Losartan and Back Pain: What Users Say

• Liz...
• February 6, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I’ve been taking Losartan for about 2 years now. Unfortunately, I am just now figuring out that all my physical symptoms and problems are related to this awful prescription. I truly thought I had a severe disease or something until my husband recommended that I had slowly gotten worse since being prescribed Losartan. I then looked up symptoms and reviews and was utterly shocked! I’ve been to my doctor many times and lab work seemed fine, so I always left feeling discouraged! Flu-like symptoms, pounding heartbeat, severe back pain, stomach pain, headache, eye pain & weakness, leg, arm, and feet pain, lightheadedness, muscle weakness, extreme exhaustion & fatigue. My life changed drastically, and I don’t know why my doctor (or myself) didn’t associate all these symptoms with this medication. I’m furious about the situation but taking charge of making better healthy choices instead of medication! Help us Lord"

• Lma...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 9, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I started taking Losartan 8 months ago. At the time I was doing Weight Watchers and making great progress. Within the first few days, I experienced dry cough (I have COPD and didn't cough like this), more breathless, back pain, calf and foot cramps so bad I had to force my feet to go flat on the floor, eyesight change, constant anxiety/fear, chest tightness, fatigue, insomnia, and headaches all the time. Then I started gaining weight after 4 weeks and as of this writing, I have put on 24 pounds. Of course, carrying around this extra weight makes it harder to breathe and my BP is going up. I have spoken with cardio and GP and they both tell me it's not the med, I know my body and this isn't normal. I'm afraid to go off it for fear of BP going back to 164/90 but last night it was 147/83 so it's climbing and I know their solution will be to up the Losartan (I take 75mg now). No more, I'm looking for a doctor who will actually listen to me."

• RJP...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Suffered for a year with leg exercise-induced pain, severe. They worked me up for knee damage, venous and arterial disease, spine problems, all for naught. Finally, in an unrelated change, I stopped taking Losartan. Leg pain was mostly gone in 3 days and totally gone in 10 days. So one doctor made me sick, 4 doctors failed to find the answer, but luck intervened on my behalf. Leg/back pain occurs in up to 10% of users, but 4 doctors never suggested this as a cause. If ours (USA) is the best medical system in the world, God help us!"

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 27, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I am 47 years old and my BP was borderline after the birth of my youngest child, so my doctor put me on BP meds. I took Losartan 50 mg after 5 years of taking Diovan 160 (no side effects on Diovan) because it was recalled. Losartan 50 mg started okay, no symptoms or side effects at first. After taking the medication for 2 months, I was having horrible stomach issues, high anxiety, and I felt like I was falling apart. My back, especially between my shoulders, ached daily, and I felt so wobbly I could barely walk. I felt like running to the ER daily. By chance, in searching I came across hundreds of reviews of people having the exact same issues on Losartan. I immediately stopped it 3 days ago, and I am shocked that I already feel better. I swear I felt I was being poisoned slowly. Never again!! It's now diet and exercise for me. The side effects really sneak up on you, beware."

• Thb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I have high BP and left ventricular hypertrophy, and losartan is effective in treating ventricular hypertrophy. But this is the worst medication I have taken for side effects - lower back pains, stuffy and dry nose, breathing difficulty with anxiety throughout the whole day."

• Jim...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Taking losartan potassium, was on 25 mg first no side effects then was moved up to 50mg, started getting ear aches, back pain by kidneys, frequent urination. Was told needed to move up to 100mg as numbers were not showing improvement. Had extreme pain in neck, shoulders, blocked urine to only drops and it was cloudy and dark colored. I had swollen lymph nodes, extreme anxiety, rolling waves came every hour, depression, and complete lethargy. Believe that the white oval pill generic brand was contaminated, believe kidneys and body was resisting the filler in which happened to be poison. I think it was attacking every weakness in my 50-year-old body, including right eye, have slight lazy eye that was swelling and became blurry. Please be careful with exercise and diet for blood pressure 140 over 90, this is complete poison."

• BAM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 13, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Like many of the poor reviews on here, I had a similar experience. Blood pressure did not go down, it slightly increased after 3 weeks on a 50 mg dose. When I went to 75 mg, it got worse. Anxiety, severe back pain, heart pounding, headaches, and tense feelings all came with taking this drug. I have never had any of these symptoms before taking the drug. My blood pressure was never below 157/94. I stopped taking it and am on lisinopril 10 mg now. In the first two days on lisinopril, my blood pressure had dropped to the mid 130's/81. No side effects currently. If it were up to me, I would outlaw losartan."

• Mea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 29, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I took Losartan 50 mg for months and it helped with my BP and kept it really low, like 105/70, except it caused severe back pain. But then they had a recall, and I am on a different brand and since then I have developed many side effects, including chronic left shoulder pain, anxiety, and tachycardia. It is causing my blood pressure to shoot up high at times. The doctor increased the dose to 100 mg and the back pain returned. I told my doctor about the anxiety and pain, but she said these are not side effect symptoms. She added Lopressor for the BP and tachycardia because I requested it, and I am weaning myself off the Losartan, myself now due to terrible side effects. You cannot take Motrin or similar meds while on Losartan, so you cannot even treat the back and shoulder pain. I did insist on an EKG due to the new tachycardia, and I am scheduled to see a cardiologist who I hope will be much better educated on these medications."

