Does Losartan Come in Extended Release?
No, losartan does not have an FDA-approved extended-release formulation available in the United States, United Kingdom, or European Union. 1
Standard Formulation and Dosing
Losartan is available only as an immediate-release tablet in the U.S., with maximum recommended daily doses of 100 mg for hypertension and up to 150 mg for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. 2, 3, 4
The immediate-release formulation provides 24-hour blood pressure control when dosed once daily due to its active metabolite E-3174, which has a half-life of 6-9 hours and is 10- to 40-fold more potent than the parent compound. 4, 5
Standard dosing is 50-100 mg once daily, which can be given as a single dose or split into twice-daily administration (e.g., 50 mg BID for a total of 100 mg/day). 1, 3, 4
Investigational Extended-Release Formulation
A bilayer extended-release formulation called "Losartan Cronos" (containing 50 mg immediate-release plus 50 mg extended-release) was studied in a 2012 trial and demonstrated 24-hour efficacy with a favorable trough-to-peak ratio of 0.91 for systolic blood pressure. 6
This extended-release formulation is not FDA-approved and is not commercially available in major markets; it remains an investigational product. 6
Clinical Implications
If once-daily immediate-release losartan does not provide adequate 24-hour blood pressure control, add hydrochlorothiazide 12.5-25 mg daily rather than seeking an extended-release formulation. 2, 3
For patients requiring more consistent coverage throughout the day, split the total daily dose into twice-daily administration (e.g., 50 mg every 12 hours) rather than relying on a non-existent extended-release product. 1, 3
The immediate-release formulation of losartan is effective as once-daily therapy in the vast majority of patients and does not require an extended-release version for adequate blood pressure control. 4, 7, 5, 8