Norvasc vs. Cozaar

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

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

Norvasc is also prescribed for the prevention and treatment of heart pain or chest pain from angina.

Norvasc and Cozaar belong to different drug classes. Norvasc is a calcium channel blocker (CCB) and Cozaar is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB).

Common side effects of Norvasc include:

• headache,
• swelling (edema) of the ankles or feet,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• drowsiness,
• tired feeling,
• nausea,
• abdominal or stomach pain, or
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

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).

Norvasc (amlodipine) is a calcium channel blocker (CCB) prescribed for the prevention and treatment of heart pain or chest pain from angina, and for the treatment of high blood pressure.

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

Norvasc may interact with other blood pressure medications.

Norvasc may also interact with simvastatin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, diltiazem, and cyclosporine, or other heart medications.

Cozaar may interact with other blood pressure medications.

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

The usual initial antihypertensive oral dose of Norvasc is 5 mg once daily, and the maximum dose is 10 mg once daily. Norvasc dosages may need to be lowered in patients with liver dysfunction.

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.