Losartan Vir 50 mg film-coated tablets EFG

Package leaflet: Information for the user

Introduction

Package leaflet: information for the user

Losartán Vir 50 mg film-coated tablets EFG

Read the entire leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine.

• Keep this leaflet, as you may need to read it again.
• If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
• This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not give it to others, even if they have the same symptoms, as it may harm them.
• If you think any of the side effects you experience is serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, inform your doctor or pharmacist. (See section 4)

Contents of the leaflet

1. What Losartán Vir is and what it is used for
2. Before you take Losartán Vir
3. How to take Losartán Vir
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Losartán Vir
6. Further information

1. What Losartán Vir is and what it is used for

Losartan belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

Angiotensin II is a substance produced in the body that binds to receptors present in blood vessels, causing them to narrow. This leads to an increase in blood pressure. Losartan blocks angiotensin II from binding to these receptors, resulting in relaxation of the blood vessels, which in turn lowers blood pressure. Losartan reduces the worsening of kidney function in patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Losartán Vir is used

• To treat patients with high blood pressure (hypertension).
• To protect the kidney in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and laboratory test results indicating renal impairment and proteinuria ≥ 0.5 g per day (a condition in which the urine contains an abnormally high amount of protein).
• To treat patients with chronic heart failure, when your doctor considers that treatment with specific medicines called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors, medicines used to lower high blood pressure) is not suitable. If your heart failure has been stabilized with an ACE inhibitor, you should not switch to losartan.
• In patients with high blood pressure and thickening of the left ventricle of the heart, losartan has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke (LIFE indication).

2. Before taking Losartán Vir

Do not take Losartán Vir

• If you are allergic (hypersensitive) to losartan or to any of the other components of Losartán Vir.
• If your liver function is severely impaired.
• If you are more than 3 months pregnant. (It is also advisable to avoid Losartán Vir during the first months of pregnancy – see Pregnancy section).
• If you have diabetes or renal insufficiency and are being treated with a blood pressure-lowering medicine containing aliskiren.

Take special care with Losartán Vir

Inform your doctor if you are pregnant (or suspect you might be). The use of Losartán Vir is not recommended at the beginning of pregnancy, and under no circumstances should it be administered after the third month of pregnancy, as it may cause serious harm to your baby when used from that point onward (see section Pregnancy).

Before taking Losartán Vir, it is important that you inform your doctor:

• If you have a history of angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat) (see also section 4. Possible adverse effects).

• If you are experiencing excessive vomiting or diarrhea, leading to excessive loss of fluid and/or salt from your body.

• If you are taking diuretics (medicines that increase the amount of fluid passing through your kidneys) or are on a low-salt diet that may cause excessive loss of fluids or salt from your body (see section 3. Dosage in special patient groups).

• If you know you have narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels supplying your kidneys or if you have recently undergone a kidney transplant.

• If your liver function is impaired (see sections 2. Do not take Losartán Vir and 3. Dosage in special patient groups).

• If you have heart failure with or without renal insufficiency or potentially life-threatening concomitant cardiac arrhythmias. Special attention is required if you are also being treated with a beta-blocker.

• If you have heart valve problems or issues with the heart muscle.

• If you have coronary heart disease (caused by reduced blood flow in the blood vessels of the heart) or cerebrovascular disease (caused by reduced blood circulation in the brain).

• If you have primary hyperaldosteronism (a syndrome associated with excessive secretion of the hormone aldosterone by the adrenal gland due to a disorder of this gland).

• If you are taking any of the following medicines used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension):

• An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor (e.g., enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril), particularly if you have kidney problems related to diabetes.

• Aliskiren.

  • If you experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after taking losartan. Your doctor will decide whether to continue treatment. Do not stop taking losartan monotherapy without medical advice.

Your doctor may monitor your kidney function, blood pressure, and blood levels of electrolytes (e.g., potassium) at regular intervals.

See also the information under the heading “Do not take Losartán Vir”.

Use of other medicines

Inform your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines, including over-the-counter medicines, herbal remedies, and natural products.

While being treated with Losartán Vir, take particular care if you are taking any of the following medicines:

• Other medicines that lower blood pressure, as they may cause an additional reduction in blood pressure. Blood pressure may also be lowered by some of the following medicines/classes of medicines: tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, baclofen, amifostine.
• Medicines that retain potassium or may increase potassium levels (e.g., potassium supplements, potassium-containing salt substitutes, or potassium-sparing medicines such as certain diuretics [amiloride, triamterene, spironolactone] or heparin).
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as indomethacin, including COX-2 inhibitors (medicines that reduce inflammation and may be used to relieve pain), as they may reduce the blood pressure-lowering effect of losartan.

