Consumer Information for: ACT LOSARTAN

Consumer Information

Information about the product including what the product is used for, dosage, warnings, proper use and side effects. This summary will not tell you everything about the product. Contact your healthcare professional if you have any questions about the product.


What the medication is used for

Adults

  • lowering high blood pressure
  • providing kidney protection by delaying the worsening of kidney disease in type 2 diabetic patients with protein in the urine (proteinuria) and high blood pressure

Children (6–16 years)

  • lowering high blood pressure
What it does

ACT LOSARTAN belongs to a class of drugs known as angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Its action is to lower blood pressure by relaxing the blood vessels.

When it should not be used

Do not take ACT LOSARTAN if you are allergic to losartan potassium or any of the non-medicinal ingredients (see the section What the non-medicinal ingredients are).

Do not take ACT LOSARTAN if you are already taking a blood pressure-lowering medicine that contains aliskiren (such as Rasilez) and you have diabetes or kidney disease.

What the medicinal ingredient is

Each tablet of ACT LOSARTAN contains losartan potassium.

What the non-medicinal ingredients are

ACT LOSARTAN contains the following non-medicinal ingredients: lactose monohydrate, magnesium stearate, microcrystalline cellulose, pregelatinized starch, and silicon dioxide. In addition, the tablet film coating contains: polyethylene glycol, polyvinyl alcohol, talc, and titanium dioxide.

ACT LOSARTAN 25 mg, 50 mg and 100 mg tablets contain the following amounts of potassium: 2.12 mg (<1 mmol), 4.24 mg (<1 mmol), and 8.48 mg (<1 mmol) respectively.

Although ACT LOSARTAN tablets contain potassium, this amount is too small to replace potassium supplements. If your physician has prescribed potassium supplements, continue to follow his advice.

What dosage form it comes in

ACT LOSARTAN is available as tablets containing 25 mg, 50 mg, or 100 mg losartan potassium

Warnings and precautions

Serious Warnings and Precautions

ACT LOSARTAN should not be used during pregnancy. If you discover that you are pregnant while taking ACT LOSARTAN, stop the medication and please contact your physician.

BEFORE you use ACT LOSARTAN talk to your physician or pharmacist if:

  • you perform tasks which may require special attention (for example, driving an automobile or operating dangerous machinery). Almost all patients can, but you should not perform these tasks until you know how you respond to your medicine.
  • you have or have had any medical problems, and about any allergies.
  • you are taking potassium supplements, potassium-sparing agents or salts substitutes containing potassium.
  • you are taking a medicine that contains aliskiren, such as Rasilez, used to lower high blood pressure. The combination with ACT LOSARTAN is not recommended.
  • you are taking an angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor (ACEI).
  • you are taking any medication including non-prescription and herbal products.
  • you have recently suffered from excess vomiting or diarrhea.
  • you have liver, kidney, heart or heart valve disease.
  • you are allergic to this drug or to any ingredient in the formulation.

You are pregnant, breast-feeding or thinking of becoming pregnant?
Taking ACT LOSARTAN during pregnancy can cause injury and even death to your baby. This medicine should not be used during pregnancy. If you are planning to become pregnant while taking ACT LOSARTAN, contact immediately your physician.

It is possible that ACT LOSARTAN passes into breast milk. You should discuss with your physician about taking ACT LOSARTAN while breastfeeding.

Remember that your physician has prescribed this medicine only for you. Never give it to anyone else.

Interactions with this medication

As with most medicines, interaction with other drugs is possible. Therefore, do not take any other medicines unless you have discussed the matter with your physician or your pharmacist. It is important to tell your physician if you are taking:

  • Lithium salts
  • Digitalis
  • Warfarin
  • Rifampin
  • Erythromycin
  • Fluconazole
  • Phenobarbital
  • Cimetidine
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as indomethacin)
  • Diuretics (water pills) - patients on diuretics may occasionally experience an excessive reduction of blood pressure after initiation of therapy with ACT LOSARTAN.
  • Potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium
  • Other blood pressure medicines

Certain medicines tend to increase your blood pressure, for example, some, but not all, non-prescription preparations for appetite control, asthma, colds, coughs, hay fever and sinus problems.

