What is COZAAR?
COZAAR is a
prescription medicine called an angiotensin receptor
blocker. It is used:
- alone or with other blood pressure medicines to lower
high blood pressure
- to lower the chance of stroke in
patients with high blood pressure and a heart problem called left ventricular
hypertrophy. COZAAR may not help Black patients with this problem.
- to slow the worsening of diabetic
kidney disease (nephropathy) in patients with type 2 diabetes who have or
had high blood pressure.
COZAAR has not been studied in
children less than 6 years old or in children with certain kidney problems.
Who should not take COZAAR?
Do not
take COZAAR if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in COZAAR.
What should I tell my doctor before
taking COZAAR?
Tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions including if you:
- are pregnant or planning to become
pregnant.
- are breast-feeding.
- are vomiting a lot or having a lot of diarrhea
- have liver problems
- have kidney problems
Tell your
doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and
non-prescription medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
COZAAR and certain other medicines
may interact with each other. Especially tell your doctor if you are taking:
- potassium supplements
- salt substitutes containing potassium
- water pills (diuretics)
- medicines used to treat pain and
arthritis, called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including
COX-2 inhibitors.
How should I take COZAAR?
- Take COZAAR exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
Your doctor may change your dose if needed.
- COZAAR can be taken with or without food.
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember.
If it is close to your next dose, do not take the missed dose.
Just take the next dose at your regular time.
- If you take too much COZAAR, call your doctor or
Poison Control Center,
or go to the nearest hospital emergency room right away.
What are the possible side effects
of COZAAR?
COZAAR may cause the following side
effects that may be serious:
- Injury or death of unborn babies.
- Allergic reaction. Symptoms of an allergic
reaction are swelling of the face, lips, throat or tongue.
Get emergency medical help right away and stop taking COZAAR.
- Low blood pressure (hypotension). Low blood pressure may cause
you to feel faint or dizzy.
Lie down if you feel faint or dizzy. Call your doctor right away.
- For people who already have kidney problems, you
may see a worsening in how well your kidneys work.
Call your doctor if you get swelling
in your feet, ankles, or hands, or unexplained weight gain.
The most common side effects of
COZAAR in people with high blood pressure are:
- �colds� (upper respiratory
infection)
- dizziness
- stuffy nose
- back pain
The most common side effects of
COZAAR in people with type 2 diabetes with diabetic kidney disease are:
- diarrhea
- tiredness
- low blood sugar
- chest pain
- high blood potassium
- low blood pressure
Tell your doctor if you get any side
effect that bothers you or that won�t go away. This is not a
complete list of side effects. For a complete list, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
Keep
COZAAR and all medicines out of the reach of children.
