From the Guidelines
Losartan (Cozaar) dosing should be initiated at 25-50 mg daily, with a goal dose of 25-100 mg daily in 1-2 divided doses, as indicated by the most recent guidelines 1. When considering the dosing of Cozaar, it's essential to take into account the patient's specific condition, such as hypertension, heart failure, or kidney function.
- For adults with hypertension, the starting dose is typically 25-50 mg once daily, with the potential to increase to 100 mg daily if blood pressure remains uncontrolled.
- The goal dose should be at the higher end of the dose range when possible, as indicated in the guidelines 1. Key considerations for Cozaar dosing include:
- Starting dose: 25-50 mg daily
- Goal dose: 25-100 mg daily in 1-2 divided doses
- Monitoring: regular checks on blood pressure, kidney function, and potassium levels are crucial during treatment with Cozaar, as it can cause side effects such as dizziness, low blood pressure, and elevated potassium levels 1.
From the FDA Drug Label
The usual starting dose of losartan is 50 mg once daily. The dosage can be increased to a maximum dose of 100 mg once daily as needed to control blood pressure [see CLINICAL STUDIES (14.1)]. A starting dose of 25 mg is recommended for patients with possible intravascular depletion (e.g., on diuretic therapy).
The recommended dosage of Cozaar (losartan) is:
- 50 mg once daily as the usual starting dose for adult hypertension
- 25 mg once daily as the starting dose for patients with possible intravascular depletion
- The dosage can be increased to a maximum of 100 mg once daily as needed to control blood pressure 2
From the Research
Cozaar Dosing Information
- Cozaar, also known as losartan, is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure and protect the kidneys from damage due to diabetes 3, 4, 5.
- The typical dosing of losartan is 50 to 100 mg once daily, and it can be taken in addition to other antihypertensive medications such as calcium-channel antagonists, diuretics, alpha-blockers, beta-blockers, and centrally acting agents 3.
- Losartan has been shown to reduce the incidence of a doubling of the serum creatinine concentration, end-stage renal disease, and proteinuria in patients with type 2 diabetes and nephropathy 3, 4.
- The reduction in urinary albumin excretion (UAE) with losartan is similar to that seen with enalapril, an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, and is related to decrements in ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) 4.
- Losartan has also been shown to decrease albumin excretion in hypertensive patients with non-diabetic nephropathy, and to stabilize the decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) 5.
- When used in combination with a low-dose diuretic, losartan has been shown to effectively treat hypertension in elderly patients while minimizing the metabolic consequences of diuretic therapy, such as decreases in serum potassium and increases in serum uric acid 6.