Losartan and Pain: What Users Say

• ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 16, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "What is wrong with the FDA? This stuff is awful! Why are doctors prescribing this stuff? It lowered my BP while making me blind, lame, and in pain from joints! Seriously? I was on half a 25mg for 2 weeks, didn't do much to my BP, then went to the full 25mg pill and in two days I can't see straight (blurry vision!), my hands hurt, my knee hurts, my shoulders hurt! What? So now I have to taper off this junk to avoid rebound! What? Do not take this drug."

• Rut...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 10, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Rapid weight gain of 20 lbs within 2 months. (I was on an 1100-calorie diet and walking 1 mile per day.) Legs, hips, and overall body pain so bad some days I couldn't walk. I really felt it was slowly killing me, I couldn't even function, I wanted to just give up. So, I thought I'd take the chance and stop taking it. (The doctor claimed Losartan would not cause my problems.) I took the chance and stopped Losartan, and ALL pain and overall symptoms were gone within 2 days. Doctors need to read reviews from patients and stop relying on company facts."

• 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"

• 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"

• Ros...
• July 30, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Losartan potassium for a few months. Although it lowered my BP, the side effects are horrible! I thought it was something else, then I read the side effects. I am up every night, can’t sleep. Also, the worst is the leg, calf, and thigh muscle cramping. I am up every 2 hours with that, and I cry. It takes at least 10 min to stop. Then I fall asleep, and the cramping again wakes me over and over all night!! Anyone else get muscle cramping/pain?"

• RJP...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Suffered for a year with leg exercise-induced pain, severe. They worked me up for knee damage, venous and arterial disease, spine problems, all for naught. Finally, in an unrelated change, I stopped taking Losartan. Leg pain was mostly gone in 3 days and totally gone in 10 days. So one doctor made me sick, 4 doctors failed to find the answer, but luck intervened on my behalf. Leg/back pain occurs in up to 10% of users, but 4 doctors never suggested this as a cause. If ours (USA) is the best medical system in the world, God help us!"

• Hon...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 31, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on Losartan 50mg dose for five days for high blood pressure. My doctor was trying it to see if it would work in getting my pressure down. So, I took Losartan at the same time every morning at 9 am. About the third or fourth day, I started experiencing side effects. I was having chest pains, leg pain, feeling mood change, stomach pain, and my throat felt like it was closing up. So, I had to get off them as it didn't work for me, but maybe someone else."

• Mea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 29, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I took Losartan 50 mg for months and it helped with my BP and kept it really low, like 105/70, except it caused severe back pain. But then they had a recall, and I am on a different brand and since then I have developed many side effects, including chronic left shoulder pain, anxiety, and tachycardia. It is causing my blood pressure to shoot up high at times. The doctor increased the dose to 100 mg and the back pain returned. I told my doctor about the anxiety and pain, but she said these are not side effect symptoms. She added Lopressor for the BP and tachycardia because I requested it, and I am weaning myself off the Losartan, myself now due to terrible side effects. You cannot take Motrin or similar meds while on Losartan, so you cannot even treat the back and shoulder pain. I did insist on an EKG due to the new tachycardia, and I am scheduled to see a cardiologist who I hope will be much better educated on these medications."

• She...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 26, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking 50mg of losartan for a few years. I never really looked very deeply into losartan past the 'may make you drowsy' stuff on the bottle. As time went on, I noticed that I was getting weaker and weaker to the point that I couldn't do anything. My legs felt heavy and even just mild exertion left me gasping for breath. Getting up, I would feel dizzy. Everything in my body hurt. I have vision and hearing problems in addition to a loud ringing in my ears. I've had a physical, lab work, tests, etc. There is no obvious physical cause for my problems. So, I have started to look into my medication side effects. I looked up losartan and BAM - everything that I was experiencing is listed. I've been off it a couple of days and while it is too soon to tell if that was the cause, I do not feel worse and seem to be on the upswing. Note, I discussed stopping the losartan with my physician first, and I monitor my blood pressure in case it goes back up without the losartan."

• bpa...
• June 19, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking this medication for about a month after the doctor decided to switch to this. It helps with blood pressure for about half a day, and by bedtime, blood pressure is sky high again. Legs, feet, and hands go numb and cramp. Severe back pain along with headaches and just a general feeling of being unwell. My whole body hurts 24/7, and with all the recalls lately, it is alarming. I can't wait to see the doctor and get off this medicine!"

• Nee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Straight to the point: been on losartan for a very short time, this med has caused me to have severe back pain and leg pain, I experience the tingling, I stopped taking it, the side effects are terrible"

• Nan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 24, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Losartan for 4.5 years. It has done a decent job of lowering my (genetic) moderately high BP, but I have had a daily headache, acid reflux (controlled with a daily Prilosec), and rapid weight gain. I cannot tolerate beta blockers (terrible headaches and vivid nightmares), and my doctor felt I needed an extra medication to accompany my hydrochlorothiazide. Ergo, Losartan. My bra size went from a “B” cup to a “DDD” practically overnight (not a good thing), my face is swollen, and I cannot get my weight under control in spite of running and fast walking 3.5 miles 4-5 times a week. I eat very little (never been a foodie) and drink only socially, no dairy, mostly fruits and veggies. I have recently noticed pain in my hips, which I attributed to aging (I am a very healthy 67-year-old). I see my primary care physician in two weeks and hope to have a conversation regarding getting off this drug."