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 14, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I have only been taking Losartan for 3 days, 25 mg, to replace Lisinopril, which made me cough constantly. I had not taken the Lisinopril for about 2 months, so the side effects from that were gone. I can tell I'm not going to be able to stay on this because of lower back pain and deep fatigue, but I can't sleep, and the cough is starting again. But the worst part is a headache right behind my ears, and my nose feels like it's been lying in the hottest part of Death Valley for a couple of weeks-terribly dry and hurting inside. Nothing eases that feeling, not even coating the inside of my nose with Vaseline. I feel miserable. Since I have already been treated for high potassium, I don't know why my doctor put me on Losartan since it can raise my potassium level. She said it might help my kidneys. I am already taking amlodipine, which controls my blood pressure. I will not take medication that makes me feel worse, even if it's supposed to help in the long run."

• SGH...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "Losartan is poison and I hope anyone taking it at least monitors their improvement-if any-versus the side effects, because they sneak up on you. I believe this medication will do much more harm than good, so please be careful. I took it because Lisinopril gave me a cough. I gave it 3 full months, and during that time, I became very ill. Extreme fatigue, headaches, sore back, weakness in my legs-that was very scary. I felt like I had the flu daily, and I thought it might be another medication I was on, but I tested myself by stopping the other meds and nope, the symptoms still remained. I was so exhausted all the time, I could hardly get through my day and had to take daily naps. I slept very deeply with vivid dreams. Never ever again!"

• bpa...
• June 19, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking this medication for about a month after the doctor decided to switch to this. It helps with blood pressure for about half a day, and by bedtime, blood pressure is sky high again. Legs, feet, and hands go numb and cramp. Severe back pain along with headaches and just a general feeling of being unwell. My whole body hurts 24/7, and with all the recalls lately, it is alarming. I can't wait to see the doctor and get off this medicine!"

• Nee...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 31, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Straight to the point: been on losartan for a very short time, this med has caused me to have severe back pain and leg pain, I experience the tingling, I stopped taking it, the side effects are terrible"

• mic...
• July 26, 2010

Cozaar (losartan) for High Blood Pressure "Cozaar did not help my blood pressure, and the side effects were bad. I had headaches from day one, nausea, low back pain, and nonstop trips to the toilet. My doctor wanted me to try Cozaar because my Medicare provider wouldn't cover my Diovan. I have been taking Diovan for years. It took forever to find a drug that worked on blood pressure without side effects. Diovan is expensive at $80 for a 30-day supply, but it works."

• Twi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 18, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I'm already on a BP med, but my PCP wanted to start me on losartan because of diet-controlled diabetes. I started at 25 mg/day, but after a week, she increased it to 100 mg/day. The first two nights were wrecked with insanely severe back pain (I have a long history of degenerative arthritis in my spine, but this pain was insane!) and the third culminated in a full-blown 24-hour anxiety/panic attack the likes of which I have never dealt with (I also take meds for depression/anxiety). I also have a long history of IBS and have had three days of watery stools. I refuse to live like this... There has to be a better way. I cannot wait out the 'week or so' for the side effects when I already had these issues to begin with..."

• Lit...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 27, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "I have been very healthy my entire life, thank God, until last year when my blood pressure started going up. The doctor prescribed Metoprolol and Lisinopril. I started coughing constantly, which led me to the ER, thinking I had pneumonia. The ER doctor switched Lisinopril for Losartan Potassium. The leg and back pain are unbearable to the point that I can almost not stand or walk. I am afraid of falling, feeling dizzy and tired. I don't need to live with this quality of life. The dangerous side effects are even worse than what I felt when my blood pressure started rising. There has to be something better than this."

• cyo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 23, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor had put me on the Losartan. Right after I started taking it, my whole back was in so much pain. I had told my doctor about the pain, and I believed it was the Losartan. He said I had a physically demanding job. Keep taking it. After being in so much pain, I couldn't work. I emailed him and explained my pain. He said there have been no case studies of it causing back pain, so keep taking it. After telling him three times I was in pain due to this medicine, and he still would not help me, I am switching doctors. Yes, it lowered my blood pressure, but the back pain I was having is NOT worth it!"

• Lin...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 22, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "I take 100 mg. My blood pressure is still not consistent. But one thing I am sure of is that I'm dizzy all of the time. In addition to several other side effects that I am expecting, fatigue is definitely a problem, as well as back pain. At first, I thought it was directly related to my back surgery 6 years ago. But I'm seeing now that it is listed as a side effect. But what is terrifying for me is the blurry vision. All of the side effects are affecting my quality of life."

