Exforge vs. Cozaar

Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) and Cozaar (losartan) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Exforge is usually given after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.

Both Exforge and Cozaar contain angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Exforge also contains a calcium channel blocker.

Side effects of Exforge and Cozaar that are similar include dizziness and cold symptoms (such as runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat).

Side effects of Exforge that are different from Cozaar include spinning sensation, lightheadedness, and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Side effects of Cozaar that are different from Exforge include diarrhea, stomach pain, muscle cramps, leg or back pain, headache, sleep problems (insomnia), and tiredness.

Both Exforge and Cozaar may interact with alcohol, diuretics (water pills), other blood pressure medications, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, lithium, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Exforge may also interact with heart medications, vitamin or mineral supplements that contain potassium, other medications that lower blood pressure, “statins” or other cholesterol medications, cyclosporine, ritonavir, antibiotics, and antifungals.

Side effects of Exforge include:

• dizziness,
• spinning sensation, or lightheadedness as your body adjusts to the medication.

Other side effects of Exforge include flushing, and cold symptoms such as runny/stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Exforge including:

• swelling hands/ankles/feet,
• fainting,
• fast heartbeat,
• unusual change in the amount of urine,
• symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat), or
• signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat).

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).

Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) is a combination of a calcium channel blocker and an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Exforge is usually given after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.

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

Exforge may interact with heart medication, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), or other medications that lower blood pressure. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. Exforge is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to a fetus. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

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

Exforge (ziprasidone HCl) is available as capsules and Exforge (ziprasidone mesylate) is available as an injection for intramuscular use.

Exforge Capsules should be administered at an initial daily dose of 20 mg twice daily with food. For intramuscular dosing, the recommended dose of Exforge is 10 mg to 20 mg administered as required up to a maximum dose of 40 mg per day.

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.