Proper use of this medication

Usual Dose

  • Take ACT LOSARTAN every day exactly as your physician has instructed. It is important to continue taking ACT LOSARTAN for as long as your physician prescribes it in order to maintain smooth control of your blood pressure.
  • ACT LOSARTAN may be taken with or without food, but it should be taken consistently with respect to food intake, at about the same time every day.

Hypertension

  • For adult patients, the usual starting dose is 50 mg once daily. The usual dose range is 50 to 100 mg once daily.
  • Most older patients require the same dose as younger patients, since ACT LOSARTAN works equally well and is equally well tolerated by most older and younger adult patients.
  • For pediatric patients (6-16 years of age) who can swallow tablets, the recommended dose is 25 mg once daily in patients between 20 and 49 kg. The dose can be increased to a maximum of 50 mg once daily. In patients greater or equal to 50 kg, the starting dose is 50 mg once daily. The dose can be increased to a maximum of 100 mg once daily.

Type 2 diabetes patients with proteinuria and hypertension

  • For adult patients, the usual starting dose is 50 mg once daily. The dose may be increased to 100 mg once daily.

Overdose

In case of drug overdose, contact a health care practitioner, hospital emergency department or regional Poison Control Centre immediately, even if there are no symptoms.

Missed Dose

Try to take ACT LOSARTAN daily as prescribed. However, if you miss a dose, do not take an extra dose. Just resume your usual schedule.

Side effects and what to do about them

Any medicine may have unintended or undesirable effects, socalled side effects. Some patients may experience fatigue, hives, taste alteration or vomiting. Tell your physician or pharmacist promptly about these or any other unusual symptoms.

Some patients, especially those with type 2 diabetes with protein in the urine, may also develop increased levels of potassium in their blood

Serious side effects, how often they happen and what to do about them
Symptom / effect Talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist only if severe Talk with your doctor, nurse, or pharmacist in all cases Stop taking drug and talk with your doctor or pharmacist
Uncommon
Allergic reactions involving swelling of the face, lips, throat, and/or tongue which may cause difficulty in breathing or swallowing     ✔
Rash   ✔  
Lightheadedness/ Dizziness ✔    
Low blood pressure ✔    
Muscle pain   ✔  
Muscle tenderness or weakness or dark/brown urine (sign of rhabdomyolysis*)   ✔  

* Rhabdomyolysis is a muscle-wasting disease which in rare cases can lead to kidney failure.

This is not a complete list of side effects. For any unexpected effects while taking ACT LOSARTAN, contact your physician or pharmacist.

How to store

Store ACT LOSARTAN at room temperature (15°C-30°C). Protect from light.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Reporting side effects

You can report any suspected adverse reactions associated with the use of health products to the Canada Vigilance Program by one of the following 3 ways:

  • Report online at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect
  • Call toll-free at 1-866-234-2345
  • Complete a Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and:
    • Fax toll-free to 1-866-678-6789, or
    • Mail to: Canada Vigilance Program
      Health Canada
      Postal Locator 0701E
      Ottawa ON K1A 0K9

Postage paid labels, Canada Vigilance Reporting Form and the adverse reaction reporting guidelines are available on the MedEffectTM Canada Web site at www.healthcanada.gc.ca/medeffect.

NOTE: Should you require information related to the management of side effects, contact your health professional. The Canada Vigilance Program does not provide medical advice.

More information

This document plus the full product monograph, prepared for health professionals can be found by contacting the sponsor, Cobalt Pharmaceuticals Company, at: 1-866-254-6111.

This leaflet was prepared by:
Actavis Pharma Company.
6733 Mississauga Road, Suite 400
Mississauga ON
L5N 6J5

Last revised: July 29, 2014

Date modified: