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Cozaar is the first of a new kind of blood pressure medicine, an angiotensin
II blocker.
Cozaar is prescribed for high blood pressure, alone or in
combination with other drugs. It appears to be less effective for
African-American patients.
Side Effects and Interactions
People on Cozaar have experienced dizziness,
insomnia, muscle cramps or pains, nasal congestion and sinusitis.
Other
side effects reported include faintness, low blood pressure, diarrhea,
indigestion, and chest pain.
Dizziness or faintness may be worse if a
person becomes dehydrated through excess sweating, diarrhea or vomiting. Report
any symptoms to the physician promptly.
Cozaar is not appropriate during
the second or third trimesters of pregnancy. If a woman taking Cozaar becomes
pregnant, she should consult her doctor as soon as possible. Nursing women
should not take this drug without first discussing potential risks and benefits
with their physician.
Tagamet may increase the level of Cozaar slightly,
while phenobarbital reduces it. Interactions with other drugs such as
erythromycin, Nizoral, or Sporanox have not been documented but are
theoretically possible.
Cozaar is metabolized by CYP enzymes in the
liver. As doctors gain more experience prescribing this medicine, more
interactions may come to light. Check with your doctor and pharmacist to make
sure Cozaar is safe in combination with any other drugs you take.
Special Precautions
People with liver disease may have trouble metabolizing Cozaar. The dose should be adjusted accordingly.
Taking the Medicine
Cozaar may be taken when convenient, with or without food.
It is taken once or twice a
day, according to the prescription.
I have been taking 1 Cozaar tab 100 mg sometimes for elevated blood pressure. My regime includes 1Triam/HCTZ 25mg, 2 days on and 1 off and Atenolol 25mg 2X a day. It is suggested by my physician that I replace the Cozaar with 1 Hyzaar tab 100/12.5, which has contains the diuretic. Would you consider this a viable change? Thank you.
Why is a prescription not filled with the generic version if there is one. I am currently taking Cozaar and it is expensive. Above you mention the generic is Lorsartan. When I asked the pharmacist he said Cozaar is not yet available in a generic form. I'm confused about why it isn't.
My cardiologist prescribed losartan 50mg daily. She said that this generic form of cozaar has just recently become available. My pharmacist says it is not available yet. Who is right?
Like so many on this site before me I take Cozaar and would like to switch to geneic Losartan Potassium. I have recently changed from Crestor to Simvastatin and saved about $100 a month. With a change to generic Losartan I could save an additional $100 per month!
Right now the doctor and I are checking to see if there are any side effects with the Crestor change before we look at changing the Cozaar in about a month. Wish me luck, if the switch can be made I will effectively save $2,400 a year in cold cash.
My mother is taking Cozaar and I would like to switch her to generic, but it's not available in the U.S. according to two different pharmacies. She is also taking Aricept and I got the same information. However, I have found generics in Canada. BUT, I also found an article warning not to take the Aricept generic because it might not be safe. I believe both drugs will not be available in generic form (at least in the U.S.) until 2010.
I have been taking 100 mg Cozaar for almost three years now. I workout and jog a few times per week. I recently started getting a tingling feeling in my lower legs and every now and then my lower back feels tight. I had my last blood test in November and my BUN and Creatine levels were slightly above the normal range. I think that this Cozaar is slowly but surely decreasing my kidney function. I am pretty close to getting off of all medication because I do not want my vital organs destroyed by a drug that is supposed to help me. Has anyone else had the same experience or can help me with an answer?
My doctor just prescribed
Losartan. My pharmacy says it is not yet available. Why are doctors prescribing it if it is not yet available?
PEOPLE'S PHARMACY RESPONSE: LOSARTAN IS THE GENERIC NAME FOR COZAAR. THE PRESCRIPTION COULD BE FILLED WITH THE BRAND NAME DRUG.