8/8/2019 Losartan Potassium drug study

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DRUG NAME CLASSIFICATION INDICATIONS CONTRAINDICATIONS

ROUTE & DOSAGE DRUG ACTION ADVERSE EFFECTS

Generic name:LosartanPotassium

Brand name:

Cozaar

Cardiovascularagent

Angiotensin IIreceptor antagonist

Antihypertensive

Losartan is used fortreatinghypertension, leftventricularhypertrophy(increase inmuscle) and

diabeticnephropathy(kidney disease).

Hypersensitivity tolosartan

Pregnancy[category C (firsttrimester), categoryD (second and third

trimesters)]

Lactation

PO: The usualstarting dose of losartan for adultsis 50 mg daily. Themaximum dose is100 mg daily. Thetotal daily dose

may be divided andadministered twicedaily. Losartan maybe given with orwithout food.

The starting dose of losartan forpediatric patients 6years of age orolder is 0.7 mg/kgup to 50 mg oncedaily. Doses morethan 1.4 mg/kg or

100 mg daily havenot been evaluatedin pediatricpatients.

Angiotensin,formed in the bloodby the act ion of angiotensinconverting enzyme(ACE), is a powerfulchemical that

attaches toangiotensinreceptors found inmany tissues butprimarily on smoothmuscle cells of blood vessels.Angiotensin'sattachment to thereceptors causesthe blood vessels tonarrow(vasoconstrict)

which leads to anincrease in bloodpressure(hypertension).Losartan (morespecifically, thechemical formedwhen the liverconverts theinactive losartaninto an activechemical) blocksthe angiotensin

receptor. Byblocking the actionof angiotensin,losartan dilatesblood vessels andthereby reducesblood pressure.

Side effectsreported includeddiarrhea , musclecramps, dizziness,insomnia, and nasalcongestion.Losartan also may

cause a persistentcough, increaseserum potassium,and angioedema.Losartan mayreduce kidneyfunction in somepatients and shouldnot be used bypatients who havebilateral renalartery stenosis(narrowing of both

arteries going tothe kidneys). Rarecases ofrhabdomyolysis (musclebreakdown) havebeen reported.

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8/8/2019 Losartan Potassium drug study

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NURSINGCONSIDERATIONS

AssessmentMonitor BP at drug trough (prior to a scheduled dose).Monitor drug effectiveness when losartan is used as monotherapy.Inadequate response may be improved by splitting the daily dose into twice-daily dose.Lab tests: Monitor CBC, electrolytes, liver & kidney function with long-term therapy.