Losartan and Insomnia: What Users Say (Page 2)

• T-P...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking Losartan for sudden high blood pressure a few months ago. I've noticed that my skin is having breakouts on my shoulders and chest, which is not normal for me at all. I've had this reaction on birth control before, so after thinking about it, the timing of this symptom with my starting this drug matches up. I've also lately been having a terrible time sleeping, feeling unusually exhausted during the day and evening, and been having a cough with hacking up phlegm that won't go away. I've also had unusual muscle pains. I don't know for sure if any of these things are related to this drug, but after reading the comments here, I see most are happening to other people too. I think I'm going to stop taking this and see what happens."

• Rob...
• July 4, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "Doc switched me from lisinopril to losartan because I had a cough. Been on this for two weeks and from day 1 had weak legs, a heavy feeling in my head, confusion, and insomnia. By the second week, started having heart palpitations, dizziness, and tingling in my right foot. The last straw was red, itchy eyes and a swollen/sore throat. Stopping this tonight. Rather take lisinopril and deal with the cough until I see my new doctor on Friday. Think it also makes me tired, constipated, nauseous, and without appetite. Did not look at side effects first, but when I listed how I was feeling since taking this drug, they were right there. I'll keep looking for something better, but am also following the DASH diet and have lost 30 lbs recently, so hope to be off this drug soon."

• Cat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 12, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure is down, but I've gained almost 10 lbs in 1 year, and I don't sleep well. Also, I always feel tired and feel pressure in my chest. And after reading all the comments, I found I have a few more that didn't even occur to me until now. My daughter mentioned that it seemed like I developed a nervous tick of scratching my arms... well... they're itchy!... also have a strange dry cough that happens randomly. I'm 42, 5'2" tall, and currently weigh 133 lbs... almost 10 more than last year. I have a physically demanding job, and I'm on my feet all day. I exercise 3-4 days a week: Zumba and sculpting class. For a while, I was running around 3-4 miles a day. I eat very healthy. All meals are home-cooked, and I eat clean."

• Sou...
• December 6, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "Getting two blood pressure readings of 180/90 a year apart worried me, so I asked a physician to prescribe something. This is what I got (50 mg). I forget to take it about twice a week. My last reading was 150/90, but I had skipped my dose that morning. I occasionally have hip, knee, and ankle pains, diarrhea, and disturbed sleep with vivid dreams, but no more than I did before starting Losartan. Improvements I noticed: I have more energy, for sure. My arms don't feel 'tight' inside on days when I remember to take it. The only negative thing that is different is I sometimes get the feeling I'm losing my mind, in a way I never felt before taking this. I can get the feelings under control in a short time, though."

• Mea...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 1, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Losartan 50 mg for years. I was concerned that with the recall, my doctor would suggest another. I also take Metoprolol 100 mg ER. I have to say that I have never experienced any problems with Losartan. In fact, I felt better within a few weeks of taking it. I have experienced insomnia once in a while, but I changed the time of day I take Losartan. I take it early morning. It seemed to help. Of course, everyone is different with different sensitivities. All I can say is give it a chance. You may find, like I did, that it is the best medication for you. I am hoping it isn't recalled. The best to everyone."

• 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."

• Lin...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 21, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Have suffered severe pain in my legs mostly. This has caused much anxiety. Do not sleep at all. I also have severe pain in my legs and back. Taking 100 mg. Just dropped to 50 mg. If I do not see improvement in 1 week, I will change to another med. I cry with pain in my legs and am so sleep-deprived that I can't function."

• 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?"

• Ran...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 3, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I have high blood pressure and tachycardia (resting heart rate is 95 bpm). I also take a beta-blocker, which I wanted to stop taking. Losartan seems to have little effect on my bp, but I need the beta-blocker for my tachycardia, so I am currently taking both. I previously stated that losartan was aggravating my insomnia, but I figured out it was folic acid, so I'm editing my review."

• Luc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Started on losartan 100 almost a month ago. Nausea and insomnia followed immediately. Now I have a rash on my breast. Don’t know if it’s connected. As for BP, it lowered it to the 130s over high 80s. I have to take something to sleep or I am up at 3 nightly. Just awful."

• Suz...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 4, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Switched from a beta blocker 10 plus years ago to Losartan 50 mg once a day and 25 mg HCT once a day. BP is good, palpitations infrequent, and other than occasional insomnia, which may not even be related, I think it’s an effective drug with minimal side effects. However, I did suffer from pulsative tinnitus for a few years on and off, but that has resolved itself... so not sure if it was related. I read someone else had that after taking this drug, so perhaps it was linked?"

• tan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Male, 57. Been on Losartan for 6 weeks and starting to feel side effects. Numbness in arm and both legs when I sleep. Nightmares and insomnia as well. Not really lowering BP. Keeping it about average to a little above."

