Actions of Losardex Plus in details
Losardex Plus Gentech Healthcare is an anxiolytic drug (tranquilizer), a derivative of benzodiazepine. This medication has anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, anticonvulsant, muscle relaxant central, antiemetic effect. The mechanism of the anxiolytic, sedative and hypnotic action is associated with increased inhibitory effect of GABA in the CNS. Anticonvulsant action, apparently in part due to increased presynaptic inhibition; inhibited the spread of epileptogenic activity arising in the epileptogenic foci in the cortex, thalamus and limbic structures, but not removed the excited state of the hearth. Muscle relaxant effect is primarily associated with the suppression of spinal polysynaptic afferent pathways and, presumably, an inhibition of monosynaptic afferent pathways; possibly also a direct inhibitory effect on motor nerves and muscle function.
How should I take Losardex Plus?
Take Losardex Plus exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Take Losardex Plus with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney function may also need to be checked.
You may have very low blood pressure while taking this medication. Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual.
If you need surgery, tell the surgeon ahead of time that you are using Losardex Plus. You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store Losardex Plus at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Losardex Plus administration
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
Take this medication with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking this medication, which can lead to severely low blood pressure or a serious electrolyte imbalance.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney function may also need to be tested. Visit your doctor regularly.
If you need surgery or medical tests, tell the doctor ahead of time that you are taking medication that contains Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus). You may need to stop using the medicine for a short time.
If you are being treated for high blood pressure, keep using this medication even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
Losardex Plus pharmacology
Mechanism Of Action
Losartan (Losardex Plus) Potassium
Angiotensin II [formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II)], is a potent vasoconstrictor, the primary vasoactive hormone of the renin-angiotensin system and an important component in the pathophysiology of hypertension. It also stimulates aldosterone secretion by the adrenal cortex. Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its principal active metabolite block the vasoconstrictor and aldosterone-secreting effects of angiotensin II by selectively blocking the binding of angiotensin II to the AT1 receptor found in many tissues (e.g., vascular smooth muscle, adrenal gland). There is also an AT 2 receptor found in many tissues but it is not known to be associated with cardiovascular homeostasis. Neither Losartan (Losardex Plus) nor its principal active metabolite exhibits any partial agonist activity at the AT 1 receptor, and both have much greater affinity (about 1000-fold) for the AT 1 receptor than for the AT 2 receptor. In vitro binding studies indicate that Losartan (Losardex Plus) is a reversible, competitive inhibitor of the AT 1 receptor. The active metabolite is 10 to 40 times more potent by weight than Losartan (Losardex Plus) and appears to be a reversible, non-competitive inhibitor of the AT 1 receptor.
Neither Losartan (Losardex Plus) nor its active metabolite inhibits ACE (kininase II, the enzyme that converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II and degrades bradykinin), nor do they bind to or block other hormone receptors or ion channels known to be important in cardiovascular regulation.
Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus)
Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) is a thiazide diuretic. Thiazides affect the renal tubular mechanisms of electrolyte reabsorption, directly increasing excretion of sodium and chloride in approximately equivalent amounts. Indirectly, the diuretic action of Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) reduces plasma volume, with consequent increases in plasma renin activity, increases in aldosterone secretion, increases in urinary potassium loss, and decreases in serum potassium. The renin-aldosterone link is mediated by angiotensin II, so coadministration of an angiotensin II receptor antagonist tends to reverse the potassium loss associated with these diuretics. The mechanism of the antihypertensive effect of thiazides is unknown.
Pharmacodynamics
Losartan (Losardex Plus) Potassium
Losartan (Losardex Plus) inhibits the pressor effect of angiotensin II (as well as angiotensin I) infusions. A dose of 100 mg inhibits the pressor effect by about 85% at peak with 25-40% inhibition persisting for 24 hours. Removal of the negative feedback of angiotensin II causes a doubling to tripling in plasma renin activity and consequent rise in angiotensin II plasma concentration in hypertensive patients. Losartan (Losardex Plus) does not affect the response to bradykinin, whereas ACE inhibitors increase the response to bradykinin. Aldosterone plasma concentrations fall following Losartan (Losardex Plus) administration. In spite of the effect of Losartan (Losardex Plus) on aldosterone secretion, very little effect on serum potassium was observed.
