aliskiren vs hydrochlorothiazide/losartan

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Side-by-side comparison of aliskiren and hydrochlorothiazide/losartan. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.

major Known Drug Interaction

7.4 Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) Dual blockade of the RAS with angiotensin receptor blockers, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren is associated with increased risks of hypotension, syncope, hyperkalemia, and changes in renal function (including acute renal failure) compared to monotherapy. Do not coadminister aliskiren with HYZAAR in patients with diabetes. Avoid use of aliskiren with HYZAAR in patients with renal impairment (GFR <60 mL/min).

Drug Class
aliskiren Direct Renin Inhibitor
hydrochlorothiazide/losartan Thiazide Diuretic / ARB Combination
Type
aliskiren Prescription
hydrochlorothiazide/losartan Prescription
Summary
aliskiren

Tekturna is a medicine used to treat high blood pressure. It helps lower blood pressure, which can reduce the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

hydrochlorothiazide/losartan

Hyzaar is a combination medicine that contains losartan and hydrochlorothiazide. It is used to lower high blood pressure.

What It Treats
aliskiren

Tekturna is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children who weigh at least 110 pounds and are 6 years or older. Lowering your blood pressure helps prevent strokes and heart attacks. It is important to manage high blood pressure with a healthy lifestyle too.

hydrochlorothiazide/losartan

Hyzaar is used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces your risk of strokes and heart attacks. It is also used to lower the risk of stroke in patients with high blood pressure and an enlarged left ventricle of the heart.

How It Works
aliskiren

Tekturna works by blocking a substance in your body called renin. Renin helps to control your blood pressure. By blocking renin, Tekturna helps to lower your blood pressure.

hydrochlorothiazide/losartan

Losartan blocks a substance in your body that tightens blood vessels. This helps blood vessels relax, which lowers blood pressure. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that helps your body get rid of extra salt and water, which also lowers blood pressure.

Common Side Effects
aliskiren
  • Diarrhea
hydrochlorothiazide/losartan
  • Dizziness
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Cough
  • Back pain
FAERS Reports
aliskiren
  • Asthenia 367
  • Fall 356
  • Nausea 336
  • Dyspnoea 315
  • Headache 301
hydrochlorothiazide/losartan
  • Tiredness 10,013
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 9,706
  • Loose stools 8,311
  • Discomfort 7,665
  • Difficulty breathing 7,584
Serious Warnings
aliskiren

Tekturna can harm your unborn baby, even causing death. If you become pregnant, stop taking Tekturna right away and tell your doctor.

hydrochlorothiazide/losartan

If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, stop taking Hyzaar and tell your doctor right away. This medicine can harm or kill your unborn baby.

Pregnancy
aliskiren

Tekturna can cause serious harm or death to an unborn baby. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about other blood pressure medicines. Breastfeeding is not recommended while taking Tekturna.

hydrochlorothiazide/losartan

Do not take Hyzaar if you are pregnant. It can cause serious harm to your unborn baby, including kidney problems, lung problems, skeletal problems and even death. If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor about whether Hyzaar is right for you.

How to Read This aliskiren vs hydrochlorothiazide/losartan Comparison

aliskiren is classified in the Direct Renin Inhibitor drug class, while hydrochlorothiazide/losartan sits within the Thiazide Diuretic / ARB Combination class. Drugs from different classes work through distinct mechanisms, so a head-to-head comparison illustrates trade-offs rather than equivalence. Both drugs are prescription-only, so a licensed provider must authorize use.

Adverse event totals above are pulled from the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). For these top-ranked reactions alone, aliskiren has 1,675 submissions while hydrochlorothiazide/losartan has 43,279. Those figures reflect cumulative reporting volume, not per-patient risk, so older, widely dispensed drugs typically look worse on count alone. These two drugs have a known major interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to these drugs work on the same pathway to lower blood pressure, and taking both can lead to dangerously high potassium or sudden kidney failure.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.

A table cannot represent individual circumstances. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This registry does not provide medical, treatment, substitution, or medication-change directions for aliskiren or hydrochlorothiazide/losartan.

Registry boundary: This comparison displays source-record fields and does not provide individualized medical direction.