t take losartan twice a day unless your prescriber tells you to. It’s typically a medication you’ll only take once a day. Some prescribers may recommend dividing losartan into twice daily doses if a once-daily dosage isn’t working well to control your blood pressure. But research suggests that taking losartan twice a day isn’t any more effective than the recommended once-daily dosage.
Common losartan side effects include dizziness, tiredness, or common cold symptoms. Nausea, joint pain, and diarrhea are also possible. In most cases you can manage losartan side effects on your own at home. Rare, but serious losartan side effects include high potassium levels, kidney problems, and severely low blood pressure.
You can take losartan at any time of day, with or without food. For many people, the best time to take losartan is in the morning. But if you have trouble remembering or feel dizzy after taking your losartan in the morning, you can take it later in the day instead. The key is to take losartan around the same time every day. This helps keep the medication working consistently.
Losartan (Cozaar, Arbli) is a medication that treats high blood pressure along with other related conditions. The usual losartan dosage for adults starts at 50 mg once a day. The losartan dosage for children ages 6 and older is based on their body weight. Losartan doses over 100 mg aren’t recommended in most cases.
If you miss a dose of losartan, take it as soon as you remember. If you take more losartan than prescribed, contact Poison Control or reach out to your prescriber. Seek emergency care if life-threatening symptoms occur.
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Whether you were recently diagnosed with high blood pressure, want to reduce your risk, or want to better understand your treatment options, our free 7-day guide can help.