The effect of Losartan (Losardex Plus) is substantially present within one week but in some studies the maximal effect occurred in 3-6 weeks. In long-term follow-up studies (without placebo control) the effect of Losartan (Losardex Plus) appeared to be maintained for up to a year. There is no apparent rebound effect after abrupt withdrawal of Losartan (Losardex Plus). There was essentially no change in average heart rate in Losartan (Losardex Plus)-treated patients in controlled trials.
Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus)
After oral administration of Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus), diuresis begins within 2 hours, peaks in about 4 hours, and lasts about 6 to 12 hours.
Drug Interactions
Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus)
Alcohol, barbiturates, or narcotics — potentiation of orthostatic hypotension may occur.
Other antihypertensive drugs — additive effect or potentiation.
Skeletal muscle relaxants, nondepolarizing (e.g., tubocurarine) — possible increased responsiveness to the muscle relaxant.
Corticosteroids, ACTH, or glycyrrhizin (found in liquorice) — intensified electrolyte depletion, particularly hypokalemia.
Pressor amines (e.g., norepinephrine) — possible decreased response to pressor amines but not sufficient to preclude their use.
Pharmacokinetics
Losartan (Losardex Plus) Potassium
Absorption
Following oral administration, Losartan (Losardex Plus) is well absorbed and undergoes substantial first-pass metabolism. The systemic bioavailability of Losartan (Losardex Plus) is approximately 33%. Mean peak concentrations of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its active metabolite are reached in 1 hour and in 3-4 hours, respectively. While maximum plasma concentrations of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its active metabolite are approximately equal, the AUC (area under the curve) of the metabolite is about 4 times as great as that of Losartan (Losardex Plus). A meal slows absorption of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and decreases its C max but has only minor effects on Losartan (Losardex Plus) AUC or on the AUC of the metabolite (~10% decrease). The pharmacokinetics of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its active metabolite are linear with oral Losartan (Losardex Plus) doses up to 200 mg and do not change over time.
Distribution
The volume of distribution of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and the active metabolite is about 34 liters and 12 liters, respectively. Both Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its active metabolite are highly bound to plasma proteins, primarily albumin, with plasma free fractions of 1.3% and 0.2%, respectively. Plasma protein binding is constant over the concentration range achieved with recommended doses. Studies in rats indicate that Losartan (Losardex Plus) crosses the blood-brain barrier poorly, if at all.
Metabolism
Losartan (Losardex Plus) is an orally active agent that undergoes substantial first-pass metabolism by cytochrome P450 enzymes. It is converted, in part, to an active carboxylic acid metabolite that is responsible for most of the angiotensin II receptor antagonism that follows Losartan (Losardex Plus) treatment. About 14% of an orally-administered dose of Losartan (Losardex Plus) is converted to the active metabolite. In addition to the active carboxylic acid metabolite, several inactive metabolites are formed. In vitro studies indicate that cytochrome P450 2C9 and 3A4 are involved in the biotransformation of Losartan (Losardex Plus) to its metabolites.
Elimination
Total plasma clearance of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and the active metabolite is about 600 mL/min and 50 mL/min, respectively, with renal clearance of about 75 mL/min and 25 mL/min, respectively. The terminal half-life of Losartan (Losardex Plus) is about 2 hours and of the metabolite is about 6-9 hours. After single doses of Losartan (Losardex Plus) administered orally, about 4% of the dose is excreted unchanged in the urine and about 6% is excreted in urine as active metabolite. Biliary excretion contributes to the elimination of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its metabolites. Following oral C-labeled Losartan (Losardex Plus), about 45% of radioactivity is recovered in the urine and 50% in the feces. Neither Losartan (Losardex Plus) nor its metabolite accumulate in plasma upon repeated once-daily dosing.
Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus)
Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) is not metabolized but is eliminated rapidly by the kidney. When plasma levels have been followed for at least 24 hours, the plasma half-life has been observed to vary between 5.6 and 14.8 hours. At least 61 percent of the oral dose is eliminated unchanged within 24 hours. Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) crosses the placental but not the blood-brain barrier and is excreted in breast milk.
Special Populations
Geriatric and Gender
Losartan (Losardex Plus) pharmacokinetics have been investigated in the elderly (65-75 years) and in both genders. Plasma concentrations of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its active metabolite are similar in elderly and young hypertensives. Plasma concentrations of Losartan (Losardex Plus) were about twice as high in female hypertensives as male hypertensives, but concentrations of the active metabolite were similar in males and females.
Race
Pharmacokinetic differences due to race have not been studied.
Hepatic Insufficiency
Following oral administration in patients with mild to moderate alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver, plasma concentrations of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its active metabolite were, respectively, 5 times and about 1.7 times those in young male volunteers. Compared to normal subjects, the total plasma clearance of Losartan (Losardex Plus) in patients with hepatic insufficiency was about 50% lower, and the oral bioavailability was about doubled. The lower starting dose of Losartan (Losardex Plus) recommended for use in patients with hepatic impairment cannot be given using Losardex Plus. Its use in such patients as a means of Losartan (Losardex Plus) titration is, therefore, not recommended.
Renal Insufficiency
Losartan (Losardex Plus)
Following oral administration, plasma concentrations and AUCs of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its active metabolite are increased by 50-90% in patients with mild (creatinine clearance of 50 to 74 mL/min) or moderate (creatinine clearance 30 to 49 mL/min) renal insufficiency. In this study, renal clearance was reduced by 55-85% for both Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its active metabolite in patients with mild or moderate renal insufficiency. Neither Losartan (Losardex Plus) nor its active metabolite can be removed by hemodialysis.
Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus)
Following oral administration, the AUC for Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) is increased by 70 and 700% for patients with mild and moderate renal insufficiency, respectively. In this study, renal clearance of Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) decreased by 45 and 85% in patients with mild and moderate renal impairment, respectively.
Use the usual regimens of therapy with Losardex Plus as long as the patient's creatinine clearance is greater than 30 mL/min. Safety and effectiveness of Losardex Plus in patients with severe renal impairment (creatinine clearance less than 30 mL/min) have not been established.
Drug Interactions
Losartan (Losardex Plus) Potassium
No clinically significant drug interactions have been found in studies of Losartan (Losardex Plus) potassium with Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus), digoxin, warfarin, cimetidine and phenobarbital. However, rifampin has been shown to decrease the AUC of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and its active metabolite by 30% and 40%, respectively. Fluconazole, an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 2C9, decreased the AUC of the active metabolite by approximately 40%, but increased the AUC of Losartan (Losardex Plus) by approximately 70% following multiple doses. Conversion of Losartan (Losardex Plus) to its active metabolite after intravenous administration is not affected by ketoconazole, an inhibitor of P450 3A4.The AUC of active metabolite following oral Losartan (Losardex Plus) was not affected by erythromycin, an inhibitor of P450 3A4, but the AUC of Losartan (Losardex Plus) was increased by 30%.
The pharmacodynamic consequences of concomitant use of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and inhibitors of P450 2C9 have not been examined. Subjects who do not metabolize Losartan (Losardex Plus) to active metabolite have been shown to have a specific, rare defect in cytochrome P450 2C9. These data suggest that the conversion of Losartan (Losardex Plus) to its active metabolite is mediated primarily by P450 2C9 and not P450 3A4.
