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hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene vs losartan

Side-by-side comparison of hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene 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 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 injury...

Recommendation: Your doctor will need to monitor your potassium levels and kidney health with regular blood tests. Seek medical help if you feel muscle weakness or notice a change in your heartbeat.

Drug Class
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene Thiazide / Potassium-Sparing Diuretic Combination
losartan Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker (ARB)
Type
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene Prescription
losartan Prescription
Summary
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene

This medicine combines lisinopril and hydrochlorothiazide to lower high blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks.

losartan

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.

What It Treats
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene

This medicine is used to treat high blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to serious problems like stroke and heart attack if it is not treated. Lowering your blood pressure can help prevent these problems. You may need more than one medicine to control your blood pressure.

losartan

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.

How It Works
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene

Lisinopril is an ACE inhibitor that widens blood vessels. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic that helps your body get rid of extra salt and water. This combination helps to lower blood pressure.

losartan

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.

Common Side Effects
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene
  • Dizziness
  • Headache
  • Cough
  • Feeling tired
  • Lightheadedness when standing up
losartan
  • Dizziness
  • Upper respiratory infection
  • Nasal congestion
  • Back pain
FAERS Reports
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene
  • Feeling tired 10,013
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 9,706
  • Loose stools 8,311
  • General pain 7,665
  • Difficulty breathing 7,584
losartan
  • Tiredness 11,852
  • Diarrhea 9,868
  • Feeling sick to your stomach 9,206
  • Difficulty breathing 8,439
  • Feeling lightheaded 7,999
Serious Warnings
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene

This medicine can harm your unborn baby. If you become pregnant, stop taking this medicine and tell your doctor right away. You should not take this medicine if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction (angioedema) to an ACE inhibitor or if you cannot urinate.

losartan

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.

Pregnancy
hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene

This medicine can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. Do not take this medicine if you are pregnant. Talk to your doctor about other blood pressure medicines if you are breastfeeding.

losartan

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.

Also Compare, Nearby Drugs

How to Read This hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene vs losartan Comparison

hydrochlorothiazide/triamterene is classified in the Thiazide / Potassium-Sparing Diuretic 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/triamterene 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 both of these medicines can cause your body to hold onto too much potassium. having high potassium levels can be dangerous for your heart and may lead to kidney problems.. 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/triamterene 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.