LOSARTAN KORHISPANA 50 mg FILM-COATED TABLETS

Introduction

PATIENT INFORMATION LEAFLET

LOSARTAN KORHISPANA 50 mg film-coated tablets EFG

Contents of the pack:

1. What is Losartan Korhispana and what is it used for
2. Before taking Losartan Korhispana
3. How to take Losartan Korhispana
4. Possible side effects
5. Storage of Losartan Korhispana

Additional information

1. What is Losartan Korhispana and what is it used for

Losartan belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor antagonists.

Angiotensin II is a substance produced in the body that binds to receptors in blood vessels, causing them to narrow. This leads to an increase in blood pressure. Losartan prevents angiotensin II from binding to these receptors, which causes the blood vessels to relax, resulting in a decrease in blood pressure. Losartan reduces the worsening of kidney function in patients with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

Losartan Korhispana is used:

• To treat patients with high blood pressure (hypertension).
• To protect the kidneys in hypertensive patients with type 2 diabetes and laboratory test results indicating kidney failure and proteinuria ≥ 0.5 g per day (a condition in which the urine contains an abnormal amount of protein).
• To treat patients with chronic heart failure, when their doctor considers that treatment with specific medications called angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors, medications used to lower high blood pressure) is not suitable. If your heart failure has been stabilized with an ACE inhibitor, you should not switch to losartan.
• In patients with high blood pressure and increased thickness of the left ventricle of the heart, losartan has been shown to reduce the risk of stroke (LIFE indication).

2. Before taking Losartan Korhispana

Do not take Losartan Korhispana

• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to losartan or any of the other ingredients of Losartan Korhispana.
• if your liver function is severely impaired.
• if you are pregnant for more than 3 months. (It is also recommended to avoid Losartan Korhispana during the first months of pregnancy – see section on Pregnancy).
• if you have diabetes or kidney failure and are being treated with a medication to lower blood pressure that contains aliskiren.

Be particularly cautious with Losartan Korhispana

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant (or if you think you might be). Your doctor will generally advise you to stop taking Losartan Korhispana before becoming pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will recommend that you take another medication instead of Losartan Korhispana. It is not recommended to use Losartan Korhispana at the start of pregnancy, and in no case should it be administered after the third month of pregnancy, as it may cause serious harm to your baby when administered from that time on (see section on Pregnancy).

Before taking Losartan Korhispana, it is essential that you inform your doctor:

• if you have a history of angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat) (see also section 4. Possible side effects).
• if you have excessive vomiting or diarrhea, which causes excessive loss of fluid and/or salt from your body.
• if you are taking diuretics (medications that increase the amount of water that passes through your kidneys) or if you are on a low-salt diet that causes excessive loss of fluids or salt in your body (see section 3. Dosage in special patient groups).
• if you know you have a narrowing or blockage of the blood vessels that supply your kidneys or if you have recently undergone a kidney transplant.
• if your liver function is impaired (see sections 2. Do not take Losartan Korhispana and 3. Dosage in special patient groups).
• if you have heart failure with or without kidney failure or life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Special attention is necessary when being treated at the same time with a beta-blocker.
• if you have problems with the valves in your heart or with the heart muscle.
• if you have coronary heart disease (caused by reduced blood flow in the blood vessels of the heart) or cerebrovascular disease (caused by reduced blood circulation in the brain).
• if you have primary hyperaldosteronism (a syndrome associated with high secretion of the hormone aldosterone by the adrenal gland due to a disorder of this gland).
• if you are taking any of the following medications used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension):

• an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) (e.g., enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril), particularly if you have kidney problems related to diabetes.
• aliskiren
  • if you experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after taking Losartan Korhispana. Your doctor will decide whether to continue treatment. Do not stop taking Losartan Korhispana on your own.

Your doctor may monitor your kidney function, blood pressure, and blood electrolyte levels (e.g., potassium) at regular intervals.

See also the information under the heading “Do not take Losartan Korhispana”.

Use of other medications

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take other medications, including those obtained without a prescription, herbal medicines, and natural products.

