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What Is Losartan?

Losartan potassium is a prescription angiotensin II receptor blocker. Current tablets contain 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg. It treats hypertension in adults and children age 6 and older, reduces stroke risk in selected adults with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, and treats diabetic nephropathy in adults with type 2 diabetes and hypertension under specified criteria.

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What Is Losartan?

Losartan potassium is a prescription angiotensin II receptor blocker. Current tablets contain 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg. It treats hypertension in adults and children age 6 and older, reduces stroke risk in selected adults with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy, and treats diabetic nephropathy in adults with type 2 diabetes and hypertension under specified criteria.

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How Does Losartan Lower Blood Pressure?

Losartan blocks the angiotensin II type 1 receptor. This reduces angiotensin II-mediated blood vessel narrowing and aldosterone release, lowering blood pressure and changing sodium and potassium handling by the kidneys.

Who Is Treated With Losartan?

Losartan is used for hypertension from age 6 and for selected adults with hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy or diabetic nephropathy with proteinuria. The labeled stroke reduction benefit in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy has not been demonstrated in Black patients. Use with aliskiren in patients with diabetes is contraindicated.

How Is Losartan Dosed?

Adults with hypertension commonly start at 50 mg once daily and can increase to 100 mg daily based on response. Pediatric hypertension from age 6 commonly starts at 0.7 mg per kg once daily, up to 50 mg. Diabetic nephropathy uses 50 mg daily initially, with an increase to 100 mg when indicated. Mild to moderate hepatic impairment requires a lower starting dose of 25 mg daily.

What Serious Risks Are Linked to Losartan?

Losartan carries a boxed warning for fetal toxicity and is discontinued as soon as pregnancy is detected. Other serious concerns include hyperkalemia, low blood pressure, worsening kidney function, and angioedema. Blood pressure, serum potassium, and kidney function are monitored during treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions About Losartan

What conditions does losartan treat?

Losartan treats hypertension and has labeled uses for selected stroke risk reduction and diabetic nephropathy.

What is the usual adult starting dose for hypertension?

The usual starting dose is 50 mg once daily.

Can children take losartan?

Yes. Current hypertension labeling includes children age 6 and older, with weight-based dosing.

Does losartan have a boxed warning?

Yes. The boxed warning concerns fetal injury or death from drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin system.

References

DailyMed - LOSARTAN POTASSIUM tablet. https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed/drugInfo.cfm?setid=e5886220-43b7-46e1-9034-5242ba245bd1. Date Accessed October 13, 2026.

Losartan. LiverTox. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547842/. Date Accessed October 13, 2026.

Losartan. MedlinePlus. https://www.medlineplus.gov/druginfo/meds/a695008.html. Date Accessed October 13, 2026.

Losartan. PubChem. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Losartan. Date Accessed October 13, 2026.

Losartan. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK526065/. Date Accessed October 13, 2026.