Your doctor may need to adjust your dose and/or take other precautions:

If you are taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or aliskiren (see also information under the headings “Do not take Losartán Vir” and “Take special care with Losartán Vir”).

If your kidney function is impaired, concomitant use of these medicines may lead to worsening of kidney function.

Medicines containing lithium should not be used in combination with losartan unless your doctor closely monitors you. Special precautionary measures (e.g., blood tests) may be appropriate.

Taking Losartán Vir with food and drinks

Losartán Vir can be taken with or without food.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

You must inform your doctor if you are pregnant (or suspect you might be). Your doctor will generally advise you to stop taking Losartán Vir before becoming pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will recommend an alternative medicine instead of Losartán Vir. The use of Losartán Vir is not recommended at the beginning of pregnancy, and under no circumstances should it be administered after the third month of pregnancy, as it may cause serious harm to your baby when used from that point onward.

Breastfeeding

Inform your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. The use of Losartán Vir is not recommended during breastfeeding, and your doctor will choose an alternative treatment for you if you wish to breastfeed, especially if your baby is a newborn or premature.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any medicine.

Use in children and adolescents

Losartan has been studied in children. For more information, speak with your doctor.

Driving and using machines

No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been conducted. It is unlikely that Losartán Vir will affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, like many medicines used to treat high blood pressure, losartan may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, consult your doctor before engaging in such activities.

3. How to take Losartán Vir

Follow exactly the administration instructions for Losartán Vir given by your doctor.

Your doctor will determine the appropriate dose of Losartán Vir depending on your condition and whether you are taking other medications. It is important to continue taking Losartán Vir as prescribed by your physician in order to maintain consistent blood pressure control.

Patients with high blood pressure

Treatment usually starts with 50 mg of losartan (one tablet of Losartán Vir 50 mg) once daily. The maximum blood pressure-lowering effect is achieved within 3 to 6 weeks after starting treatment. Afterwards, in some patients, the dose may be increased to 100 mg of losartan (two tablets of Losartán Vir 50 mg or one tablet of Losartán Vir 100 mg) once daily.

If you feel that the effect of Losartán is too strong or too weak, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.

Patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes

Treatment usually starts with 50 mg of losartan (one tablet of Losartán Vir 50 mg) once daily. Afterwards, the dose may be increased to 100 mg of losartan (two tablets of Losartán Vir 50 mg or one tablet of Losartán Vir 100 mg) once daily, depending on your blood pressure response.

Losartán tablets may be taken together with other antihypertensive medicines (e.g. diuretics, calcium antagonists, alpha or beta blockers, and centrally-acting agents), as well as with insulin and other commonly used medications to lower blood glucose levels (e.g., sulfonylureas, glitazones, and glucosidase inhibitors).

Patients with heart failure

Treatment usually starts with 12.5 mg of losartan (one tablet of Losartán 12.5 mg Inicio) once daily. The dose is usually gradually increased on a weekly basis (i.e., 12.5 mg daily during the first week, 25 mg daily during the second week, and 50 mg daily during the third week) up to a maintenance dose of 50 mg of losartan (one tablet of Losartán Vir 50 mg) once daily, depending on your condition.

In the treatment of heart failure, losartan is usually combined with a diuretic (a medicine that increases the amount of fluid passing through your kidneys) and/or digitalis (a medicine that helps your heart become stronger and more efficient) and/or a beta-blocker.

Dosage in special patient groups

Your doctor may recommend a lower dose, especially when starting treatment in certain patients, such as those receiving high-dose diuretics, patients with hepatic impairment, or patients over 75 years of age. The use of losartan is not recommended in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see section "Do not take Losartán Vir").

Administration

The tablets should be taken with a glass of water. You should try to take your daily dose at approximately the same time each day. It is important that you continue taking Losartán Vir unless your doctor tells you otherwise.

If you take more Losartán Vir than you should

If you accidentally take too many tablets, or if a child swallows any, contact your doctor immediately. Symptoms of overdose include low blood pressure, increased heart rate, and possibly decreased heart rate.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, contact your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service at telephone number 91 562 04 20, indicating the medicine and the amount ingested.

If you forget to take Losartán Vir

If you accidentally miss a dose, simply take the next dose as scheduled. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed tablet.

If you have any further questions about the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible adverse effects

Like all medicines, Losartán Vir can cause adverse effects, although not everyone experiences them.

