Losartan and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Mar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 5, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on 50 mg of Losartan for one week today, and I feel as if I have gained 50 pounds. I have not actually gained any weight, but I feel as if I am carrying around 50 lbs of sandbags. I'm normally very active and upbeat, but now everything seems like such an effort. I feel all day as if I'd really rather just go back to bed. Others feel this way? A profound heaviness, sluggishness. Blood pressure is down about 10%."

• Dan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 11, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure (BP) at Dr. office usually runs 140/78. My Dr. put me on a water pill, and I experienced low sodium blood levels, so he took me off the water pill and put me on losartan potassium. I am now experiencing extreme exhaustion, bloating, and a general feeling of anxiety. My heart skips beats, and my BP has actually gone up higher than it ever has. I decided the pill is poison to me, and I took my last one this morning. I will not continue taking this, as I feel like it’s killing me. Do these doctors even know what they’re doing? I feel poisoned. I’d rather have HBP than feel like this."

• Wol...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 14, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Losartan is a horrible drug. I have been on it with HCTZ for five years. Slowly began to have dizzy spells, mouth sores, leg cramps, dry mouth, chest pains, panic attacks, blurry vision, and extreme fatigue to the point by lunch I would have to leave work and go to bed. My doc checked me for everything and sent me to many specialists and found nothing wrong. I'm throwing this losartan out right now."

• Liz...
• February 6, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I’ve been taking Losartan for about 2 years now. Unfortunately, I am just now figuring out that all my physical symptoms and problems are related to this awful prescription. I truly thought I had a severe disease or something until my husband recommended that I had slowly gotten worse since being prescribed Losartan. I then looked up symptoms and reviews and was utterly shocked! I’ve been to my doctor many times and lab work seemed fine, so I always left feeling discouraged! Flu-like symptoms, pounding heartbeat, severe back pain, stomach pain, headache, eye pain & weakness, leg, arm, and feet pain, lightheadedness, muscle weakness, extreme exhaustion & fatigue. My life changed drastically, and I don’t know why my doctor (or myself) didn’t associate all these symptoms with this medication. I’m furious about the situation but taking charge of making better healthy choices instead of medication! Help us Lord"

• Liz...
• February 6, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I’ve been taking Losartan for about 2 years now. Unfortunately, I am just now figuring out that all my physical symptoms and problems are related to this awful prescription. I truly thought I had a severe disease or something until my husband recommended that I had slowly gotten worse since being prescribed Losartan. I then looked up symptoms and reviews and was utterly shocked! I’ve been to my doctor many times and lab work seemed fine, so I always left feeling discouraged! Flu-like symptoms, pounding heartbeat, severe back pain, stomach pain, headache, eye pain & weakness, leg, arm, and feet pain, lightheadedness, muscle weakness, extreme exhaustion & fatigue. My life changed drastically, and I don’t know why my doctor (or myself) didn’t associate all these symptoms with this medication. I’m furious about the situation but taking charge of making better healthy choices instead of medication! Help us Lord"

• Lma...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 9, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking Losartan 8 months ago. At the time I was doing Weight Watchers and making great progress. Within the first few days, I experienced dry cough (I have COPD and didn't cough like this), more breathless, back pain, calf and foot cramps so bad I had to force my feet to go flat on the floor, eyesight change, constant anxiety/fear, chest tightness, fatigue, insomnia, and headaches all the time. Then I started gaining weight after 4 weeks and as of this writing, I have put on 24 pounds. Of course, carrying around this extra weight makes it harder to breathe and my BP is going up. I have spoken with cardio and GP and they both tell me it's not the med, I know my body and this isn't normal. I'm afraid to go off it for fear of BP going back to 164/90 but last night it was 147/83 so it's climbing and I know their solution will be to up the Losartan (I take 75mg now). No more, I'm looking for a doctor who will actually listen to me."

• Qua...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 13, 2020

Losartan for High Blood Pressure "I had a heart attack and 3 stents put in around the fall of 2013. I had managed pretty well on Corgard 40mg. I also have rare episodes of supraventricular tachycardia in which the heart pulse goes as high as 250 beats a minute, with skips. Had to have my heart stopped and revived to reset it last time. The last 9 months I've been having to triple my Corgard, feel heartbeats strong, out of sync, palpitations. Last checkup doctor measured 162/100, even after doubling Corgard. She put me on Losartan and for over one week, I don't feel my heart pounding, my BP averages 110/73 taken 3 different times a day, no skips, feel 30 years younger on the lowest dosage 25mg. It seems that depending on a certain enzyme one's body produces, this medicine either works great, or not at all from my studies. I don't live in fear anymore, and have more energy not taking Corgard which makes you fatigue."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 21, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on the Losartan 50mg for five days. Yesterday, I noticed hair loss on my arms and my blood pressure is elevated. It's really difficult during this pandemic to seek medical attention outside of the emergency room, which I have visited twice in the last 10 days. I feel absolutely horrible with fatigue, shortness of breath, and an overall feeling of uneasiness."

