Losartan and Headaches: What Users Say

• JTa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 19, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Was put on losartan (green pill) back in 2018. Did not control BP, was switched to white pill, 50 mg. Started off with horrible headaches, stopped it for a few weeks and headaches went away. Started back, one night I woke up with HR of 165, had to call 911. 3 trips to ER for terrible GERD, tachycardia, horrible anxiety which I never had before. Insomnia, and horrible feelings of heaviness in head, chest, and legs. Lower legs feel like pins and needles, and numbness. I felt like it was the end of me. Stopped it 8 days ago, I do feel better, only lingering symptoms are dizziness and heavy legs, and just overall tiredness. When will these symptoms go away??? NP and I are monitoring blood pressure, it has been fine hasn't spiked at all since I've stopped losartan. Horrible drug in which the doctors will not believe you when you say the drug causes these things. When will these side effects go away????????????"

• Ema...
• February 6, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "In late December 2020, I got my Losartan 100mg refilled. Within days of taking it, I started having nagging headaches, and my blood pressure increased dramatically. I couldn't help but wonder if I got the wrong medicine. I found that I was given the generic brand from Camber (egg-shaped white pill) and I reviewed the brand history that I have had in the past, and this is the first time I have received it. I discussed with my doctor, and she provided a prescription for the brand Aurobindo (egg-shaped light green pill) that I had received before, but it was denied by insurance. I paid out of pocket to get it, and my blood pressure went back to normal, and the headaches stopped. I spoke with my pharmacist about my issues with the Camber brand, and he said that he has received several recent complaints about it. My takeaway is that not all generics are created equal, and this is a problem."

• 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"

• Bab...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure is anxiety-driven, and I fight taking BP meds. I went to the doctor 2 weeks ago for a sinus infection, and I could feel my BP go up sky-high 3/4 of a mile away from the office. My regular doctor gave me a prescription for Losartan on 1/27/20. I started with 1/2 a pill from 25mg. I felt tired, and I stopped it. Then after going to the doctor for a sinus infection, I started it back up again, and my anxiety level is over the top in this 2-week period, and I have headaches. I looked it up and found that it has to be this medicine. Going off of it. How does it get to market, and the fact my doctor knew I have anxiety and prescribed this for me is unreal."

• Aan...
• July 13, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Have tried nearly all the frontline drugs for hypertension, which averaged 155/110. Constant headaches and I am 26 years old. I have always had issues with many pharmaceuticals, but not this one. Other BP drugs I tried before Losartan: Amlodipine - CCB made me feel like my heart was racing and worsened CFS/ME. Headaches went with drop in BP. Constant urination waking me up in the night. Beta Blockers ruled out due to CFS/ME. Ramipril - ACE Inhibitor worked for a month or so then started having really bad palpitations, they pulled me off the ramipril after an ECG. Had an odd metallic taste in mouth. Losartan - ARB I Don't feel ANY side-effects whatsoever, barring the positive one of no more constant headaches/migraines, BP is a stable 120/83 average on 50mg taken once daily. Just plain lowering my blood pressure, I don't even think about it when I take it every morning. Reviews show kidney function so far is fine. All is well so far, and no regrets 5 months later."

• Ray...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• May 6, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Started losartan in August. Had anxiety attacks increasing in frequency up to Dec. Then was laid flat out, couldn't go to work, drive, headaches, foggy brain, nauseous for weeks, went to a doctor, he said see cardiologist, cardiologist said see ENT, ENT said see neurologist, neurologist said it might be migraines or losartan. It's been three days since I stopped taking it with my doctor's approval. Headache is almost gone but body feels sick. I've been taking it for 10 months. I feel so awful. Was told it'll take some time for the effects to wear off because I've taken it so long. It's horrible. I'm praying I can return to my pre-medication health soon!"

• 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."

• Jen...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking Losartan for less than a month, but I had, and still have, side effects immediately after taking it. I feel dizzy, warmer than usual, thirsty, bloated, tired, have rapid heartbeat with 'thumps', headaches, and have blurry vision. Also, I gained 7 pounds and haven't changed my diet in any way, and I'm active. I'm going back to my doctor next week to see if there's something else I can take instead of this."

• JJa...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 2, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Took it almost a year and it did lower my BP. I noticed depression, bad headaches, severe stomach pains after taking it within a half hour, horrible dizziness, etc. I made my own choice to stop taking it. I was on 100 mg a day. Four days off of it, headaches are gone, dizziness went away, and the brain fog cleared up. Imagine that! Although it did give me some anxiety coming off it, but seems to be going away. Please people, stop taking this drug if you have side effects. I’m still on nifedipine and propranolol. The doctor wanted to give me Zoloft for my depression, can you see the pattern here? I can only imagine how many drugs he would pump me with after a year. If you don’t believe me, stop taking it for a few days yourself and see how much better you feel. Good luck, everyone."

• Eme...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 29, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "My NP put me on Losartan when she first diagnosed me with high BP. It was around 150/98, and she measured in different arms manually and with the automatic cuff. I was on Losartan for about 9 days and it made me feel terrible. I had drowsiness, no energy, a headache every day (which prompted me to take a bunch of Imitrex too), and I was irritable. It lowered my BP though."

• 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."