• ban...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 20, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "Started about a year ago, then started having severe chest and back pain, with shortness of breath and loss of my voice. Went to ER, first time they said chronic bronchitis, breathing treatments only made it worse. Next time in ER, they said it was an asthma attack. Finally got to a cardiologist who again said it was not my medication causing it. After going through heart cath, I started skipping my losartan once a day, then did not take it for a couple days. Took it today due to an increase in BP, now having the same back and chest pain and shortness of breath. Stopping it for a week, then try again, if this comes back, will talk to PCP about changing it or not taking BP med at all. My BP has been great without losartan. 125/74"

• gra...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 7, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I've been on 12.5 mg of Losartan for many years, have had severe hair loss, weight gain, and very bad depression, also really bad leg and back pain. I'm a 71-year-old female, my doctor has repeatedly denied that this could be caused by my meds. I have found Losartan very easy to take, my husband takes a very much larger dose, 50 mg, but had to cut it in half. He also suffers from weight gain, leg and back pain, and I believe depression. We are asking to be taken off this so that we can hopefully lose these side effects. I tried cilazapril but had worse side effects. After searching the net, I found lots of people complaining of hair loss. I'm desperate to find something to save my last remaining hair. Trying a new doctor."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 21, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "At 60 years old, I was dealing with slightly high blood pressure, probably due to being overweight, even though I was walking 1.5 miles a day, 6 days a week, and am generally healthy, had stopped smoking, and was eating well. Was put on Losartan, and within 4 months, I had very bad back and leg pain. I never dreamed it could be caused by the drug, so I spent months in chiropractic and physical therapy trying to deal with it. Despite all efforts, it continued to get worse, to the point we suspected an actual tear in my hips or low back somewhere. But the MRI was negative. I am so thankful people have posted their adverse reactions here, as I stumbled on it by chance and finally found what was causing all the pain. I would have never dreamed a BP med could make you almost lame, but it did to me. Thankfully, I stopped using it and can tell at least the decline in my joints and muscles has been halted. No idea how long it will take to recover from all the other bad effects, though."

• los...
• September 9, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "This med is terrible for me. Extreme 'head rushes' when suddenly standing up from a kneeling position, almost passing out. Shortness of breath, heart rate at 98-120 beats per minute when calm. Very little, if any, change in blood pressure. Sore throat with a slight cough and also a sore back, like others are noticing while on this drug. I quit smoking almost a month ago to get healthy and lower blood pressure naturally. I am not comfortable with any of these meds' side effects."

• Tir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 2, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I started on losartan 50mg daily, bp went down at first, then became higher, so increased to 50mg bid, worked with bp decreasing for a while then bp increased so my losartan to 100mg daily, again bp decreased, next it was staying up, wanted to change the bp meds, instead 100mg bid. I started with insomnia, bp at 130s/80s, now it is up to 226/122 yesterday. and this is the highest, 190s/100 average now. My legs hurt and it's hard to walk or stand for more than 15 min. Have leg cramps at night more often, headaches every night, nauseated since I started the losartan, now I vomit occasionally. Intense back pain between my shoulders, my right side here my liver hurts every day now, I'm tired all the time, brain fog is worse, I go see my doctor this month. I get dizzy occasionally. At least I lost 30 lbs, the upside. I'm decreasing the bp meds on my own to see if I feel better. My lower back is in pain daily. I haven't gained any weight, but my abdomen is getting larger."

• san...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 10, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Have been on Losartan for 7 weeks. Noticed immediate lowering of my BP, which was good. But a little over a month into it, after a neck procedure, I started having awful belching daily, chest discomfort, slight pain in my jaw, and back pain where I hadn't had pain before. The belching and chest pain are the worst!!! Sleep fine at night. Though I wake up to a headache a couple of times a week. About ready to try something else. Can't stand the indigestion and chest discomfort.....and constant worry about heart attack."

• Ser...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 25, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I was switched to Losartan when an increase in lisinopril (at a low dose also fantastic) gave me such a chronic dry cough I would turn blue and retch. Often with blood as I damaged my throat. Since switching to 50 mg Losartan, I have lost the cough and feel fine, as much as my other conditions are allowing me to be. I am 49 and have severe asthma and, due to an accident, chronic long-term pain. So I have not noticed any back pain, but I think Losartan works really well for me, and if they ever need to increase the dose, we are going to monitor for any side effects (this was my GP's advice, not mine). I have a great GP and would recommend trying Losartan, all drugs work for some people and not others. I can't take lisinopril or amlodipine, for example."

• Ell...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 13, 2015

For High Blood Pressure "When mixed with hydrochlorothiazide, the losartan works very well lowering my blood pressure. It does give me back pain and muscle stiffness and soreness. It is better than the lisinopril, which made me depressed and weak. When I stop taking the losartan, my blood pressure shoots way up, so I won't stop taking it. Wish they'd invent a blood pressure medicine that has no side effects, but that's dreaming. Better than having a stroke."