Source: Υπουργείο Υγείας (CY) Revision Year: 2017 Publisher: Remedica Ltd, Aharnon Str., Limassol Industrial Estate, 3056 Limassol, Cyprus
Angiooedema: Patients with a history of angiooedema (swelling of the face, lips, throat, and/or tongue) should be closely monitored (see section 4.8).
Symptomatic hypotension, especially after the first dose and after increasing of the dose, may occur in patients who are volume- and/or sodium-depleted by vigorous diuretic therapy, dietary salt restriction, diarrhoea or vomiting. These conditions should be corrected prior to administration of losartan, or a lower starting dose should be used (see section 4.2). This also applies to children 6 to 18 years of age.
Electrolyte imbalances are common in patients with renal impairment, with or without diabetes, and should be addressed. In a clinical study conducted in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy, the incidence of hyperkalaemia was higher in the group treated with losartan as compared to the placebo group (see section 4.8). Therefore, the plasma concentrations of potassium as well as creatinine clearance values should be closely monitored, especially patients with heart failure and a creatinine clearance between 30-50 ml/ min should be closely monitored.
The concomitant use of potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements and potassium-containing salt substitutes with losartan is not recommended (see section 4.5).
Based on pharmacokinetic data which demonstrate significantly increased plasma concentrations of losartan in cirrhotic patients, a lower dose should be considered for patients with a history of hepatic impairment. There is no therapeutic experience with losartan in patients with severe hepatic impairment. Therefore, losartan must not be administered in patients with severe hepatic impairment (see sections 4.2, 4.3 and 5.2).
Losartan is also not recommended in children with hepatic impairment (see section 4.2).
As a consequence of inhibiting the renin-angiotensin system, changes in renal function including renal failure have been reported (in particular, in patients whose renal function is dependent on the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system such as those with severe cardiac insufficiency or pre-existing renal dysfunction). As with other medicinal products that affect the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, increases in blood urea and serum creatinine have also been reported in patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis or stenosis of the artery to a solitary kidney; these changes in renal function may be reversible upon discontinuation of therapy. Losartan should be used with caution in patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis or stenosis of the artery to a solitary kidney.
Losartan is not recommended in children with glomerular filtration rate <30 ml/min/1.73 m² as no data are available (see section 4.2).
Renal function should be regularly monitored during treatment with losartan as it may deteriorate. This applies particularly when losartan is given in the presence of other conditions (fever, dehydration) likely to impair renal function.
Concomitant use of losartan and ACE-inhibitors has shown to impair renal function. Therefore, concomitant use is not recommended (see section 4.5).
There is no experience in patients with recent kidney transplantation.
Patients with primary aldosteronism generally will not respond to antihypertensive drugs acting through inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system. Therefore, the use of losartan tablets is not recommended.
As with any antihypertensive agents, excessive blood pressure decrease in patients with ischaemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease could result in a myocardial infarction or stroke.
In patients with heart failure, with or without renal impairment, there is -as with other drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system -a risk of severe arterial hypotension, and (often acute) renal impairment.
There is no sufficient therapeutic experience with losartan in patients with heart failure and concomitant severe renal impairment, in patients with severe heart failure (NYHA class IV) as well as in patients with heart failure and symptomatic life threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Therefore, losartan should be used with caution in these patient groups. The combination of losartan with a beta-blocker should be used with caution (see section 5.1).
As with other vasodilators, special caution is indicated in patients suffering from aortic or mitral stenosis, or obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
There is evidence that the concomitant use of ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers or aliskiren increases the risk of hypotension, hyperkalaemia and decreased renal function (including acute renal failure). Dual blockade of RAAS through the combined use of ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers or aliskiren is therefore not recommended (see sections 4.5 and 5.1).
If dual blockade therapy is considered absolutely necessary, this should only occur under specialist supervision and subject to frequent close monitoring of renal function, electrolytes and blood pressure.
ACE-inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers should not be used concomitantly in patients with diabetic nephropathy.
This medicinal product contains lactose. Patients with rare hereditary problems of galactose intolerance, the Lapp lactase deficiency or glucose-galactose malabsorption should not take this medicine.
Losartan should not be initiated during pregnancy. Unless continued losartan therapy is considered essential, patients planning pregnancy should be changed to alternative anti-hypertensive treatments which have an established safety profile for use in pregnancy. When pregnancy is diagnosed, treatment with losartan should be stopped immediately, and, if appropriate, alternative therapy should be started (see sections 4.3 and 4.6).