While being treated with Losartan Korhispana, be particularly cautious if you take any of the following medications:

• other medications that lower blood pressure, as they may cause additional blood pressure reduction. Blood pressure may also be lowered by some of the following medications/classes of medications: tricyclic antidepressants, antipsychotics, baclofen, amifostine.
• medications that retain potassium or may increase potassium levels (e.g., potassium supplements, salt substitutes containing potassium, or potassium-sparing diuretics ([amiloride, triamterene, spironolactone] or heparin).
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications, such as indomethacin, including COX-2 inhibitors (medications that reduce inflammation and may be used to relieve pain), as they may reduce the blood pressure-lowering effect of losartan.

Your doctor may need to adjust your dose and/or take other precautions:

If you are taking an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) or aliskiren (see also the information under the headings “Do not take Losartan Korhispana” and “Be particularly cautious with Losartan Korhispana”).

If your kidney function is impaired, concomitant use of these medications may worsen kidney function.

Medications containing lithium should not be used in combination with losartan without your doctor's careful monitoring. It may be appropriate to take special precautions (e.g., blood tests).

Taking Losartan Korhispana with food and drinks

Losartan can be taken with or without food.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

You should inform your doctor if you are pregnant (or if you think you might be). Your doctor will generally advise you to stop taking Losartan Korhispana before becoming pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant and will recommend that you take another medication instead of Losartan Korhispana. It is not recommended to use Losartan Korhispana at the start of pregnancy, and in no case should it be administered after the third month of pregnancy, as it may cause serious harm to your baby when administered from that time on.

Breastfeeding

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to start breastfeeding. It is not recommended to use Losartan Korhispana during breastfeeding, and your doctor will choose another treatment for you if you want to breastfeed, especially if your baby is newborn or premature.

Consult your doctor or pharmacist before using any medication.

Use in children and adolescents

Losartan has been studied in children. For more information, talk to your doctor.

Driving and using machines

No studies have been conducted on the effects on the ability to drive and use machines.

It is unlikely that Losartan Korhispana will affect your ability to drive or use machines. However, as with many medications used to treat high blood pressure, losartan may cause dizziness or drowsiness in some people. If you experience dizziness or drowsiness, consult your doctor before performing these activities.

Important information about some of the ingredients of Losartan Korhispana:

This medication contains lactose. If your doctor has told you that you have an intolerance to certain sugars, consult with them before taking this medication.

3. How to take Losartan Korhispana

Follow the instructions for administration of Losartan Korhispana indicated by your doctor. Your doctor will decide the appropriate dose of Losartan Korhispana, depending on your condition and whether you are taking other medications. It is essential to continue taking Losartan Korhispana as prescribed by your doctor to maintain constant control of your blood pressure.

Patient with high blood pressure

Normally, treatment starts with 50 mg of losartan (one Losartan Korhispana 50 mg tablet) once a day. The maximum blood pressure-lowering effect is achieved within 3-6 weeks of starting treatment. After that, in some patients, the dose may be increased to 100 mg of losartan (two Losartan Korhispana 50 mg tablets) once a day.

If you think the effect of Losartan Korhispana is too strong or too weak, please inform your doctor or pharmacist.

Patient with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes

Normally, treatment starts with 50 mg of losartan (one Losartan Korhispana 50 mg tablet) once a day. After that, the dose may be increased to 100 mg of losartan (two Losartan Korhispana 50 mg tablets) once a day, depending on your blood pressure response.

Losartan tablets can be administered with other medications that lower blood pressure (e.g., diuretics, calcium antagonists, alpha or beta blockers, and centrally acting agents), as well as with insulin and other medications frequently used to lower blood glucose levels (e.g., sulfonylureas, glitazones, and glucosidase inhibitors).

Patient with heart failure

Normally, treatment starts with 12.5 mg of losartan once a day. Normally, the dose is gradually increased weekly (i.e., 12.5 mg per day during the first week, 25 mg per day during the second week, and 50 mg per day during the third week) to a maintenance dose of 50 mg of losartan (one Losartan Korhispana 50 mg tablet) once a day, depending on your condition.

In the treatment of heart failure, losartan is usually combined with a diuretic (a medication that increases the amount of water that passes through your kidneys) and/or digitalis (a medication that helps your heart be stronger and more efficient) and/or a beta-blocker.

Dosage in special patient groups

Your doctor may recommend a lower dose, especially when starting treatment in certain patients, such as those treated with high-dose diuretics, patients with liver failure, or patients over 75 years old. It is not recommended to use losartan in patients with severe liver failure (see section “Do not take Losartan Korhispana”).