Clinical Studies
Losartan (Losardex Plus) Monotherapy
Reduction in the Risk of Stroke: The LIFE study was a multinational, double-blind study comparing Losartan (Losardex Plus) and atenolol in 9193 hypertensive patients with ECG-documented left ventricular hypertrophy. Patients with myocardial infarction or stroke within six months prior to randomization were excluded. Patients were randomized to receive once daily Losartan (Losardex Plus) 50 mg or atenolol 50 mg. If goal blood pressure ( < 140/90 mmHg) was not reached, Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) (12.5 mg) was added first and, if needed, the dose of Losartan (Losardex Plus) or atenolol was then increased to 100 mg once daily. If necessary, other antihypertensive treatments (e.g., increase in dose of Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) therapy to 25 mg or addition of other diuretic therapy, calcium channel blockers, alpha-blockers, or centrally acting agents, but not ACE inhibitors, angiotensin II antagonists, or beta-blockers) were added to the treatment regimen to reach the goal blood pressure.
In efforts to control blood pressure, the patients in both arms of the LIFE study were coadministered Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) the majority of time they were on study drug (73.9% and 72.4% of days in the Losartan (Losardex Plus) and atenolol arms, respectively).
Of the randomized patients, 4963 (54%) were female and 533 (6%) were Black. The mean age was 67 with 5704 (62%) age ≥ 65. At baseline, 1195 (13%) had diabetes, 1326 (14%) had isolated systolic hypertension, 1469 (16%) had coronary heart disease, and 728 (8%) had cerebrovascular disease. Baseline mean blood pressure was 174/98 mmHg in both treatment groups. The mean length of follow-up was 4.8 years. At the end of study or at the last visit before a primary endpoint, 77% of the group treated with Losartan (Losardex Plus) and 73% of the group treated with atenolol were still taking study medication. Of the patients still taking study medication, the mean doses of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and atenolol were both about 80 mg/day, and 15% were taking atenolol or Losartan (Losardex Plus) as monotherapy, while 77% were also receiving Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) (at a mean dose of 20 mg/day in each group). Blood pressure reduction measured at trough was similar for both treatment groups but blood pressure was not measured at any other time of the day. At the end of study or at the last visit before a primary endpoint, the mean blood pressures were 144.1/81.3 mmHg for the group treated with Losartan (Losardex Plus) and 145.4/80.9 mmHg for the group treated with atenolol [the difference in SBP of 1.3 mmHg was significant (p < 0.001), while the difference of 0.4 mmHg in DBP was not significant (p=0.098)].
The primary endpoint was the first occurrence of cardiovascular death, nonfatal stroke, or nonfatal myocardial infarction. Patients with nonfatal events remained in the trial, so that there was also an examination of the first event of each type even if it was not the first event (e.g., a stroke following an initial myocardial infarction would be counted in the analysis of stroke). Treatment with Losartan (Losardex Plus) resulted in a 13% reduction (p=0.021) in risk of the primary endpoint compared to the atenolol group; this difference was primarily the result of an effect on fatal and nonfatal stroke. Treatment with Losartan (Losardex Plus) reduced the risk of stroke by 25% relative to atenolol (p=0.001).
Losartan (Losardex Plus) Potassium-Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus)
The 3 controlled studies of Losartan (Losardex Plus) and Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) included over 1300 patients assessing the antihypertensive efficacy of various doses of Losartan (Losardex Plus) (25, 50 and 100 mg) and concomitant Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) (6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg). A factorial study compared the combination of Losartan (Losardex Plus)/Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) 50/12.5 mg with its components and placebo. The combination of Losartan (Losardex Plus)/Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) 50/12.5 mg resulted in an approximately additive placebo-adjusted systolic/diastolic response (15.5/9.0 mmHg for the combination compared to 8.5/5.0 mmHg for Losartan (Losardex Plus) alone and 7.0/3.0 mmHg for Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) alone). Another study investigated the dose-response relationship of various doses of Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) (6.25, 12.5 and 25 mg) or placebo on a background of Losartan (Losardex Plus) (50 mg) in patients not adequately controlled (Sitting Diastolic Blood Pressure [SiDBP] 93-120 mmHg) on Losartan (Losardex Plus) (50 mg) alone. The third study investigated the dose-response relationship of various doses of Losartan (Losardex Plus) (25, 50 and 100 mg) or placebo on a background of Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) (25 mg) in patients not adequately controlled (SiDBP 93-120 mmHg) on Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) (25 mg) alone. These studies showed an added antihypertensive response at trough (24 hours post-dosing) of Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) 12.5 or 25 mg added to Losartan (Losardex Plus) 50 mg of 5.5/3.5 and 10.0/6.0 mmHg, respectively. Similarly, there was an added antihypertensive response at trough when Losartan (Losardex Plus) 50 or 100 mg was added to Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) 25 mg of 9.0/5.5 and 12.5/6.5 mmHg, respectively. There was no significant effect on heart rate.