• 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."

• Lit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I have been very healthy my entire life, thank God, until last year when my blood pressure started going up. The doctor prescribed Metoprolol and Lisinopril. I started coughing constantly, which led me to the ER, thinking I had pneumonia. The ER doctor switched Lisinopril for Losartan Potassium. The leg and back pain are unbearable to the point that I can almost not stand or walk. I am afraid of falling, feeling dizzy and tired. I don't need to live with this quality of life. The dangerous side effects are even worse than what I felt when my blood pressure started rising. There has to be something better than this."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2012

For High Blood Pressure "It's helping my blood pressure level throughout the day but I have these 'rushes' in my chest and some weird pains and numbness in the back of my left arm. Pulse rate sometimes goes through the roof and facial flushing. It's only two weeks on so hopefully some of this will even out. Much better than Lisinopril which made my hair fall out and rashes on my face, not to mention hacky cough."

• mr ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 28, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Started taking losartan on Saturday, January 23rd, 2016. After my 3rd daily dose of 50 milligrams, I developed a dry cough that lasted approximately 6 hours, and I was coughing about every 3 minutes. I coughed so hard that I eventually had blood spotting in my spit. I developed a massive headache and I was vomiting. Over the night, I developed a high temperature of approximately 102.2 degrees. I went to urgent care for some medical attention and told them about all the side effects I was having, which were as follows: heart rate increased from approximately 78 beats per minute to 114 beats per minute. I had increased blood pressure of 160/104. I had pain in my jaw and right bicep. I was urinating approximately every 20 minutes. And more horror!"

• Sun...
• June 10, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Taken Losartan since Nov 2017, for high blood pressure. Have stuffy nose and terrible panic attacks randomly. Pain in knee and hip. Become very depressed and extremely anxious. Not a good medication for me, and it doesn't bring my BP down at all. Taking 25 mg, and Dr. wants me to take another extra dose of 12 mg, but I refuse as I cannot begin to contemplate how much more I will suffer with more of the dreaded stuff. Am going to research other options now and get off this. Had enough."

• Mil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 6, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Losartan is a terrible blood pressure medicine. I was on losartan 50 for about 9 months. Felt tired all the time and had increased insomnia. Then blood pressure got up in the Dr's office one day to 180/100, my Dr increased the dose to losartan 100 mg. Felt awful on it for 5 days. Flu-like symptoms, red eyes, and bad, bad leg pains. Went back down to 50 mg, but am going to talk to my Dr about getting off period. I was on Lisinopril, which made me cough so bad I ended up seeing a pulmonologist."

• gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 7, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on 12.5 mg of Losartan for many years, have had severe hair loss, weight gain, and very bad depression, also really bad leg and back pain. I'm a 71-year-old female, my doctor has repeatedly denied that this could be caused by my meds. I have found Losartan very easy to take, my husband takes a very much larger dose, 50 mg, but had to cut it in half. He also suffers from weight gain, leg and back pain, and I believe depression. We are asking to be taken off this so that we can hopefully lose these side effects. I tried cilazapril but had worse side effects. After searching the net, I found lots of people complaining of hair loss. I'm desperate to find something to save my last remaining hair. Trying a new doctor."

• Tho...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 1, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Losartan 100 mg for about 4 months now. At first, it seemed fine, with no apparent problems. Blood pressure was still pretty high until medication was added, making it my 4th. I have been getting progressively worse with tiredness, joint, and body pain. Referred to physical therapy with no improvement. Just hurts to move. I have experienced this before and quickly improved after medication changes. Thinking it may be the Losartan because I was on it before but don't remember why I was taken off."

• AJa...
• March 5, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I took this drug at 25 mg. Made me feel horrible after one week. Lowered my BP only 3 points. I got off of this and started taking beetroot, and for the first 3 days on it, BP has been 123/82 on average! Beetroot is an excellent alternative! Losartan also gave me severe cramps in my joints and pain! If possible, find a natural remedy!"

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 21, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "At 60 years old, I was dealing with slightly high blood pressure, probably due to being overweight, even though I was walking 1.5 miles a day, 6 days a week, and am generally healthy, had stopped smoking, and was eating well. Was put on Losartan, and within 4 months, I had very bad back and leg pain. I never dreamed it could be caused by the drug, so I spent months in chiropractic and physical therapy trying to deal with it. Despite all efforts, it continued to get worse, to the point we suspected an actual tear in my hips or low back somewhere. But the MRI was negative. I am so thankful people have posted their adverse reactions here, as I stumbled on it by chance and finally found what was causing all the pain. I would have never dreamed a BP med could make you almost lame, but it did to me. Thankfully, I stopped using it and can tell at least the decline in my joints and muscles has been halted. No idea how long it will take to recover from all the other bad effects, though."

• 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."