Administration

The tablets should be taken with a glass of water. You should try to take your daily dose at approximately the same time each day. It is essential to continue taking Losartan Korhispana until your doctor tells you to stop.

If you take more Losartan Korhispana than you should

If you accidentally take too many tablets or if a child swallows some, contact your doctor immediately. The symptoms of overdose are low blood pressure, increased heart rate, and possibly decreased heart rate.

In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone 91 562 04 20, indicating the medication and the amount ingested.

If you forget to take Losartan Korhispana

If you accidentally miss a dose, simply take the next dose as usual.

Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed tablet.

If you have any other questions about the use of this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. Possible side effects

Like all medications, Losartan Korhispana can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them.

If you experience the following, stop taking the losartan tablets and inform your doctor immediately or go to the emergency department of your nearest hospital:

A severe allergic reaction (skin rash, itching, swelling of the face, lips, mouth, or throat that can cause difficulty swallowing or breathing).

This is a serious but rare side effect, affecting more than 1 patient in 10,000 but less than 1 patient in 1,000. You may need urgent medical attention or hospitalization.

Medication side effects are classified as follows:

very common:affect more than 1 in 10 patients

common:affect 1 to 10 patients in 100

uncommon:affect 1 to 10 patients in 1,000

rare:affect 1 to 10 patients in 10,000

very rare:affect less than 1 patient in 10,000

unknown:frequency cannot be estimated from available data

The following side effects have been reported with Losartan Korhispana:

Common:

• dizziness,
• low blood pressure,
• weakness,
• fatigue,
• low blood sugar (hypoglycemia),
• high potassium levels in the blood (hyperkalemia).

Uncommon:

• drowsiness,
• headache,
• sleep disorders
• palpitations (feeling of rapid heartbeats),
• severe chest pain (angina pectoris),
• low blood pressure (especially after excessive loss of fluid from the body within the blood vessels, e.g., in patients with severe heart failure or on high-dose diuretic therapy),
• dose-related orthostatic effects, such as decreased blood pressure after standing up from lying down or sitting,
• difficulty breathing (dyspnea),
• abdominal pain,
• chronic constipation,
• diarrhea,
• nausea,
• vomiting,
• hives (urticaria)
• itching (pruritus),
• skin rash,
• localized swelling (edema).

Rare:

• inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis, Schoenlein-Henoch purpura),
• numbness or tingling (paresthesia),
• fainting (syncope),
• rapid and irregular heartbeats (atrial fibrillation), stroke (cerebrovascular accident),
• inflammation of the liver (hepatitis),
• elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels in blood, which usually resolves upon discontinuation of treatment,
• intestinal angioedema: swelling in the intestine that presents with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Unknown:

• reduced number of red blood cells (anemia),
• reduced number of platelets,
• migraine,
• cough,
• liver function abnormalities,
• muscle and joint pain,
• changes in kidney function (may be reversible upon discontinuation of treatment), including kidney failure,
• flu-like symptoms,
• increased urea, creatinine, and potassium levels in blood in patients with heart failure,
• back pain and urinary tract infection.

Reporting of side effects:

If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is possible that they are not listed in this leaflet. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines: https://www.notificaram.es. By reporting side effects, you can help provide more information on the safety of this medication.

5. Storage of Losartan Korhispana

Keep out of the reach and sight of children.

Do not use Losartan Korhispana after the expiration date stated on the packaging after EXP. The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.

Do not store above 25°C.

Store Losartan Korhispana in its original packaging.

Do not open the blister pack until you are ready to take the medication.

Medications should not be disposed of through wastewater or household waste. Deposit the packaging and any unused medications at the SIGRE collection point in your pharmacy. If in doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and any unused medications. This will help protect the environment.

6. Additional Information

Composition of Losartán Korhispana

The active ingredient of Losartán Korhispana is losartan potassium. Each Losartán Korhispana 50 mg film-coated tablet contains 50 mg of losartan potassium.

Losartán Korhispana 50 mg contains potassium in the following amount: 4.24 mg (0.108mEq).

Appearance of the Product and Packaging Contents

Losartán Korhispana is supplied as round, white, film-coated tablets with a score line. The tablets can be divided into two equal halves.

Losartán Korhispana is supplied in the following package sizes:

Aluminum-PVC/PE/PVDC blister pack, in packages of 28 tablets.

This leaflet was approved in February 2025

Detailed and updated information on this medication is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/