As observed for angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, losartan and the other angiotensin antagonists are apparently less effective in lowering blood pressure in black people than in non-blacks, possibly because of higher prevalence of lowrenin states in the black hypertensive population.
Other antihypertensive agents may increase the hypotensive action of losartan. Concomitant use with other substances which may induce hypotension as an adverse reaction (like tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, baclofen and amifostine) may increase the risk of hypotension.
Losartan is predominantly metabolised by cytochrome P450 (CYP2C9) to the active carboxy-acid metabolite. In a clinical trial it was found that fluconazole (inhibitor of CYP2C9) decreases the exposure to the active metabolite by approximately 50%. It was found that concomitant treatment of losartan with rifampicin (inducer of metabolism enzymes) gave a 40% reduction in plasma concentration of the active metabolite. The clinical relevance of this effect is unknown. No difference in exposure was found with concomitant treatment with fluvastatin (weak inhibitor of CYP2C9).
As with other medicinal products that block angiotensin II or its effects, concomitant use of other medicinal products which retain potassium (e.g. potassium-sparing diuretics: amiloride, triamterene, spironolactone) or may increase potassium levels (e.g. heparin), potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium may lead to increases in serum potassium. Co-medication is not advisable.
Reversible increases in serum lithium concentrations and toxicity have been reported during concomitant administration of lithium with ACE inhibitors. Very rare cases have also been reported with angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Co-administration of lithium and losartan should be undertaken with caution. If this combination proves essential, serum lithium level monitoring is recommended during concomitant use.
When angiotensin II antagonists are administered simultaneously with NSAIDs (i.e. selective COX-2 inhibitors, acetylsalicylic acid at anti-inflammatory doses and non-selective NSAIDs), attenuation of the antihypertensive effect may occur. Concomitant use of angiotensin II antagonists or diuretics and NSAIDs may lead to an increased risk of worsening of renal function, including possible acute renal failure, and an increase in serum potassium, especially in patients with poor pre-existing renal function. The combination should be administered with caution, especially in the elderly. Patients should be adequately hydrated and consideration should be given to monitoring renal function after initiation of concomitant therapy, and periodically thereafter.
Clinical trial data has shown that dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system (RAAS) through the combined use of ACE-inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers or aliskiren is associated with a higher frequency of adverse events such as hypotension, hyperkalaemia and decreased renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to the use of a single RAAS-acting agent (see sections 4.3, 4.4 and 5.1).
The use of losartan is not recommended during the first trimester of pregnancy (see section 4.4). The use of losartan is contra-indicated during the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy (see section 4.3 and 4.4).
Epidemiological evidence regarding the risk of teratogenicity following exposure to ACE inhibitors during the first trimester of pregnancy has not been conclusive; however a small increase in risk cannot be excluded. Whilst there is no controlled epidemiological data on the risk with Angiotensin II Receptor Inhibitors (AIIRAs), similar risks may exist for this class of medicinal products. Unless continued AIIRA therapy is considered essential, patients planning pregnancy should be changed to alternative anti-hypertensive treatments which have an established safety profile for use in pregnancy. When pregnancy is diagnosed, treatment with losartan should be stopped immediately and, if appropriate, alternative therapy should be started.
Exposure to AIIRA therapy during the second and third trimesters is known to induce human fetotoxicity (decreased renal function, oligohydramnios, skull ossification retardation) and neonatal toxicity (renal failure, hypotension, hyperkalaemia) (see also section 5.3).
Should exposure to losartan have occurred from the second trimester of pregnancy, ultrasound check of renal function and skull is recommended.
Infants whose mothers have taken losartan should be closely observed for hypotension (see also section 4.3 and 4.4).
Because no information is available regarding the use of losartan during breastfeeding, losartan is not recommended and alternative treatments with better established safety profiles during breastfeeding are preferable, especially while nursing a newborn or preterm infant.
No studies on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines have been performed. However, when driving vehicles or operating machinery it must be borne in mind that dizziness or drowsiness may occasionally occur when taking antihypertensive therapy, in particular during initiation of treatment or when the dose is increased.
Losartan has been evaluated in clinical studies as follows:
In these clinical trials, the most common adverse event was dizziness.
The frequency of adverse events listed below is defined using the following convention: very common (≥1/10); common (≥1/100, <1/10); uncommon (≥1/1,000, <1/100); rare (≥1/10,000, <1/1,000); very rare (<1/10,000), not known (cannot be estimated from the available data).
