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- Losartan vs. valsartan differences and similarities
- What are losartan and valsartan?
- What are the uses for losartan and valsartan?
- What are the side effects of losartan vs. valsartan?
- What is the dosage for losartan vs. valsartan?
- Which drugs or supplements interact with losartan vs. valsartan?
- How safe are losartan vs. valsartan to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Losartan vs. valsartan differences and similarities
- Losartan and valsartan are angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) that work by blocking angiotensin II that causes blood vessels to constrict. This causes blood vessels to dilate which helps reduce blood pressure and the workload on the heart.
- Both losartan and valsartan are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
- Losartan is also used to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy (enlarged heart muscle), to treat people with type 2 diabetes, and hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease).
- Valsartan is also used to treat heart failure and to reduce deaths in patients who developed congestive heart failure after a heart attack.
- Side effects of losartan and valsartan that are similar include:
- Side effects of losartan that are different from valsartan include:
- Side effects of valsartan that are different from losartan include:
- Both losartan and valsartan may interact with:
- Potassium-sparing diuretics
- Potassium supplements
- Salt substitutes containing potassium
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), for example:
- Losartan may also interact with ACE inhibitors, aliskiren, and lithium.
- ARBs including losartan and valsartan are not recommended for use during pregnancy; they can harm a fetus.
- Because of the potential for adverse effects in nursing infants, ARBs such as losartan and valsartan are not recommended for use while breastfeeding.
What are losartan and valsartan?
Losartan
Losartan is a type of drug called an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). ARBs block a substance called angiotensin II that causes blood vessels to constrict. When angiotensin II is prevented from binding to angiotensin II receptors, blood vessels can widen (dilate) and relax. This helps reduce blood pressure and makes it easier for the heart to pump blood throughout the body.
Valsartan
Valsartan is also an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). It works in the same way as losartan, by preventing angiotensin II from binding to angiotensin II receptors, causing blood vessels to relax and dilate. This helps lower blood pressure and reduces strain on the heart.
What are the uses for losartan and valsartan?
Losartan uses
Losartan is used for treating hypertension, reducing the risk of stroke in patients with hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy (over developed heart muscle), and treating people with type 2 diabetes, and hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease). Losartan may be used alone or in combination with other drugs.
Valsartan uses
\Valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It also is prescribed after heart attacks since valsartan may reduce deaths in patients who developed congestive heart failure after a heart attack. Valsartan also may reduce hospitalizations in patients with congestive heart failure.

QUESTION
Salt and sodium are the same. See AnswerWhat are the side effects of losartan vs. valsartan?
Losartan
Losartan side effects include:
- Chest pain
- Diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Insomnia
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Muscle cramps
- Nasal congestion
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Weakness
Losartan also may cause:
- A persistent cough
- An increase serum potassium (hyperkalemia)
- Impotence (erectile dysfunction, ED)
Losartan may reduce kidney function in some patients and should not be used by patients who have bilateral renal artery stenosis (narrowing of both arteries going to the kidneys).
Rare cases of rhabdomyolysis (muscle breakdown) have been reported.
Valsartan
Valsartan is generally well-tolerated. The most common side effects are:
- headache,
- dizziness,
- fatigue ,
- abdominal pain,
- cough,
- diarrhea and
- nausea.
Other important side effects are:
Rhabdomyolysis (inflammation and destruction of muscle) and angioedema (swelling of soft tissues including those of the throat and larynx) are rare but serious side effects of valsartan.
What is the dosage for losartan vs. valsartan?
Losartan dosage
- The starting dose of losartan for adults is 25-50 mg daily.
- The maximum dose is 100 mg daily. The total daily dose of losartan may be divided and administered two doses daily.
- The starting dose of losartan for pediatric patients 6 years of age or older is 0.7 mg/kg up to 50 mg once daily. Doses more than 1.4 mg/kg or 100 mg daily have not been
- Losartan may be given with or without food evaluated in pediatric patients.
