Does Losartan (losartan) cause depression?

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Last updated: April 10, 2025 • View editorial policy

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From the Guidelines

Losartan has not been definitively proven to cause depression, and its benefits in reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with heart failure and hypertension outweigh the potential risks of mood changes. The provided evidence from the European Society of Cardiology 1 and the European Society of Hypertension 1 does not support a causal relationship between losartan and depression. Losartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) primarily used to treat high blood pressure and protect kidney function in people with diabetes. The most common side effects include dizziness, fatigue, upper respiratory infections, and occasionally headaches. Some key points to consider:

  • The CHARM trials and Val-HeFT showed that ARBs, including losartan, improve symptoms and quality of life in patients with heart failure 1.
  • The HEAAL trial demonstrated that high-dose losartan (150 mg daily) was superior to low-dose losartan (50 mg daily) in reducing the risk of death or heart failure hospitalization 1.
  • The LIFE study found that losartan reduced the incidence of stroke and cardiovascular events compared to atenolol in hypertensive patients with electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy 1. If you're taking losartan and experiencing symptoms of depression, it's essential to discuss this with your healthcare provider rather than stopping the medication on your own. Your doctor can evaluate whether your depression might be related to losartan or if there are other contributing factors. They may consider adjusting your medication regimen if necessary. Some blood pressure medications, particularly beta-blockers, have been more strongly associated with depression than ARBs like losartan 1.

From the Research

Losartan and Depression

  • There is no direct evidence in the provided studies that losartan causes depression 2, 3, 4, 5.
  • However, one study suggests that losartan may have a positive effect on mood disorders induced by innate immune activation, and it may improve memory impairment 6.
  • The study found that losartan modulates brain inflammation and improves mood disorders, but it does not improve depressive-like behaviors 6.
  • It is worth noting that the study was conducted on mice, and the results may not be directly applicable to humans 6.
  • The other studies provided focus on the use of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for the treatment of depression, and do not mention losartan as a cause of depression 2, 3, 4, 5.

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

2
Research

Selective serotonin-reuptake inhibitors: an update.

Harvard review of psychiatry, 1999

5
Research

An overview of SSRI and SNRI therapies for depression.

Managed care (Langhorne, Pa.), 2004

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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