I've notice that taking losartan 100mg doesn't make any difference than the 50mg, does anyone know why?
Losartan is an ARB, which means the body has to convert it to the active form, and the body will only convert so much, so that large doses don't usually get much more of the drug into your blood stream. It's probably on the drug insert information that this is the case.
will2390...likely because the Losartan isn't working well for you. Perhaps a different med would do the trick. Consult your doctor.
It was the same for me when I took the dose all at once without diuretic. When I split it into two doses and took HCTZ with both doses then I got additional effect from the increased dosage.
Dave94501..YES!...you were taking the Losartan on its own...then added a diuretic. It was the diuretic that helped the Losartan lower the bp; therefore you are now taking 2 bp medications. Usually if a med isn't working say at 50mg, increasing the dosage doesn't usually help & puts the patient at risk for any further side effects. Drs sometimes add a diuretic, to see if that works. If it does, then things are left alone for a bit.
Mike,
I don't think you understood my post.
For me losartan 100 taken alone once a day did not work better than losartan 50.
Of course losartan + HCTZ works better than losartan alone. That is not the topic. (BTW, HCTZ virtually turbo charges losartan.)
My statement is that for me losartan 100 + HCTZ works better that losartan 50 + HCTZ IF you split the dosage and take twice a day.
Dave94501...Ok. Let's see if I do understand you know.. Losartan100 +the diuretic works better than Losartan 50 +LCTZ.. So, you're splitting the 100mg tab with diuretic...taking 1/2 say in the morning, then 1/2 later in the day??? That's still taking 100 mg. in total. I used to take 50mg Atenolol in halfs...25mg in the am, 25 mg later in the day. I went back to my previous Dr. & he was perplexed at that. I asked about taking the full 50mg at once, & I was advised it was ok. The Pharmacist said the same thing., in fact I was told.."that med is meant to be taken 1x day".
I think what's happening with your case is that splitting the medication is stopping the bp spikes.
In Will's case, perhaps the 100mg Losartan isn't helping him at all without a diuretic. Sometimes a med doesn't work for someone., but increasing the dosage either works, or simply increases side effects.