The usual dose of valsartan for adults with high blood pressure is 80 to 160 mg once daily. The maximum dose is 320 mg daily. Maximum blood pressure reduction occurs within 4 weeks. For congestive heart failure, the usual dose is 40 mg twice daily. The doses may be increased to 80-160 mg twice daily. The initial dose after a heart attack is 20 mg twice daily. The dose may be increased to 160 mg twice daily if tolerated without side effects.
Valsartan dosage
The usual dose of valsartan for adults with high blood pressure is 80 to 160 mg once daily. The maximum dose is 320 mg daily. Maximum blood pressure reduction occurs within 4 weeks. For congestive heart failure, the usual dose is 40 mg twice daily. The doses may be increased to 80-160 mg twice daily. The initial dose after a heart attack is 20 mg twice daily. The dose may be increased to 160 mg twice daily if tolerated without side effects.
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Which drugs or supplements interact with losartan vs. valsartan?
Losartan
Losartan may increase levels of blood potassium (hyperkalemia), which can lead to serious heart problems (arrhythmias). Therefore, concomitant use of other drugs or substances that increase blood-such as potassium-sparing diuretics (for example, spironolactone [Aldactone], triamterene, and amiloride), potassium supplements, or salt substitutes containing potassium may lead to dangerous increases in serum potassium.
Combining losartan or other ARBs with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients who are elderly, fluid-depleted (including those on diuretic therapy), or with poor kidney function may result in reduced kidney function, including kidney failure. These effects usually are reversible.
The antihypertensive effect of losartan may be reduced by aspirin and other NSAIDs such as:
- ibuprofen (Advil, Children's Advil/Motrin, Medipren, Motrin, Nuprin, PediaCare Fever, etc.),
- indomethacin (Indocin, Indocin-SR), and
- naproxen (Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn, Aleve).
Combining ARBs, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren (Tekturna) increases risk of hypotension (low blood pressure), hyperkalemia, and reduces kidney function compared to each drug used alone and there is no additional benefit on preventing end stage kidney disease or death.
Aliskiren and losartan should not be combined in patients with diabetes or with renal impairment.
Increases in blood lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid) levels and lithium toxicity have occurred when lithium and ARBs or hydrochlorothiazide were combined. Blood lithium levels should be monitored.
Valsartan
Combining valsartan with potassium-sparing diuretics (for example., spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene, amiloride), potassium supplements, or salt substitutes containing potassium may lead to hyperkalemia (elevated potassium in the blood) and in heart failure patients, it increases serum creatinine, a blood test used for monitoring function of the kidneys.
Combining valsartan or other ARBs with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients who are elderly, fluid-depleted (including those on diuretic therapy), or with poor kidney function may result in reduced kidney function, including kidney failure. These effects are usually reversible. There have been reports that aspirin and other NSAIDs such as ibuprofen (Advil, Children's Advil/Motrin, Medipren, Motrin, Nuprin, PediaCare Fever, etc.), indomethacin (Indocin, Indocin-SR), and naproxen (Anaprox, Naprelan, Naprosyn, Aleve) may reduce the effects of ARBs.
How safe are losartan vs. valsartan to take during pregnancy or while breastfeeding?
Losartan safety
When used in the second or third trimester of pregnancy , ARBs can cause injury and even death to the fetus. Losartan should not be used during pregnancy. When pregnancy is first detected, losartan should be stopped.
It is not known whether losartan is excreted in breast milk, but losartan and its active form are excreted in rat milk. Due to the possibility of harm to the nursing infant, if possible, losartan should be discontinued by females who are nursing.
Valsartan safety
When used in the second or third trimester of pregnancy , valsartan and similar drugs can cause injury and even death to the fetus. Valsartan should not be used during pregnancy. When pregnancy is detected, valsartan should be stopped as soon as possible.
It is not known whether valsartan is secreted into human milk. Valsartan is secreted into the milk of rats.

