Atacand vs. Cozaar

• Are Atacand and Cozaar the Same Thing?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Atacand?
• What Are Possible Side Effects of Cozaar?
• What Is Atacand?
• What Is Cozaar?
• What Drugs Interact with Atacand?
• What Drugs Interact with Cozaar?
• How Should Atacand Be Taken?
• How Should Cozaar Be Taken?

Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) and Cozaar (losartan) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Atacand and Cozaar belong to different drug classes. Atacand is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist and Cozaar is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).

Side effects of Atacand and Cozaar that are similar include cold or flu symptoms (such as runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, and cough), diarrhea, back pain, stomach pain, headache, dizziness, or tired feeling.

Side effects of Atacand that are different from Cozaar include joint pain, feeling like you might pass out, chest pain, swelling in your hands or feet, slow heart rate, weak pulse, or tingly feeling.

Side effects of Cozaar that are different from Atacand include muscle cramps, leg pain, or sleep problems (insomnia).

Common side effects of Atacand include:

• runny or stuffy nose,
• sore throat,
• cough,
• back pain,
• joint pain,
• stomach pain,
• diarrhea,
• headache,
• dizziness,
• tired feeling,
• feeling like you might pass out,
• chest pain,
• swelling in your hands or feet,
• slow heart rate,
• weak pulse, or
• tingly feeling.

Tell the doctor immediately if you notice any of these side effects.

Common side effects of Cozaar include:

• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• muscle cramps
• leg or back pain
• dizziness
• headache
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• tiredness, and
• cold or flu symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, fever, and cough

Tell your doctor if you experience serious side effects of Cozaar including pain or burning when you urinate; pale skin, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, trouble concentrating; wheezing, chest pain; drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting; swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all; or high potassium (slow heart rate, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling).

Atacand (candesartan cilexetil) is a selective AT₁ subtype angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children 1 to less than 17 years of age.

Cozaar (losartan) is an oral angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) prescribed for the treatment of hypertension.

Atacand may interact with alcohol, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), lithium; or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use.

Cozaar may interact with diuretics (water pills), other blood pressure medications, lithium, celecoxib, or aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

The usual recommended starting dose of Atacand is 16 mg once daily when it is used as monotherapy in patients who are not volume depleted. Atacand can be administered once or twice daily with total daily doses ranging from 8 mg to 32 mg.

Dosing preparations of Cozaar are 25, 50, and 100 mg tablets. Drug interactions with Cozaar may occur with inhibitors of cytochrome P450, potassium- sparing diuretics, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Cozaar should not be used during pregnancy, and it is not known whether it is excreted in breast milk.