There was no difference in response for men and women or in patients over or under 65 years of age.
Black patients had a larger response to Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) than non-Black patients and a smaller response to Losartan (Losardex Plus). The overall response to the combination was similar for Black and non-Black patients.
Severe Hypertension (SiDBP ≥ 110 mmHg)
The safety and efficacy of Losardex Plus as initial therapy for severe hypertension (defined as a mean SiDBP ≥ 110 mmHg confirmed on 2 separate occasions off all antihypertensive therapy) was studied in a 6-week double-blind, randomized, multicenter study. Patients were randomized to either Losartan (Losardex Plus) and Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) (50/12.5 mg, once daily) or to Losartan (Losardex Plus) (50 mg, once daily) and followed for blood pressure response. Patients were titrated at 2-week intervals if their SiDBP did not reach goal ( < 90 mmHg). Patients on combination therapy were titrated from Losartan (Losardex Plus) 50 mg/Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) 12.5 mg to Losartan (Losardex Plus) 50 mg/Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) 12.5 mg (sham titration to maintain the blind) to Losartan (Losardex Plus) 100 mg/Hydrochlorothiazide (Losardex Plus) 25 mg. Patients on monotherapy were titrated from Losartan (Losardex Plus) 50 mg to Losartan (Losardex Plus) 100 mg to Losartan (Losardex Plus) 150 mg, as needed. The primary endpoint was a comparison at 4 weeks of patients who achieved goal diastolic blood pressure (trough SiDBP < 90 mmHg).
The study enrolled 585 patients, including 264 (45%) females, 124 (21%) blacks, and 21 (4%) ≥ 65 years of age. The mean blood pressure at baseline for the total population was 171/113 mmHg. The mean age was 53 years. After 4 weeks of therapy, the mean SiDBP was 3.1 mmHg lower and the mean SiSBP was 5.6 mmHg lower in the group treated with Losardex Plus. As a result, a greater proportion of the patients on Losardex Plus reached the target diastolic blood pressure (17.6% for Losardex Plus, 9.4% for Losartan (Losardex Plus); p=0.006). Similar trends were seen when the patients were grouped according to gender, race or age ( <, ≥ 65).
After 6 weeks of therapy, more patients who received the combination regimen reached target diastolic blood pressure than those who received the monotherapy regimen (29.8% versus 12.5%).
References
- DailyMed. "AMLODIPINE BESYLATE; HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE; OLMESARTAN MEDOXOMIL: DailyMed provides trustworthy information about marketed drugs in the United States. DailyMed is the official provider of FDA label information (package inserts).". https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailyme... (accessed September 17, 2018).
- DailyMed. "LOSARTAN POTASSIUM: DailyMed provides trustworthy information about marketed drugs in the United States. DailyMed is the official provider of FDA label information (package inserts).". https://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailyme... (accessed September 17, 2018).
- NCIt. "Losartan: NCI Thesaurus (NCIt) provides reference terminology for many systems. It covers vocabulary for clinical care, translational and basic research, and public information and administrative activities.". https://ncit.nci.nih.gov/ncitbrowser... (accessed September 17, 2018).
Reviews
The results of a survey conducted on ndrugs.com for Losardex Plus are given in detail below. The results of the survey conducted are based on the impressions and views of the website users and consumers taking Losardex Plus. We implore you to kindly base your medical condition or therapeutic choices on the result or test conducted by a physician or licensed medical practitioners.User reports
Consumer reported administration
No survey data has been collected yetConsumer reviews
There are no reviews yet. Be the first to write one! |
Information checked by Dr. Sachin Kumar, MD Pharmacology