• Lar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "Has anyone successfully found a replacement for Lisinopril and/or Losartan? I am a 51-year-old male. I have average blood pressure ranging from 135/75 to 160/92. My doctor initially put me on 5 mg of Lisinopril. I started out okay but then developed a persistent cough, constant chills, tinnitus, and headaches. I came off the Lisinopril and within one week, my cough and other side effects had subsided and I felt much better. So he recently changed me to Losartan 25 mg. Within the first 24 hours, my persistent cough was back with a vengeance, I didn't sleep the first night and I feel fatigued and washed out. I am going to come off Losartan, as I know things will not improve. Has anyone been in a similar situation and found a blood pressure-lowering drug that works, with no side effects? Many thanks."

• Kei...
• July 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Started taking this about 3 months ago for borderline high/high BP. 150/95. Got me down to 130/88. But now I feel like a truck hit me every day. Fatigue. Achy. Flu-like. All day. It just literally hit me it could be this medicine. I googled my symptoms and bam. I'm getting off this."

• SGH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "Losartan is poison and I hope anyone taking it at least monitors their improvement-if any-versus the side effects, because they sneak up on you. I believe this medication will do much more harm than good, so please be careful. I took it because Lisinopril gave me a cough. I gave it 3 full months, and during that time, I became very ill. Extreme fatigue, headaches, sore back, weakness in my legs-that was very scary. I felt like I had the flu daily, and I thought it might be another medication I was on, but I tested myself by stopping the other meds and nope, the symptoms still remained. I was so exhausted all the time, I could hardly get through my day and had to take daily naps. I slept very deeply with vivid dreams. Never ever again!"

• Bus...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• May 30, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "It has helped to lower blood pressure, but over the year + I've been taking it, I've experienced a 40-pound weight gain, severe pain in joints, muscles in legs and feet, ache in leg bones, tingling in hands and feet, very stuffy sinuses - very swollen, difficulty getting to sleep and/or staying asleep, general weakness and sluggishness, sometimes extreme exhaustion. Seeing Dr this week, hoping we can find a better solution."

• Spo...
• August 21, 2010

For High Blood Pressure "Used Benicar for 6 weeks to see if I could tolerate it. Doctor then prescribed Losartan - a generic from the same group of medicines. Within a week of taking Losartan, I began to experience 'fatigue' in my upper body with slight numbness in my arms, hands, and fingers. Simple tasks like mowing and trimming my lawn wore me out and caused my upper body muscles to feel like I'd worked out for hours. Some experience of jaw pain on my left side, ache in neck as well. I've taken myself off this medicine for the weekend and will see if my Doctor can put me back on Atenolol/Chlortalidone, my previous blood pressure medicines (made me sensitive to sunlight but nothing as bad as Losartan). Doctor seemed surprised by my side effects, but reading this site among others shows I'm not alone."

• Gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 28, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Not many problems with losartan for BP, but the ones from Camber Labs didn't work for me. Had fatigue and BP was higher. Have been on them for about 3 1/2 years. The losartan from this lab is the only one that showed side effects. Pharmacy is marking my file so I don't get that brand again. Some of the previous patients might want to consider the manufacturer/lab and change that. Another thing is they are extremely bitter. Taste it as soon as I put it in my mouth. Previous ones were not like that."

• Lin...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 26, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "My cardiologist added this drug to my other medications I have been on and taking with no problems. Not even two days into taking Losartan, I am experiencing side effects. I noticed I could not taste my oatmeal this morning, a terrible whole-body feeling of being so ill, stomach pains, sweating in my feet, blurred vision, not wanting to eat, wanting to throw up even after a sip of water, and feeling tired, dizzy, and buzzing in my ears, to name a few... and this is ONLY after two days of taking this medication. I called my doctor and told them I do not want to and will NOT take this medication anymore. I am waiting for them to call me back right now... I've had enough of these so-called drugs that make me feel so absolutely horrible."

• cha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 31, 2015

Losartan for High Blood Pressure "I've been taking this medication for about 1 1/2 months or a bit longer. I have been having a lot of bowel movements, stomach discomfort, went from weighing 123 lbs to 98 lbs, not to mention feeling dizzy and fatigued. I just left a message with my doctor's reception desk, and I'm hoping I get a call back today with a reply to my message."

