Losartin Potassium

Hi Vanessa,

I am taking Losartan Potassium 50mg for the past 4months now and experiencing severe itching on my feet and hands.

Due you experience any similar symptoms?

Thanks

 

Hi, just to say that last week I too was getting intense itching on my hands and feet.Also a cough started suddenly and I stopped being able to pee. I have been on Losartan Pottassium 50mg for about 2 years (previously on Ramipril which gave me a constant cough).I asked my doctor if it was the Losartan causing my itching and affecting my kidneys and stopping me weeing, but she said I had a urine infection.She tested a sample and then sent it off to the lab.However it came back clear. I still suspected the Losartan so decided to stop it for a few days (I have a blood pressure meter to keep an eye on things).Well almost straight away the itching stopped and the cough and after a couple of days I could pee properly again.I am walking loads to try and keep my blood pressure down.I will speak to my Doctor and tell her what I have done and that I'm convinced its the Losartan. I would however NOT recommend anyone to stop taking their medication without first asking their Doctor.I did it in desperation as I couldn't get a doctors appointment.

I get a vague all over under skin itch. When I switched to Ramipril that did not suit me the itch went. Back on Losartan it came back. My GP says that it is caused by a Losartan effect on the kidneys.

Side effects from BNF the Doctors prescribing manual:

vertigo; less commonly gastro-intestinal disturbances, angina, palpitation, oedema, dyspnoea, headache, sleep disorders, malaise, urticaria, pruritus, rash; rarely hepatitis, atrial fibrillation, cerebrovascular accident, syncope, paraesthesia; also reported pancreatitis, anaphylaxis, cough, depression, erectile dysfunction, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, hyponatraemia, arthralgia, myalgia, renal impairment, rhabdomyolysis, tinnitus, photosensitivity, and vasculitis (including Henoch-Schönlein purpura)

I'll PM you a link to another site listing more side effects.

 

Thanks Derek. As it happens I have had Tinnitus the past 6 weeks.My Doctor first said it was caused by fluid behind the ear drums and gave me a steroid spray.That only gave me a sore throat.My other Doctor said it could be due to the supposed water infection.Antibiotics given.The itch as you describe felt like it was under the skin and was unbearable. I suggested to my Doctor that it was all to do with the Losartan but she said no. So I myself stopped it and all symptons except the tinnitus have gone.I must see the Doc again. I may still need blood pressure medication but have had side effects so far from several.Ramipril gave me a constant cough, palpitations and cramps .Good luck to everyone,especially Derek who replied. It has confirmed for me that I was not imagining my symptons were due to Losartan.Good luck all.

Over the years I have had Atenolol (the very worst and too much to relate) combined with Amlodipine.

Lisinopril, caused my lips to swell and a blister like swelling to come up on my throat.

Securon, severe constipation and problem with heat and sunlight.

Enalapril, a rash that caused me to privately see a skin specialist. 

Bedrofluazide, reduced my urine output and gave me pelvic pain.

Irbesartan, Ramipril and Perindopril virtually turned me into a Zombie. I was going around in a fog with a headache and feeling so light headed that about to pass out. They also had me so tired that I could sleep at the drop of a hat. Even in the front row of the theatre at Priscilla Queen of the Desert and that is not a quiet show.

Reading the side effects again I must question my GP about my recent  sleeplessness and the fact that I have been back in atrial fibrillation since early April.

Wow, you've tried 'em all ! I began on Lisinapril but as soon as I took the first one I had terrible stomach pains, nausea and really bad head. My doctor out me on Ramipril which I took for a few years but had a constant irritating dry tickly cough that would always come on when I needed my voice ! It would end up with me coughing so bad it was like whooping cough.Eventually I was put on Losartan a couple of years ago.Until recently I had no problems but then I began getting  a jumpy heart as I lay down to sleep which was quite scary.It would settle after about 5 minutes but not nice.Then I woke one day about 6 weeks ago with Tinnitus. Went to the Doctor 3 weeks ago who said fluid behind the ear drums and gave me a steroid nasal spray. Good I thought, this will sort it.No such luck.Got a bit worse and I got a painfull sore throat despite gargling with water after I used the spray.Then about 10 days ago I began getting terrible itching, as if under the skin, on my heels and palms at night. Previously I had found my lower legs getting unbearably hot at night (strange as I also have Raynauds and have cold feet).Then the dreaded cough began and unable to pee hardly anything. Saw another Doctor who suggested urine infection and gave antibiotics.Urine test turned out negative. I decided it had to be the Losartan and as I have my own BP meter thought I would give it a try giving up the Losartan (there were no appointments to see my Doctor for another week !).I have been going for 3 decent walks a day and my blood pressure hasn't got any worse yet but I will be checking with my Doc. All I can say is my tinnitus is now quieter ! The itching stopped a day later ! The cough also stopped a day later ! I can also pee again ! I also don't have a jumpy heart. I feel like a naughty child for going against my Doctors but it must have been the Losartan.Where I go from here I am not sure. If my blood pressure gets no worse maybe my Doctor will agree to wait a bit and see, but I am between 114/75 and 148/85 so some would say I should be on medication, but my BP is no different on or off medication.I have found walking gently in the countryside the best for lowering blood pressure. I eat lots of veg and no processed food, but think I eat a varied diet, low in salt.Fingers crossed all is wellas can be.Good luck Derek and hope you find the right solution for you.

Haven't used the email associated with this for years. If you have severe itching of feet and hands it can be a sign of liver damage. I had the same problem when I was pregnant with my twins - couldn't stop the insane itching on my feet, hands and arms - thankfully that was just because one of the twins was blocking off the gall bladder to the liver and my urine was the colour of dark coffee - they told me initially that my liver could be failing :-/ - thankfully it was just that my twins were getting too big for my body :-) xx

Hi Almac, have you heard the link between pre-eclampsia (in pregnancy) and life long hypertension? This is what I had and was told it could well lead to hypertension later. This was in Sweden but I can't remember the reasons given. It turned out correct as from that time it seems I've always had it!

Hi Almac, yep that is what Dr's used to tell me too, but they only know what studies have shown. Stress is now implicated in many health problems ifrom BP to stress. Always remember a consultant caridiologist telling me about 12 years ago that Beta Blockers was extremely safe and had been used for about 20 years after I complained that it was making me feel extremely depressed, then about 2 months later it was all over the news that it was linked to type 3 Diabetes and they stopped recommending it as a first choice for high BP. My next consultant cardiologist actually agreed that stress was probably a reason for high BP in many people, although it hadn't been officially declared at that stage. He knew what he was talking about and was the best consultant cardiologist I have ever met. The previous female one was extremely condescending and dismissive. He was much older and more experienced than her. I was in the gym 5 days a week and ate an extremely healthy diet for years when I was diagnosed - so it wasn't as though my weight or diet had anything to do with my high BP. I was a full time working single mother with 3 toddlers and was exhausted most of the time. The stress of bringing up 3 young children alone and being the only one repsonsible for putting a roof over their head was immense - hard enough bringing young children up alone without the financial issues to deal with. Yep, chronic stress was the reason for my high BP without a shadow of a doubt.