If you experience the following, stop taking losartan tablets and contact your doctor immediately or go to the nearest hospital emergency department:

A severe allergic reaction (skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, mouth or throat, which may cause difficulty swallowing or breathing).

This is a serious but rare adverse effect, affecting more than 1 in 10,000 patients but less than 1 in 1,000. It may require urgent medical attention or hospitalization.

Adverse effects of medicines are classified as follows:

Very common: affects 1 in 10 patients.
Common: affects 1 to 10 in 100 patients.
Uncommon: affects 1 to 10 in 1,000 patients.
Rare: affects 1 to 10 in 10,000 patients.
Very rare: affects less than 1 in 10,000 patients.
Not known: frequency cannot be estimated from available data.

The following adverse effects have been reported with losartan:

Common:

• dizziness,
• low blood pressure,
• weakness,
• fatigue,
• low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia),
• high potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalaemia).

Uncommon:

• drowsiness,
• headache,
• sleep disorders,
• sensation of very rapid heartbeat (palpitations),
• severe chest pain (angina pectoris),
• low blood pressure (especially after excessive loss of fluid in the blood vessels, e.g. in patients with severe heart failure or receiving high doses of diuretics),
• dose-related orthostatic effects, such as drop in blood pressure upon standing up from lying or sitting position,
• difficulty breathing (dyspnoea),
• abdominal pain,
• chronic constipation,
• diarrhoea,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• hives (urticaria),
• itching (pruritus),
• skin rash,
• localized swelling (oedema).

Rare:

• inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis, Schönlein-Henoch purpura),
• numbness or tingling sensation (paraesthesia),
• fainting (syncope),
• very rapid and irregular heartbeat (atrial fibrillation),
• stroke (cerebrovascular accident),
• liver inflammation (hepatitis),
• increased blood levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), which usually resolves upon discontinuation of treatment,
• intestinal angioedema: swelling in the intestine causing symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

Not known:

• reduced number of red blood cells (anaemia),
• reduced number of platelets,
• migraine,
• cough,
• liver function abnormalities,
• muscle and joint pain,
• changes in kidney function (may be reversible upon discontinuation of treatment), including renal failure,
• flu-like symptoms,
• increased blood urea, creatinine and plasma potassium levels in patients with heart failure,
• back pain and urinary tract infection.

Reporting of adverse effects:

If you experience any adverse effect, consult your doctor or pharmacist, even if it is a possible adverse effect not listed in this leaflet. You may also report them directly via the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting adverse effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5. Storage of Losartán Vir

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Do not use Losartán Vir after the expiry date stated on the packaging after EXP. The expiry date refers to the last day of the month indicated.

No special storage conditions are required.

Store Losartán Vir in the original packaging.

Do not open the blister pack until ready to take the medicine.

Medicines must not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Unused medicines and their containers should be taken to a SIGRE point at your pharmacy. If you have any doubts, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of unused medicines and their packaging. This will help protect the environment.

6. Information for the user

Composition of Losartán Vir

The active substance in Losartán Vir is potassium losartan.

Each Losartán Vir 50 mg tablet contains 50 mg of potassium losartan.

The other components of the core are microcrystalline cellulose, sodium stearyl fumarate, sodium croscarmellose, and anhydrous colloidal silica.

Losartán Vir 50 mg contains potassium in the following amount: 4.24 mg (0.108 mEq).

The other components of the film coating are microcrystalline cellulose, hydroxypropylmethylcellulose, polyethylene glycol 40 stearate, and titanium dioxide (E171).

Appearance of the medicinal product and contents of the container

Losartán Vir 50 mg is supplied as white, oval, biconvex, film-coated tablets with a score line.

Losartán Vir is available in the following pack sizes: PVC/PE/PVDC/Al blisters in packs of 28 film-coated tablets.

Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer

Marketing Authorization Holder:

Industria Química y Farmacéutica VIR, S.A.
C/Laguna 66-68-70
Polígono Industrial Urtinsa II
28923 Alcorcón-Madrid (Spain)

Manufacturer:

Sofarimex Lda.
Av. Indústrias, Alto do Colaride
Agualva 2735-213 Cacém – Portugal

or

Industria Química y Farmacéutica VIR, S.A.
C/ Laguna 66-68-70
Polígono Industrial Urtinsa II
28923 Alcorcón-Madrid (Spain)

This Patient Information Leaflet was last approved in February 2025

Detailed and up-to-date information on this medicinal product is available on the website of the Spanish Agency of Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS): http://www.aemps.gob.es/.