• Ani...
• December 15, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Losartan for 15 days. I was on Valsartan before this. The Losartan brings down my blood pressure to 120/70 range. I take a dose in the morning. About 2-3 hrs after I take it, I feel upper chest, neck, and ear fullness. Over the next 3-4 hrs, I feel lightheaded and I can't walk right. I feel fatigued. Around 4:30 to 5 pm, I begin to hear and feel bounding and vibration in my ears and head. By 5 pm to 6 pm, my blood pressure increases. The cardiologist tells me to take it at the same time every day 12 hours apart and I can't. I have to check my blood pressure first and sometimes I can't take it in the morning because my blood pressure is too low 90/60, and sometimes I can't wait the full 12 hours to take it in the evening. Hair loss, nausea"

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor prescribed losartan (which had a water pill ingredient in it as well) 6 weeks ago. Right away, I noticed the lightheadedness. Cut dosage to 50 mg from 100 mg. Still too much and cut it down 2 more times. Symptoms were getting worse. Loss of energy and head was hurting horribly. A week ago, it was like a freight train hit me and I was down. Diarrhea and head pain. Called my doctor, and when I told him my symptoms, he said he would take the water pill out of it and thought my blood pressure was touchy. Took the losartan without the water pill in it and it was the same effect. I'm stopping the pill and getting a new doctor."

• Sto...
• November 26, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on Losartan for 2.5 years. I haven't had an issue with it until the past 4-6 months. I've been experiencing dizziness, headaches, general nausea, and malaise... and a significant amount of hair loss. I've been checking my blood pressure multiple times daily for the past week, and all BP readings have been higher than before I was placed on BP meds. When my diastolic is above 100 mmHg is when I become symptomatic - dizziness, nausea, headache, heart pounding... etc. I have been thinking these symptoms could be thyroid-related... however, now after reading others' posts, I'm wondering if it's not the Losartan. The high BP on meds has been quite concerning. The hair loss has been depressing... but manageable. Contacting the doctor on Monday."

• Dom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 27, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Prescribed losartan, partly because I'm dealing with a gout flare, and it supposedly helps with that as well. It's like my doctor didn't even take my disability (which is a 36-year-old C4-5 spinal injury causing partial paralysis and makes up about 80% of my medical records) into account: chronic bad back, chronic edema, spasticity/muscle cramping, tinnitus, lifelong history of migraines, chronic sinus infections, insomnia, bowel and bladder incontinence, chronic fatigue. I wish I'd have researched this medication before taking it, because its side effects are exactly contrary to nearly all of the things that I suffer as a result of my disability. Spent the entire night awake, ears ringing like mad, fever dreaming, head banging on one side, hands going numb, terribly anxious, and feeling like at any minute I was going to explode. I'm going to see if my doctor will put me on something like bisoprolol, which a relative of mine takes and has had very good luck with."

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 22, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "I take 100 mg. My blood pressure is still not consistent. But one thing I am sure of is that I'm dizzy all of the time. In addition to several other side effects that I am expecting, fatigue is definitely a problem, as well as back pain. At first, I thought it was directly related to my back surgery 6 years ago. But I'm seeing now that it is listed as a side effect. But what is terrifying for me is the blurry vision. All of the side effects are affecting my quality of life."

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I have every side effect. I take 25 mg and was taking it in the morning, but I could hardly pick my legs up. Pain everywhere. Very sluggish. All I want to do is go back and lay down. No motivation. Called the doctor to get another pill with fewer side effects, and his response was, per the nurse, 'You are on the lowest dose, and if you can't stand the side effects, just don't take it.' I am one miserable lady and just mad at my doctor."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 26, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I'm 49 years old and on this for moderately high blood pressure. I have only been on this medication for two weeks. From the beginning, I've had extreme fatigue to the point of just wanting to lay in bed all day (thankfully, I am self-employed) and thought it would pass, but it hasn't. Now, two weeks in, I have developed pretty bad stomach pain, bad constipation, and leg cramps. I was really alarmed-especially over the stomach pain-and then realized that my symptoms could be caused by the losartan and see others have experienced the same. I have a follow-up with my GP next week to check how I've been doing on the medication and so will discuss this with him. If it's something that will pass, I'll stick it out, but reading some of these posts, I'm concerned that the symptoms could be something that lasts."

• Ani...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "This is one of the worst medicines I ever had. I was fine on Atenolol 25 mg twice a day till about 2 months back. Suddenly, my blood pressure (BP) started hitting 160/100. My MD suggested adding Losartan 25 mg with no effect but huge side effects like headache, joint pain, sleepless nights. My MD refused to accept side effects could be due to Losartan. She upped the dose to 50 mg with no effect. However, my side effects increased. Had severe chills, sleepless nights, and fatigue. Now I have decided to change the doctor and consult a new one. I will stop taking Losartan in consultation with the new doc."

• cgb...
• September 11, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Went down with vertigo 11 months ago. Finally diagnosed a minor stroke causing vestibular neuritis. The treatment has been to try and lower BP so that minor arteries feeding the inner ear relax to get balance back. I was not quite hyper when tested by GP but well over when tested over 24 hours. First drug tried was Amlodipine (10 mg), which did lower BP to 135/85. However, this gave side effects (swollen ankles, breathlessness, poor sleep). The next was Riparin (2.5 mg), which also gave side effects (dry cough, lack of energy, breathlessness). I am now on Losartan 50 mg (for 5 days now) and again find some side effects, breathlessness, tiredness - not reduced BP, which is 140/100. Needs to be increased but hopefully side effects will wear off?"