I have been on losartan potassium 100mg and a diuretic for several years. I used to take both medications at night but decided to change to taking my medication during the day around 3pm as taking the water tablet meant I needed to get up in the night to go to the loo. Since then nearly every night about 11 - midnight I experience dizziness and when I check my pulse I've discovered that it's gone quite a bit low - usually 56/58. During the day my pulse is ok. I've just spoken to a GP today and he said it won't be my medication that's doing this but I question this because other forum users have also mentioned having dizziness. I'm due to have an ECG and blood tests done next week but feel quite worried now.
Has anyone experienced their pulse rate going low in the fifties on losartan?
Question posted by Jazzie7 on 19 June 2020
Last updated on 6 December 2020
Answers
Ray sidzik
28 Nov 2020
Yes, my pulse rate drops into the low forties. I have been in Los art an 100 mg for years and water pills. Recent ecg and stress tests show I have a "good heart" as stated by my heart doctor. Neither my heart or family doctor can explain the low pulse rate.
The low pulse rate occurs after I take losartan, atoravastin and hyrdochlorothiazide not to mention the dizziness or shortness of breath. I am a 79 year old man not a medical professional. I am waiting for the results of my heart monitor. Note I am also on atoravastin10 mg
Jazzie7
29 Nov 2020
Hi Ray just saw your comment. Further to my original post about my pulse rate I got checked out - had ECG and blood tests ( I haven't had a stress test though). Like yourself these were found to be normal. Shortly after getting the results I ended up in A&E after I had accidentally taken double my medication i.e. I took 200mg Losartan and diuretic tablet. I was fine but advised to go there to be monitored in case of toxicity. I was seen by a lovely A&E Consultant and I mentioned the problem about my pulse rate dropping at night after taking my medication. He confirmed what my GP had said that the type of medication I'm on would not cause the drop in pulse rate. But he did tell me something I was not aware of and that is that as we get older our pulse rate tends to go a bit slower also that most people's pulse rate naturally drops at night. I was certainly unaware of the pulse rate dropping as we get older, I'm female and just turned 58.
Although my cholesterol is slightly raised I'm not on a statin but I've now requested to go on one - hopefully a small dose like yourself.
Ray sidzik
6 Dec 2020
My pulse was 36 this am with headache!
Jazzie7
6 Dec 2020
Gosh that does seem a bit low doesn't it? That said from other people's posts on this topic a lot of people do seem to have naturally low pulse rates such as in the forties range. But it is very reassuring that the tests you've had done so far indicate that your heart is in good working order. As you say the doctors can't find any explanation for it and it may well be that there is no significance to it, although I do understand how it can feel a bit alarming if you get any symptoms with it. Maybe the doctors will be able to shed more light on things following your heart monitor results. I think my pulse rate has improved since I started to drink more fluids which is what my GP initially advised me to try.
Sabrina1234
20 June 2020
Dizziness maybe from low blood pressure but neither one of those drugs control your heart or heart rate. Try drinking a lot more water because both of those medications work with the kidneys . If you took a beta blocker or a calcium channel blocker then I’d say it could be effecting your heart rate because they both control your heart in different ways. You could try taking losartan 50 mg twice a day or taking the diuretic in the morning and losartan at night. I hope you feel better
Jazzie7
20 June 2020
Hi Sabrina1234 - thank you for taking the time to reply to my post, it's very much appreciated! Yes I'm going to try to drink more, I know I don't drink enough and after your post I discovered that my GP had left me a voicemail suggesting that I could try taking in more fluids! I'm still anxious about the ECG although I've had a few done in the past and they were all normal. Thanks again
Related topics
losartan, hypertension, medication, pulse, diuretic
Further information
- Losartan uses and safety info
- Losartan prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Losartan (detailed)
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