Losartan & weight gain

Hello,

I have been prescribed Losartan 50mg and just wanted to ask if anyone has gained weight when taking this particular BP medicine?

Thanks for any advice!

[Chickpea33]

Hi Lara. I think this is a common problem as I’ve seen similar posts before. I am on Losartan 100 and have gained a lot of weight since starting it three years ago. I’m thinking of asking for a change to see if it makes any difference.

[Hidden in reply to Chickpea33]

Hi Chickpea33, thanks for your reply ... I've been put on it as I was on Ramipril but developed the annoying dry cough ... I've been on Losartan for just over 2 months and have been very bloated around my abdomen! I eat healthy, (low carb)I walk to work every day plus 'Power' walk 3 times a week - BUT ... have gained a few pounds! I definitely think it would be wise to ask your Dr for a change - I really hope you will be able to get this sorted.

[Bikerbabe1200]

Hi Lara,This was one of the reasons I came off it a few weeks ago, I put on about 18lbs in 3 months even though I was careful in what I ate. I did have other bad side effects with it too. Hope you get your problem sorted.

[Hidden in reply to Bikerbabe1200]

Hi Bikerbabe1200, thanks for replying. Oh my! I'm sorry to hear that you put on weight with the Losartan ... mine has been creeping up too, despite me exercising, watching what I eat as well etc. On the odd occasion I get blurred vision too. It does seem to be a common problem - weight gain and Losartan but Drs seem to not want to admit it or have this particular side effects noted on the medicine leaflets .... I hope your weight and health returns back to normal after coming off Losartan. Good luck and let me know how you get on.

[Bikerbabe1200 in reply to Hidden]

I’m not on anything after having a bad reaction to the new ones the put me on. BP is lower than it’s been for a while 🤷‍♀️.I was lightheaded with Losertan too. Good luck

[Hidden in reply to Bikerbabe1200]

I think it's best I come off it too ... and just monitor my weight and BP at home ... it will be interesting to see if my BP goes down! What is so frustrating is you BP will automatically go up if you gain weight, grrrr! These medications are not always the best, especially if your BP is not dangerously high! Thank you

[Cybrook]

I am now losing weight ..I suspected all my meds and supplements ...took time out from them all..took a very long time... Losarton was not making me put on weight ..I stopped Livial Tibolone and worked out a better solution which balanced my hormones in a better way.. I asked for body identical oestrogen and body identical progesterone once the doses were matched for me the weight fell off.. Should we ask ourselves if we are of an age where peri-meno and unsettled hormones are playing up without us knowing then could this be the culprit? In my case I would say I wish I had spotted it sooner as I had to fast vigorously to just not put on weight.

[Hidden in reply to Cybrook]

Hi Cybrook, I'm 49 but not started menopause yet ... but yes, hormones could definitely be the culprit! I've been taking Losartan for just over 2 months and have gained 5.5 pounds already which does not help my HBPressure! I think that I will be much better off the medication completely and monitor my weight / BP at home and see what happens ... I am pleased to hear that you are losing weight and that your hormones are balanced in a better way.

[Cybrook]

Might be an idea to get your hormone level checked... Menoopause can start long before we notice the known and most talked about signs...there are about thirty signs that we can miss because they are not talked about or listed very often. I was totally shocked when my weight started going down..friends noticed it before I did..lol....Also it would be a valid and interesting question to find out if those that stopped Losarton actually LOST weight on stopping this med. I do wish you well in sorting this problem out. Good luck.

[Hidden in reply to Cybrook]

Thanks Cybrook! That will be definitely something to look into ..... odd though that my weight went up after takinig Losartan .... I have also spoken to a few people who came off Losartan because of weight gain after taking and they did actually lose the weight ....

[Cybrook in reply to Hidden]

OK thanks for the info... Have a great week.

[Hidden in reply to Cybrook]

Thanks Cybrook, hope you have a great week too!

