hydrochlorothiazide/lisinopril vs losartan
Side-by-side comparison of hydrochlorothiazide/lisinopril and losartan. Data from FDA drug databases (Orange Book, NDC Directory, recalls, shortages) covering 20,000+ approved drugs, plus CMS pricing; see our methodology.
minor Known Drug Interaction
The VA NEPHRON trial enrolled 1448 patients with type 2 diabetes, elevated urinary-albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR 30 mL/min to 89.9 mL/min), randomized them to lisinopril or placebo on a background of losartan therapy and followed them for a median of 2.2 years. Patients receiving the combination of losartan and lisinopril did not obtain any additional benefit compared to monotherapy for the combined endpoint of decline in GFR, end state renal disease, or death, but experienced an increased incidence of hyperkalemia and acute kidney...
Recommendation: Your doctor will likely avoid this combination or monitor your kidney function and blood levels very closely.
Zestoretic
Cozaar
Zestoretic is a drug that combines lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide. It is used to treat high blood pressure.
Losartan is a medicine that lowers blood pressure. It can also help prevent strokes in some people with high blood pressure and an enlarged heart.
Zestoretic is used to treat high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of heart problems and strokes. Controlling high blood pressure should also include managing cholesterol, diabetes, and quitting smoking. Many people need more than one medicine to control their blood pressure.
Losartan is used to treat high blood pressure in adults and children over 6 years old. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. It is also used to treat kidney problems in people with type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Losartan can also reduce the risk of stroke in patients with high blood pressure and an enlarged left ventricle of the heart.
Zestoretic contains two medicines. Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that widens blood vessels. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that helps your body get rid of extra salt and water, which also lowers blood pressure.
Losartan blocks a substance in your body that tightens blood vessels. This helps blood vessels relax, which lowers blood pressure. It also helps the kidneys work better in people with diabetes.
- • Dizziness
- • Headache
- • Cough
- • Feeling tired
- • Dizziness
- • Upper respiratory infection
- • Nasal congestion
- • Back pain
- Feeling tired 10,013
- Feeling sick to your stomach 9,706
- Loose stools 8,311
- Discomfort 7,665
- Difficulty breathing 7,584
- Tiredness 11,852
- Diarrhea 9,868
- Feeling sick to your stomach 9,206
- Difficulty breathing 8,439
- Feeling lightheaded 7,999
This drug can cause serious harm or death to an unborn baby. Stop taking Zestoretic as soon as you find out you are pregnant.
Losartan can harm your unborn baby, even causing death. If you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant, tell your doctor right away. Stop taking losartan as soon as you know you are pregnant.
Do not take Zestoretic if you are pregnant. It can harm your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about other blood pressure medicines if you are breastfeeding.
Do not take losartan if you are pregnant. It can cause serious harm or death to the developing fetus. If you are breastfeeding, talk to your doctor about whether losartan is right for you.
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How to Read This hydrochlorothiazide/lisinopril vs losartan Comparison
hydrochlorothiazide/lisinopril is classified in the Thiazide Diuretic / ACE Inhibitor Combination drug class, while losartan sits within the Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB) 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, hydrochlorothiazide/lisinopril has 43,279 submissions while losartan has 47,364. 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 minor interaction flagged in FDA labeling, attributed to combining these two drugs can cause your potassium levels to rise and may lead to serious kidney problems without providing extra benefits.. Serious warnings, pregnancy guidance, and contraindications can differ even when indications overlap.
A table cannot substitute for clinical judgment. Effectiveness, tolerability, drug-drug interactions with your other medications, kidney and liver function, pregnancy status, insurance formulary, and price all feed into a decision that only a licensed prescriber can make responsibly. Data here is sourced from FDA Structured Product Labels (SPL) and FAERS, both of which update as manufacturers and clinicians submit new information. This page is for educational purposes only, is not medical advice, and should not be used to self-switch between hydrochlorothiazide/lisinopril and losartan - always consult your physician or pharmacist first.
Important: This comparison is for informational purposes only. Drug effects vary between individuals. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist for personalized medical advice.