• Lar...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 26, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "Has anyone successfully found a replacement for Lisinopril and/or Losartan? I am a 51-year-old male. I have average blood pressure ranging from 135/75 to 160/92. My doctor initially put me on 5 mg of Lisinopril. I started out okay but then developed a persistent cough, constant chills, tinnitus, and headaches. I came off the Lisinopril and within one week, my cough and other side effects had subsided and I felt much better. So he recently changed me to Losartan 25 mg. Within the first 24 hours, my persistent cough was back with a vengeance, I didn't sleep the first night and I feel fatigued and washed out. I am going to come off Losartan, as I know things will not improve. Has anyone been in a similar situation and found a blood pressure-lowering drug that works, with no side effects? Many thanks."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 30, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "Walmart gave me new Losartan (Camber) (white pill) in June 2020. I didn't start using it until August 2020. Became very sick with diarrhea, headaches, weakness, stomach pains, enlarged spleen, heart issues, and could barely move. This went on for weeks until I went to the doctor on 9/9/20 and had my BP taken: 197/88. I never had such a high blood pressure. I went home and came to the conclusion that it's this medication from Camber (which was originally recalled in 2/19). Took Losartan from CVS originally green pills and in two days my blood pressure returned to normal. Unfortunately, the stomach issues have lingered but I'm improving. This med hurt me instead of helped me."

• 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!"

• Que...
• June 15, 2013

For High Blood Pressure "The doctor put me on 50mg losartan a month ago, as new insurance wouldn't pay for the Candesartan I was on. It works great keeping blood pressure at good levels along with the Metoprolol I'm on also. For the first 3 weeks, I started off having mild headaches that finally disappeared, and now I have a slight sore throat all of the time, a slight hacking cough, and only one nostril that runs constantly... weird, I know. I'm going to give it another month and see if these side effects disappear like the headaches."

• Kay...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 19, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I’m a 58-year-old female. The only med I take is 25mg of losartan for over a year now. BP was about 140/95 too often. My side effects are getting worse. Insomnia, headaches, diarrhea, dizzy, tired, feet hurt, have to lay down once a day and no longer have the energy to exercise. I enjoy a couple of glasses of wine a few times a week and try to stay low carb and watch my salt intake. I’m thinking I would be better off not taking this since my quality of life has gone down."

• 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!"

• Nan...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 24, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Losartan for 4.5 years. It has done a decent job of lowering my (genetic) moderately high BP, but I have had a daily headache, acid reflux (controlled with a daily Prilosec), and rapid weight gain. I cannot tolerate beta blockers (terrible headaches and vivid nightmares), and my doctor felt I needed an extra medication to accompany my hydrochlorothiazide. Ergo, Losartan. My bra size went from a “B” cup to a “DDD” practically overnight (not a good thing), my face is swollen, and I cannot get my weight under control in spite of running and fast walking 3.5 miles 4-5 times a week. I eat very little (never been a foodie) and drink only socially, no dairy, mostly fruits and veggies. I have recently noticed pain in my hips, which I attributed to aging (I am a very healthy 67-year-old). I see my primary care physician in two weeks and hope to have a conversation regarding getting off this drug."

• Wee...
• August 22, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Awful experience! Caused high levels of anxiety and depression. This then made my blood pressure spike. Also caused dry, blurry eyes and weird head pains. As soon as I came off and switched to beta blockers, the difference was phenomenal. It affects people in different ways, so always try it yourself and make your own judgment. Thank you."

• Eri...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 8, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was only on Losartan 50 mg, along with HCTZ 12.5 mg, for five doses, and it caused some bad physical and mental side effects. They included panic attacks, headaches, pressure behind the eyes, lightheadedness, confusion, foggy feelings, being tired, and also unable to sleep, lack of appetite, and probably more that I am forgetting. I also fainted twice, within 15 minutes of each other, on the evening of my third dose, which included spending three hours in the ER to recover from massive dehydration. I had a follow-up appointment with my PCP earlier today, prior to my sixth dose, and he told me to stop taking it. I have been off it for only 28 hours, and the side effects are gone! I still have a mild headache, but it is considerably better than the past couple of days. I know medication reacts differently for every person, but for me, it was not worth taking this medication/dosage, which did lower my blood pressure a small amount compared to all of the side effects I experienced."

• Tha...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 26, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I started 100 mg of Losartan on March 23rd (2 months ago). It’s been hell since. Headaches, blurred vision, and anxiety, and I don’t get out of bed until after 10 am when I used to get up at 7 am. The anxiety is more of a massive panic attack really, it comes on quickly, and it’s like I feel like I’ve got to get out of where I am. I can’t explain it really, but I talked to my doctor, and she said to cut the dose in half at first, but I explained that I’d rather go back to my other BP meds. So today I went back to lisinopril and am looking forward to feeling “normal” again soon."

• mic...
• July 26, 2010

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."

• New...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2025

For High Blood Pressure "After trial and error getting me on the right BP meds, I am now on losartan. I have been on it for 3 weeks now and am fairing pretty well on it. I have had a bit of dizziness and a little breathlessness, but nothing to worry about. I had a headache for the first week, but that went as quick as it came. So far, so good for me, bringing BP down nicely although it wasn't too high to start. I am on 25 mg. I am happy to have found something that agrees with me."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 5, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "My doctor prescribed losartan (which had a water pill ingredient in it as well) 6 weeks ago. Right away, I noticed the lightheadedness. Cut dosage to 50 mg from 100 mg. Still too much and cut it down 2 more times. Symptoms were getting worse. Loss of energy and head was hurting horribly. A week ago, it was like a freight train hit me and I was down. Diarrhea and head pain. Called my doctor, and when I told him my symptoms, he said he would take the water pill out of it and thought my blood pressure was touchy. Took the losartan without the water pill in it and it was the same effect. I'm stopping the pill and getting a new doctor."