Posted on 04/21/2020 6:34:07 AM PDT by sonrise57
Does Losartan block the receptor used by the Coronavirus? Medically reviewed by Carmen Fookes, BPharm Last updated on Mar 30, 2020.
Official Answer by Drugs.com
Losartan is not a receptor, but it does block a chemical (angiotensin II), from binding to a receptor, type 1 angiotensin 2 (AT1), which lowers blood pressure.
Losartan does not block the virus causing COVID-19, called SARS-CoV-2, but it may reduce the activity of the renin-angiotensin system, which is overactive in people with high blood pressure, which may increase their risk of developing lung complications from COVID-19.
Some animal studies found losartan beneficial at reducing severe simulated lung injury in mice exposed to other viruses, such as SARS. Few human studies have been conducted.
For now, any beneficial effects of losartan are just a hypothesis (suggestion). It is not a good idea to institute any medical therapy based on an untested hypothesis since unexpected harms may outweigh any benefits.
For people already taking losartan or any other ARB, the advice from the medical community is to keep taking it unless your doctor tells you otherwise.
(Excerpt) Read more at drugs.com ...
could you elaborate on this?
Yea, it’s a bummer that people aren’t told things like staying away from people when exercising, and then get lied to regarding masks...and many, many other things.
I get a 90 day prescription (Losartan) with a local independent pharmacy, without using insurance of medicare for about $33. I don’t mind avoiding and helping the pharmacy avoid all the overhead from the nanny states of insurance companies and/or medicare just to save so little off that $33.
I hear that some insurers would not let you get 90 day prescriptions. That was the case with the VA and you could only get your prescription from them. Nuts to that.
When this virus talk first broke (ab. Feb), there was talk about Valsartan being the worse BP med. I called my MD and she said to just continue the med, and I have. If I get sick, however, I’m going to stop it. Has anyone googled “Valsartan and covid-19”? That might be helpful.
My cardiologist tried me on Losartin several years ago. I think I am allergic to it. I felt horrible when I took it.
Internet: Both foe...and FRIEND.
Use of angiotensin receptor blockers such as Telmisartan, Losartsan in nCoV Wuhan Corona Virus infections – Novel mode of treatment
04 February 2020
M. A. Phadke
Prof. Dr.
S Saunik
Mumbai, India
https://www.bmj.com/content/368/bmj.m406/rr-2
Kroger has a GREAT prescription plan called KrogerRx. $36 a year or $72 for up to 5 family members. It is far better than my insurance and you get Fuel Points.
CVS is outrageous in drug pricing. Walgreens not far behind! Wallys/Sams much, much better. No Costco in this area.
Just found this:
Recent reports have raised concerns that ACE inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), such as losartan, Irbesartan, valsartan or telmisartan, may increase risks for infection or illness due to infection by COVID-19. We currently do not know if ARBs are harmful or protective in people who are exposed to COVID-19. However, abrupt discontinuation of ARBs can make hypertension worse and may trigger acute arterial dissections in people with heritable vascular diseases. Therefore, we strongly advise that people who take ARBs regularly should continue to take them without interruption.
Here is another:
Should I continue to take my ACE inhibitor or ARB?
ACE inhibitors (such as lisinopril and benazepril) and ARBs (such as losartan and valsartan) are common medications used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, there was some concern that these medications may lead to an increased risk for serious or fatal COVID-19 infection. However, at least ten national and international societies have noted that there is no evidence that ACE inhibitors and ARBs lead to worse outcomes and have made the recommendation that patients should continue these medications. In fact, there is ongoing research to explore the intriguing possibility that ACE inhibitors and ARBs may be helpful in those who are seriously ill from COVID-19. The important point is that while we don’t have any evidence that these medications affect COVID-19, we do know that stopping them can increase the risk of uncontrolled high blood pressure, possible stroke, or heart failure. As noted, especially now is not the time to increase your likelihood of having an emergency medical condition.
https://blogs.webmd.com/heart-health/20200406/heart-disease-and-covid-19-answers-from-a-cardiologist
This is very interesting. Thank you so much for the link.
Very interesting. This morning was the first time I learned of any link whatsover.
Manufactured for:Back in the hoorah where the supplier of a generic form of Novartis' Diovan (Valsartan combined with hydrochlorothiazide) was made public, apparently a Chinese source was incorrectly appropriate, but the Indian source was OK. I checked this out with my local store pharmacist, and found out that Walgreens was quite aware of this and did not use the form coming from China.
Macleods Pharma USA, Inc.
Plainsboro, NJ 08536
Manufactured by:
Macleods Pharmaceuticals Ltd.
Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, INDIA
I take 25mg Losartan, no side effects & only thing that has really helped my BP...
There is more on the web; hone your Boolean skills and use multiple browsers/search engines, utilizing key search terms in the linked paper.
Best of luck. Oh, and in case you missed it (since I understand that you’re at-risk):
Wuhan Coronavirus: Propylene Glycol as Possible Therapy for Eradication of RTI and Prevention of Complications [vanity]
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/3831003/posts
Thanks for that info.
You rock.
You could try a Mexican pharmacy.
The family brought a 6 month supply of Losartan back from Mexico a few weeks ago.
I find this GI doc’s reasoning compelling in the several areas he addresses in his hypotheses. I have suggested my husband discontinue his losartan in favor of a secondary rx he has had for guanfacine ( Tenex or more recently Intuniv) ( not to be confused with guaifenesin, which is mucinex)
I am a mid-level practitioner specializing in women’s health, so this isn’t medical advice, take it only for what it’s worth.
Try GoodRX for possible price reductions.
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