Cozaar Special Precautions

Hypersensitivity: Angioedema. (See Side Effects.)
Hypotension and Electrolyte/Fluid Imbalance: In patients who are intravascularly volume-depleted (e.g., those treated with high-dose diuretics), symptomatic hypotension may occur. These conditions should be corrected prior to administration of COZAAR or a lower starting dose should be used (see Dosage & Administration).
Electrolyte imbalances are common in patients with renal impairment, with or without diabetes and should be addressed. In a clinical study conducted in type 2 diabetic patients with proteinuria, the incidence of hyperkalemia was higher in the group treated with COZAAR as compared to the placebo group; however, few patients discontinued therapy due to hyperkalemia (see Laboratory Test Findings under Side Effects).
Concomitant use of other drugs that may increase serum potassium may lead to hyperkalemia (see Interactions).
Liver Function Impairment: Based on pharmacokinetic data which demonstrate significantly increased plasma concentrations of losartan in cirrhotic patients, a lower dose should be considered for patients with a history of hepatic impairment (see Dosage & Administration).
Renal Function Impairment: As a consequence of inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system, changes in renal function including renal failure have been reported in susceptible individuals; these changes in renal function may be reversible upon discontinuation of therapy.
Other drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin system may increase blood urea and serum creatinine in patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis or stenosis of the artery to a solitary kidney. Similar effects have been reported with COZAAR; these changes in renal function may be reversible upon discontinuation of therapy.
Race: Based on the LIFE (Losartan Intervention For Endpoint reduction in hypertension) study, the benefits of COZAAR on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared to atenolol do not apply to Black patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy although both treatment regimens effectively lowered blood pressure in Black patients. In the overall LIFE study population (n=9193), treatment with COZAAR resulted in a 13.0% risk reduction (p=0.021) as compared to atenolol for patients reaching the primary composite endpoint of the combined incidence of cardiovascular death, stroke and myocardial infarction. In this study, COZAAR decreased the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared to atenolol in non-Black, hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy (n=8660) as measured by the primary endpoint of the combined incidence of cardiovascular death, stroke and myocardial infarction (p=0.003). In this study, however, Black patients treated with atenolol were at lower risk of experiencing the primary composite endpoint compared with Black patients treated with COZAAR (p=0.03). In the subgroup of Black patients (n=533; 6% of the LIFE study patients), there were 29 primary endpoints among 263 patients on atenolol (11%, 25.9 per 1000 patient-years) and 46 primary endpoints among 270 patients (17%, 41.8 per 1000 patient-years) on COZAAR.
Use in Pregnancy: Fetal Toxicity: See Pregnancy under Use in Pregnancy & Lactation section for further information.
Use in Children: Neonates with a history of in utero exposure to COZAAR: If oliguria or hypotension occur, direct attention toward support of blood pressure and renal perfusion. Exchange transfusions or dialysis may be required as a means of reversing hypotension and/or substituting for disordered renal function.
Use in the Elderly: In clinical studies, there was no age-related difference in the efficacy or safety profile of losartan.