• Qui...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Side effects: tinnitus, extreme dizziness, diarrhea, extreme tiredness, also insomnia at times, anxiety, with one case of extreme panic attack, blurred vision, loss of focus and concentration, loss of appetite, belching, and felt unbalanced on my feet. I drink plenty of water and still felt like I was drinking enough. I was on 50 mg once a day. My blood pressure is somewhat better, but the side effects have taken a massive toll on my body."

• Jim...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 26, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Was on lisinopril for many years until I developed allergies. Losartan has the least side effects of most ACE and ARBs but is the least potent. Most people complain about insomnia from any ARB, and this was true for me. I found that if I go above 50 mg of losartan, I will experience insomnia and restlessness. Currently taking only 50 mg, but this does not always control the seasonal spikes in the 150/95. Most of the time my BP averages 130/80, however."

• Gwe...
• April 8, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking this for 3 weeks 3 days, never been diagnosed for high BP, nor had my pressure monitor, had a drop in my potassium due to stress. In the ER on my second visit, they decided I need a water pill and a time release one for my BP, but my doctor took me off and put me on Losartan 50 mg. After taking it for 2 days, I felt the side effects: can't sleep, arms tingle with a light feeling of a burning sensation, palpitations, feeling anxious, not a good feeling. My mom and younger sister also take this med but no side effects, so for some it works, for others not so good."

• Tee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 23, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I thought it was just me! I've been on Losartan about 3 weeks. It makes your eyelids flutter, rash, lymph nodes tender, swollen under the left armpit, extreme itching on the left shoulder, can't hardly stand for anything to touch it, so tender and burning itching (I'm usually very active but) very tired, ear pain, back pain, insomnia, hair shedding, lightheaded, legs heavy cramping. I called my doctor just like some of the reviews, they claim it's not from the meds... RUBBISH! I mentioned the recall! He tells me to stop taking it until my appointment Tuesday... This medication is horrible. Don't take it!"

• var...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2025

For Diabetic Kidney Disease "I take Losartan 50 mg early morning once a day, it often makes me have a headache and makes it difficult to sleep. Especially when I wake up at midnight, I cannot sleep back and keep my eyes open the whole night. However, it has a good effect of lowering blood pressure systolic between 110/80 and 130/90."

• BPd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Trying to switch to Losartan from Bisoprolol, hoping to revive sex drive and get rid of joint stiffness/pain/general lethargy. After a week, Losartan's main issues on me are constant high pulse, often around 100, then the mid-80s at night, leading to sleep issues. I'll sleep for a while at first, then wake up and never get back to sleep. Also, I dream constantly on this stuff-not bad dreams, just rather boring constant dreams! Sex drive undecided, not a huge difference yet. Joints a bit better, but often fatigued due to lack of sleep, so not much more energy. I keep having to take 1/4 to 1/2 a pill of Bisoprolol to tamp down my pulse-but I wanted to kick that stuff! I'm only taking 1/2 pill of Losartan, 12.5 mg. BP is usually quite good on this stuff, the low number sometimes a little high in the 90s, though. Will continue to soldier on with Losartan, hoping my pulse goes down so I don't need to supplement with Bisoprolol (beta blocker). I just can't sleep very well with pulse above 80 at night."

• BPd...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 8, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "I tried this drug a second time, as my longtime Bisoprolol had suspected giving me joint pain, leg weakness, general apathy, fatigue, occasional heart palpitations, lack of sex drive. After six days, Losartan did improve my joints, strength, energy (to a degree) - now, however, I have fatigue from the insomnia it has given me. I only sleep four hours total a night, if lucky. Also, general dizziness that never totally goes away, and elevated pulse, which I forced to take a sliver of a Bisoprolol pill at night to lower and sleep. BP fluctuates between borderline hyper to good. Sadly, I'm just going to take the Bisoprolol once again, hope to get away with as low a dose as possible to avoid joint pain and lethargy. Losartan causing constant lightheaded/dizzy feeling and insomnia just too much to take."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 22, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "The white pills don't work, the green pills work. My BP is 140/72 usually, after taking for 4 years 100 mg daily. Can't sleep, occasional anxiety - nothing I can't talk to myself about. Have had heart attacks before taking this, no attacks since. Trace minerals are the answer! Take trace minerals to strengthen the heart, lots of energy with trace minerals. I use generic losartan."

• Bre...
• June 19, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Breathing difficulties, excessive bowel movements, memory loss (short term), weight gain, swelling ankles, coughing, and difficulty sleeping. I want to be on something else."

• Mm2...
• June 25, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking it for 2 weeks. Blood pressure is good, but the insomnia is pretty bad. I'll be seeing the doctor next week!"

• NYC...
• April 17, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I had trouble getting to sleep, stuffy, runny nose. I am 43 years old. I was on Norvasc, but my new doctor recommended this. I stopped taking it, maybe he can lower the dose."