Losartan Potassium Shorthand - "3W+H"

As a blood pressure-lowering "weapon" (drug), losartan potassium will naturally come into contact with patients with hypertension frequently. Understanding the "3W+H" of losartan potassium is very important for patients with hypertension and the general public who have patients with hypertension around them.

1W——What? What is Losartan Potassium?

Losartan potassium is an angiotensin receptor II antagonist (ARBs) that can dilate blood vessels and thus lower blood pressure (roads will become wider and traffic pressure will be partially relieved).

2W——Why/Who? Why should you take Losartan Potassium? (Who should take it?)

Upon hearing this question, many people will sneer, "Isn't it just lowering blood pressure? We all know that!" Here, the editor would like to say that this is just knowing the result but not the reason. That's right, losartan potassium is used to lower blood pressure. So have you ever thought about why the doctor chose losartan potassium for you when there are so many kinds of antihypertensive drugs? In fact, the reason is very simple, it is nothing more than the word "suitable". This "suitable" refers to the condition and individual response. With the "suitable" dosage and course of treatment, lowering blood pressure will become simple.

ARBs are recommended as first-line antihypertensive treatment for the following patients:

Hypertensive patients with stable ischemic heart disease (including patients with previous acute myocardial infarction and stable angina pectoris);

Adult patients with concomitant heart failure who still have hypertension after fluid loading management;

Adult hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease who cannot tolerate ACEI (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor).

Warning: Contraindicated in patients with severe bilateral renal artery stenosis (risk of acute renal failure); avoid use in pregnant women (risk of teratogenicity).

3W——When? When should you take Losartan Potassium?

"Doctor, can I take this medicine with meals?"; "Doctor, should I take this medicine in the morning or in the evening?"; "Doctor..."

First, losartan potassium is not affected by diet, so it can be taken with or without food.

Generally speaking, antihypertensive drugs are recommended to be taken in the morning, mainly because the peak of blood pressure in a day is around 8-10 am. Taking drugs in the morning can make the drugs work at the peak of blood pressure and prevent the occurrence of blood pressure peak. Therefore, if there are no special circumstances, losartan potassium can also be taken in the morning.

1H——How? How to take Losartan Potassium?

"How to take it? Editor, are you kidding me? Isn't it clearly written in the instructions?" Indeed, before taking the medicine, we should read the instructions carefully. Here, the editor just gives you a brief summary to help you become familiar with it more quickly.

(1) Do not have the mentality of “I just do what I want”.

"The doctor told me to take two tablets, but I insisted on taking one"; "The doctor said half a tablet, but I was happy and took one tablet". Taking medicine is not like eating a big carrot, you must follow the doctor's orders. Those who claim to be drug experts and self-taught on Baidu are all at great risk of taking medicine. Insufficient dosage will cause blood pressure to soar; excessive dosage will increase the incidence of hypotension (risks of hypotension: heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, death). For most patients, one tablet (50mg) once a day is enough, and some patients need to increase the dose to achieve the blood pressure-lowering effect. Note: Do not change the dosage of the drug on your own, and be sure to consult a doctor or pharmacist before adjusting the dosage.

(2) It is not advisable to fish for three days and then rest for two days.

After taking losartan potassium, it will take about 3-6 weeks for blood pressure to change significantly. Therefore, it is necessary to take it consistently and not to rush. In addition, you cannot stop taking the medicine on your own just because your blood pressure has dropped after taking the medicine, or take the medicine only when your blood pressure is high. In a sense, the hypertension of most people is an organic lesion (vascular lesion). The damage has already occurred and it is difficult to repair. Antihypertensive drugs are not for curing the lesions, but to delay the progression of the disease. Therefore, the "normal" blood pressure after taking antihypertensive drugs is only seemingly normal, not healthy in the true sense. Therefore, antihypertensive drugs need to be used for life, and the use of losartan potassium or other antihypertensive drugs should be selected according to personal circumstances. The practice of "taking medicine when blood pressure is high and stopping medicine when it is not high" is actually more dangerous. First of all, losartan potassium takes effect for 6 hours, which means that taking it when blood pressure is high cannot immediately lower blood pressure. When the drug takes effect, blood pressure may be in a relatively low state, and then "clang" will directly break the bottom and go to the ICU. Therefore, losartan potassium (other antihypertensive drugs are also applicable) should be taken on time every day.

(3) Correct approach to missed medications

If you miss a dose, please take it immediately. However, if the missed dose is close to the next dose, take the next dose according to the normal dosage, and do not double the dose.

(4) Things to avoid while taking the medicine

First, avoid drinking alcohol while taking this medication, as drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase your risk of hypotension.

Be cautious when supplementing potassium. Losartan potassium may cause hyperkalemia. ("Editor, I know, because there is potassium in losartan potassium!" Congratulations to this viewer, the answer is wrong! The amount of potassium in 100mg of losartan potassium is 8.5mg, and this amount of potassium will be excreted in the time it takes to go to the toilet. The potassium in the fruits and foods we eat every day may be much higher than this. Losartan potassium increases blood potassium due to its mechanism of action. I will not elaborate here, but don't say it is because of the potassium in it, it will make people laugh~~)

When sitting or lying down, do not stand up suddenly! The elderly should be especially careful to avoid dizziness and falling.