[Doggie123-UK]

I never thought to look at my meds because of my expanding waistline, just put it down to old age and lack of exercise (I have intermittent claudication, ibs and emphysema and find it very difficult to walk any distance or exercise)I was changed to Losartan from Ramipril because of the dry cough, will have to look into this, but doubt I will get any help from my surgery, my Doctor has retired and the other Doctor seems to always say it's due to old age, you're an ex smoker or its a coincidence.

[Janlac]

Hi LaraI was put on losartan when lisinopril caused a cough that hospitalised me. That was nearly 3 years ago and in that time I have put on just under 3 stone. My GP swears that losartan is not to blame and that after a triple bypass, it is the best one to take because it helps build the heart muscle. I am sure losartan is at fault but have recently been swimming, doing aqua aerobics and joined slimming world yesterday. I’ll see what happens over the next 3 months and report back.

[Hidden in reply to Janlac]

Hi Janlac, it will be great to hear how you get on in the next 3 months ... that is brilliant that you are swimming and doing aqua aerobics and have joined Slimming World too!I have spoken with my Dr again this morning and he has agreed that I cease taking Losartan so I as from this morning, I am now completely meds free. He said my BP was now at a healthy reading and to keep monitoring at home and if it rises again over say, then to contact him again. It will be interesting to see if I lose the weight that I have put on too! I walk to work everyday, plus 'Power' walk 3 times a week. I do over 21km in power walking alone and eat a low carb diet and eat healthy so there should be no reason why this sudden weight gain after taking BP medication. Thank goodness I have a good Dr who actually listens to me!

Please let me know how you get on.

😀

[Janlac in reply to Hidden]

Hello LaraHow wonderful to be BP med free! So pleased for you. That is my aim too. However, having had a stroke 12 years ago and a triple bypass 3 years ago, I think I am too scared to see what happens if I come off losartan all together. I think I might try halving it and just measure the pressure every day - I’ve only been doing slimming world since Monday and already my blood glucose is the lowest it’s been for a long time - type 2 diabetes too. So I am hopeful for the BP in the future. Fingers crossed for you. X

[Hidden in reply to Janlac]

Thank you Janlac! That is really good news that your blood glucose is the lowest it’s been for a long time ... keep doing the slimming world! That may be a good idea to maybe halve the Losartan and keep measuring your BP. I do have to keep an eye on my BP now, now that I am no longer taking medication, however it will be interesting to see if my blood pressure stays low and lose the bloated weight too, now that I am no longer on Losartan (or any meds at all) ... please keep in touch and let me know how you have been feeling. X

[Chickpea33]

That’s a similar weight gain to me Janlac, with a similar time frame. I’m 54 so have been telling myself it’s peri menopause, not in menopause yet, annoyingly! But I’m fed up with feeling so bloated and think a med change is worth a try. I’ll keep you posted!

[Hidden in reply to Chickpea33]

Hi Chicpea33, I'm not in menopause yet either! (I'm 49) and have been bloated while taking BP medication.I have spoken with my Dr again this morning and he has agreed that I cease taking Losartan so I as from this morning, I am now completely meds free. He said my BP was now at a healthy reading and to keep monitoring at home and if it rises again, then to contact him again. So it will be interesting to see if I lose the weight that I have put on too! I exercise and eat a healthy diet, so there should be no reason why I have this weight gain after taking BP medication. Thank goodness I have a good Dr who actually listens to me!

Please let me know how you get on.

[Janlac in reply to Chickpea33]

hi chickpea33At 66, I’m well out of the menopause, but still suffer with bloating and seem to have retained that inner blast furnace. I’m putting it all down to weight gain. Do let us know how you get on with a med change.

[HappyDiamonds]

This is my first post on HBP Support and I just wanted to add that I have gained weight over the few months I have been on Losartan although I am also on other medications that causes weight gain including steroids due to having GCA.

[Nick234]

About 10 years on losartan 50 with no weight gain !