High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, is directly or indirectly dangerous for almost every system in the human body. Not only does it cause heart disease and stroke, but hypertension caused 127,935 cases of end-stage renal disease, or approximately 24 percent of all cases of renal failure in 2007, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Losartan is one of the many drugs used to treat this insidious disease.
Losartan
Losartan potassium, more commonly known as losartan, was first synthesized by scientists at Dupont in March, 1986. At that time, Dupont was only just beginning to research new drugs. In 1990, the company joined forces with Merck, who had the marketing capability to launch the new product, which was sold under the names Cozaar and Hyzaar. This product became a blockbuster drug, with three billion dollars in annual sales by 2005.
ARBs
Losartan was the first angiotensin receptor blocker, or ARB. Drugs in this family all end with the suffix "sartan." Other ARBs include valsartan, candesartan irbesartan and telmisartan. ARBs are a little bit like angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, more commonly know as ACE inhibitors. Both ARBs and ACE inhibitors act on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
RAAS
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, or RAAS, is central to the regulation of blood pressure. Renin from the kidneys cleaves a protein called angiotensinogen to form angiotensin I. Angiotensingen converting enzyme converts the angiotensin I into angiotensin II. Angiotensin II binds to receptors on blood vessels and causes them to constrict, which raises blood pressure. Losartan lowers blood pressure by preventing Angiotensin II from binding to the receptors
Risks
Losartan is well tolerated and has relatively few side effects. Doctors usually start patients on a low dose and gradually increase the dose over a period of weeks or months as needed. It is often prescribed in combination with other drugs such as calcium channel blockers, ACE inhibitors, diuretics, thiazides and beta blockers.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases; Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States; April 2010
- PubMed Health; Losartan; July 1, 2010
- Babson College; How the Anti-Hypertensive Losartan was Discovered; Gaurab Bhardwaj; July, 2006
- Nephrological Issues in Experimental Research; The Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone System (RAAS) in Renal Disease; A. Titia Lely; Nov. 2007