Table 1. The frequency of adverse reactions identified from placebo-controlled clinical studies and post marketing experience:
| Adverse reaction | Frequency of adverse reaction by indication | Other | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hypertension | Hypertensive patients with left-ventricular hypertrophy | Chronic Heart Failure | Hypertension and type 2 diabetes with renal disease | Post-marketing experience | |
| Blood and lymphatic system disorders | |||||
| anaemia | common | frequency not known | |||
| thrombocytopenia | frequency not known | ||||
| Immune system disorders | |||||
| hypersensitivity reactions, anaphylactic reactions, angiooedema*, and vasculitis** | rare | ||||
| Psychiatric disorders | |||||
| depression | frequency not known | ||||
| Nervous system disorders | |||||
| dizziness | common | common | common | common | |
| somnolence | uncommon | ||||
| headache | uncommon | uncommon | |||
| sleep disorders | uncommon | ||||
| paraesthesia | rare | ||||
| migraine | frequency not known | ||||
| dysgeusia | frequency not known | ||||
| Ear and labyrinth disorders | |||||
| vertigo | common | common | |||
| tinnitus | frequency not known | ||||
| Cardiac disorders | |||||
| palpitations | uncommon | ||||
| angina pectoris | uncommon | ||||
| syncope | rare | ||||
| atrial fibrillation | rare | ||||
| cerebrovascular accident | rare | ||||
| Vascular disorders | |||||
| (orthostatic) hypotension (including dose related orthostatic effects)II | uncommon | common | common | ||
| Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders | |||||
| dyspnoea | uncommon | ||||
| cough | uncommon | frequency not known | |||
| Gastrointestinal disorders | |||||
| abdominal pain | uncommon | ||||
| obstipation | uncommon | ||||
| diarrhoea | uncommon | frequency not known | |||
| nausea | uncommon | ||||
| vomiting | uncommon | ||||
| Hepatobiliary disorders | |||||
| pancreatitis | frequency not known | ||||
| hepatitis | rare | ||||
| liver function abnormalities | frequency not known | ||||
| Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders | |||||
| urticaria | uncommon | frequency not known | |||
| pruritus | uncommon | frequency not known | |||
| rash | uncommon | uncommon | frequency not known | ||
| photosensitivity | frequency not known | ||||
| Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders | |||||
| myalgia | frequency not known | ||||
| arthralgia | frequency not known | ||||
| rhabdomyolysis | frequency not known | ||||
| Renal and urinary disorders | |||||
| renal impairment | common | ||||
| renal failure | common | ||||
| Reproductive system and breast disorders | |||||
| erectile dysfunction / impotence | frequency not known | ||||
| b>General disorders and administration site conditions | |||||
| asthenia | uncommon | common | uncommon | common | |
| fatigue | uncommon | common | uncommon | common | |
| oedema | uncommon | ||||
| malaise | frequency not known | ||||
| Investigations | |||||
| hyperkalaemia | common | uncommon† | common‡ | ||
| increased alanine aminotransferase (ALT)§ | rare | ||||
| increase in blood urea, serum creatinine, and serum potassium | common | ||||
| hyponatraemia | frequency not known | ||||
| hypoglycaemia | common | ||||
* Including swelling of the larynx, glottis, face, lips, pharynx, and/or tongue (causing airway obstruction); in some of these patients angiooedema had been reported in the past in connection with the administration of other medicines, including ACE inhibitors.
** Including Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
II Especially in patients with intravascular depletion, e.g. patients with severe heart failure or under treatment with high dose diuretics.
† Common in patients who received 150 mg losartan instead of 50 mg.
‡ In a clinical study conducted in type 2 diabetic patients with nephropathy, 9.9% of patients treated with Losartan tablets developed hyperkalaemia >5.5 mmol/l and 3.4% of patients treated with placebo.
§ Usually resolved upon discontinuation
The following additional adverse reactions occurred more frequently in patients who received losartan than placebo (frequencies not known): back pain, urinary tract infection, and flu-like symptoms.
As a consequence of inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, changes in renal function including renal failure have been reported in patients at risk; these changes in renal function may be reversible upon discontinuation of therapy (see section 4.4).
The adverse reaction profile for paediatric patients appears to be similar to that seen in adult patients. Data in the paediatric population are limited.
Reporting suspected adverse reactions after authorization of the medicinal product is important. It allows continued monitoring of the benefit/risk balance of the medicinal product. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions via the national reporting system. Cyprus, Pharmaceutical Services, Ministry of Health, CY-1475 Nicosia, Fax: +357 22608649, Website: www.moh.gov.cy/phs.
Not applicable.
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