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Why are GPs worried about kidney function with losartan?

Posted , 8 users are following.

pvf50286
pvf50286

When losartan reduces the decline in kidney function with age, and when it is used in high blood pressure in those with Type2 diabetic kidney problems, why, O why, won't GPs allow a larger daily does than 100mg per day?

I know the recommended daily maximum is 100mg daily but it's only recommended.

I can get my systolic down from 135-145 to 125-8 by increasing from 100mg to 150mg in two does per day.

This will surely do more good to my kidneys through reduced blood pressure, so why does my GP son say that he wouldn't go above the licensed daily maximum for some mumbled kidney reason?

After all, the license allows 150mg daily in heart failure so why not a little more to get over the liver metabolising the losartan too quickly through the day at 100mg daily.

Besides, I am only hitting the kidneys with a 75mg dosage at any one time whereas the product licence allows them to be hit with 100mg (daily).

0 likes, 25 replies

25 Replies

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  • ctenosaura
    ctenosaura pvf50286

    Posted

    I believe I was switched because the Losartan wasn't controlling my blood pressure too well and it was still in the borderline high blood pressure range.

  • ctenosaura
    ctenosaura pvf50286

    Posted

    PS, I'm seeing a Nephrologist on Tuesday, and will definitely ask him what is better for the kidneys, lrbesartan or Losartan. I'm also going to ask about antibiotics. I have one or maybe more kidney stones and side pain so saw urologist last Friday because I'm not sure if that can affect kidney function. Well they scoped me to look in my bladder and subsequently caused an infection causing me to have extreme pain and blood when urinating. Doc was going to put me on CIPRO. I rearched and found CIPRO is extremely hard on the kidneys. What the hell!? Going to worsen then vary thing I'm trying to fix? I called the urinary advice nurse (who is a urinary doctor) and she changed me to Cephalexin. Advice for the day: don't take docs word for granted. Research and ask questions on all prescriptions and meds. Also along with 800mg ibuprofen daily, I also never drank enough water and was dehydrated for years.

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey ctenosaura

      Posted

      Yikes! Cefalexin recently put me in hospital with C.Difficile because according to the doctor in A&E a GP had prescribed too long a course!!!

      I will be very interested to hear what you find out about Losartan v Irbesartan.

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey ctenosaura

      Posted

      Clostridium Difficile! Is very infectious and causes severe colon problems and can be very very serious - for me when the watery diarrhoea and bleeding started I didn't waste much time in calling the paramedics and getting into hospital having quickly stopped the Cefalexin as I guessed it was to blame.  I had always believed it was a hospital-acquired infection only - something similar to MRSA - but have learnt from my horrid experience that some antibiotics can cause it, especially if, like me, you are left on it for far too long (my GP prescribed a second course - at the time, I mentioned to him that I had slight diarrhoea starting!).  I was pill-phobic before but now I'm really running scared.  Having an ultrsound on bladder and kidney in a couple of weeks time so hoping the shed load of antibiotics I've taken in the last few months haven't left  a worsening mark on my kidney function.

    • ctenosaura
      ctenosaura MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      That does sound bad. I think I was have some bad reactions to the cephalexin (feeling of drunkenness, body aches, headache, fever) but they seem to have subsided with 2 extra strength Tylenol, or it was just the infection causing the those symptoms.
  • ctenosaura
    ctenosaura pvf50286

    Posted

    Saw Nephrologist Thursday, and he told me Losartan and Irbesartan do the same thing and one wasn't better than the other. In me however, Irbesartan seems to control my BP better.

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey ctenosaura

      Posted

      Yes, both drugs are from the same family.  If Irbesartan works for you without side effects, then that sounds the way to go.  Good luck.
  • romulo59922
    romulo59922 pvf50286

    Posted

    This is my case...I am using lozartan almost a year now. Initially my doctor prescribed me 100mg 1 x day (after breakfast). After 2 months months gone up. Reduced to 50 mg a day, creatinine loweredand my b/p continue o be normal. With monthly lab test my crea is like uphill downhill and my latest lab test my crea was 150mg. For now i switch to fresh vegy and fresh fruits no red meat and monitoring if it has good result.
  • joshuapryce1987
    joshuapryce1987 pvf50286

    Posted

    Do not take things for granted, do what your doctor says. Things are always subject to change in good ways and in bad ways.

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