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) andCozaar(losartan) are used to treathigh blood pressure(hypertension).

Norvasc is also prescribed for the prevention and treatment ofheartpainorchest painfromangina.

Norvasc and Cozaar belong to different drug classes. Norvasc is acalcium channel blocker(CCB) and Cozaar is anangiotensin receptor blocker(ARB).

Commonside effectsof Norvasc include:

• headache,
• swelling (edema) of the ankles orfeet,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• drowsiness,
• tiredfeeling,
• nausea,
• abdominalorstomachpain, or
• flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Common side effects of Cozaar include:

• diarrhea
• stomach pain
• musclecramps
• legorback pain
• dizziness
• headache
• sleepproblems (insomnia)
• tiredness, and
• cold orflusymptoms such asstuffy nose, sneezing,sore throat,fever, andcough

Tell yourdoctorif you experience serious side effects of Cozaar including pain or burning when you urinate; paleskin, lightheadedness,shortness of breath, rapidheart rate, trouble concentrating;wheezing,chestpain; drowsiness, confusion, mood changes, increased thirst, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting; swelling, weight gain, urinating less than usual or not at all; or highpotassium(slow heart rate, weakpulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling).

Norvasc (amlodipine) is acalciumchannel blocker (CCB) prescribed for the prevention and treatment of heart pain or chest pain from angina, and for the treatment of highblood pressure.

Cozaar (losartan) is anoralangiotensinreceptorblocker (ARB) prescribed for the treatment of hypertension.

Norvasc may interact with otherbloodpressure medications.

Norvasc may also interact withsimvastatin,ketoconazole, itraconazole, ritonavir, diltiazem, andcyclosporine, or other heart medications.

Cozaar may interact with other blood pressure medications.

Cozaar may also interact withdiuretics(waterpills),lithium, celecoxib, oraspirinor otherNSAIDs(nonsteroidalanti-inflammatory drugs).

The usual initialantihypertensiveoral dose of Norvasc is 5mgonce daily, and the maximum dose is 10 mg once daily. Norvasc dosages may need to be loweredinpatients withliverdysfunction.

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 duringpregnancy, and it is not known whether it is excreted inbreast milk.