SLIDESHOW
How to Lower Blood Pressure: Exercise and Tips See SlideshowSummary
Losartan and valsartan are angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) that work by blocking angiotensin II that causes blood vessels to constrict. Both losartan and valsartan are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Losartan is also used to reduce the risk of stroke in patients with high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy (enlarged heart muscle), to treat people with type 2 diabetes, and hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease). Valsartan is also used to treat heart failure and to reduce deaths in patients who developed congestive heart failure after a heart attack.
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Related Disease Conditions
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High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
High blood pressure (hypertension) is a disease in which pressure within the arteries of the body is elevated. About 75 million people in the US have hypertension (1 in 3 adults), and only half of them are able to manage it. Many people do not know that they have high blood pressure because it often has no has no warning signs or symptoms. Systolic and diastolic are the two readings in which blood pressure is measured. The American College of Cardiology released new guidelines for high blood pressure in 2017. The guidelines now state that blood normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg. If either one of those numbers is higher, you have high blood pressure. The American Academy of Cardiology defines high blood pressure slightly differently. The AAC considers 130/80 mm Hg. or greater (either number) stage 1 hypertension. Stage 2 hypertension is considered 140/90 mm Hg. or greater. If you have high blood pressure you are at risk of developing life threatening diseases like stroke and heart attack.REFERENCE: CDC. High Blood Pressure. Updated: Nov 13, 2017.
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Hypertension-Related Kidney Disease
Second Source WebMD Medical Reference
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Portal Hypertension
Portal hypertension is most commonly caused by cirrhosis, a disease that results from scarring of the liver. Other causes of portal hypertension include blood clots in the portal vein, blockages of the veins that carry the blood from the liver to the heart, and a parasitic infection called schistosomiasis. Symptoms of portal hypertension include varices (enlarged veins), vomiting blood, blood in the stool, black and tarry stool, ascites (abnormal fluid collection within the peritoneum, the sac that contains the intestines within the abdominal cavity), confusion and lethargy, splenomegaly or enlargement of the spleen, and decreased white blood cell counts.
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Pulmonary Hypertension
Pulmonary hypertension is elevated pressure in the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the lungs to the heart. The most common symptoms are fatigue and difficulty breathing. If the condition goes undiagnosed, more severe symptoms may occur. As pulmonary hypertension worsens, some people with the condition have difficulty performing any activities that require physical exertion. While there is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, it can be managed and treated with medications and supplemental oxygen to increase blood oxygen levels.
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Hypertensive Kidney Disease
High blood pressure can damage the kidneys and is one of the leading causes of kidney failure (end-stage renal kidney disease). Kidney damage, like hypertension, can be unnoticeable and detected only through medical tests. If you have kidney disease, you should control your blood pressure. Other treatment options include prescription medications.
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Pseudotumor Cerebri (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension)
Pseudotumor Cerebri (intracranial hypertension) is a condition where there is an increase in pressure of fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord (cerebrospinal fluid or CSF) mimicing a brain tumor. The cause is unknown. The most common symptom is headache but also include eye-pain, vision loss and double vision. Pseudotumor cerebri is diagnosed with MRI or CAT scans and treated by discontinuing offending medications (if applicable), weight loss and diuretic medications. The condition can also be helped by repeated drainage of spinal fluid using the lumbar puncture.
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Preeclampsia (Pregnancy Induced Hypertension)
Preeclampsia is related to increased blood pressure and protein in the mother's urine. Preeclampsia typically begins after the 20th week of pregnancy. When preeclampsia causes seizures, it is termed "eclampsia" and is the second leading cause of maternal death of in the US. Preeclampsia is the leading cause of fetal complications. Risk factors for preeclampsia include high blood pressure, obesity, multiple births, and women with preexisting medical conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma. Pregnancy planning and lifestyle changes may reduce the risk of preeclampsia during pregnancy.
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—. Diovan (valsartan) Tablets Prescribing Information. 1996. 31 July 2018