Two medicines, side by side
Losartan vs olmesartan
Losartan and olmesartan are both labeled for high blood pressure. Drugs@FDA records approvals of losartan since 1995 and of olmesartan since 2002. Pharmacies paid $0.0327 per losartan potassium 50 mg tablet and $0.0805 per olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg tablet (NADAC, October 7, 2026); the strengths differ, so the two prices are not like for like. How each works, in its label's words: Losartan, “Angiotensin II [formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II)] is a potent vasoconstrictor, the primary vasoactive hormone of the …”; Olmesartan, “Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II).”
Check it at the source: the losartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective January 20, 2026); the olmesartan FDA label on DailyMed (effective September 23, 2025).
Highlights of the losartan record
Losartan (Cozaar) · label of January 20, 2026
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue COZAAR as soon as possible. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus [see Warnings and Precautions (5.1) ]. WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue COZAAR as soon as possible. Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.
Used for
From the label: indicationsCOZAAR is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) indicated for: Treatment of hypertension, to lower blood pressure in adults and children greater than 6 years old. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. ( 1.1 ) Reduction of the risk of stroke in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 14, 1995
- Generic labelers
- 43 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0327 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 77
Highlights of the olmesartan record
Olmesartan (Benicar) · label of September 23, 2025
FETAL TOXICITY When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Benicar as soon as possible ( 5.1 , 8.1 ). Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus ( 5.1 , 8.1 ). WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY See full prescribing information for complete boxed warning. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Benicar as soon as possible ( 5.1 , 8.1 ).
Used for
From the label: indicationsBenicar is indicated for the treatment of hypertension in adults and children six years of age and older, to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions. […]
On the market
- Earliest approval on file
- April 25, 2002
- Generic labelers
- 30 labelers
- Pharmacy cost
- $0.0805 per tablet
Supply and safety
- Shortage
- No current entry
- Recalls
- 2
Source: FDA drug labels via openFDA (Losartan label of January 20, 2026, Olmesartan label of September 23, 2025); NDC Directory, Drugs@FDA, NADAC, FDA shortages and recalls (October 8, 2026)
How do losartan and olmesartan differ on the record?
How each works, in its label's words: Losartan, “Angiotensin II [formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II)] is a potent vasoconstrictor, the primary vasoactive hormone of the …”; Olmesartan, “Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II).”
Both are in FDA's class angiotensin 2 receptor blockers.
Half-life, in each label's words: Losartan, “The terminal half-life of losartan is about 2 hours and of the metabolite is about 6-9 hours.”; Olmesartan, “Olmesartan appears to be eliminated in a biphasic manner with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 13 …”
Both labels carry a boxed warning; the records quote them.
Generics: losartan since 2010; olmesartan since 2016 (Drugs@FDA).
| Losartan | Olmesartan | |
|---|---|---|
| Labeled for | High blood pressure, Chronic kidney disease, Stroke prevention | High blood pressure |
| Pharmacologic class | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker | Angiotensin 2 Receptor Blocker |
| How it works (label) | Angiotensin II [formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II)] is a potent vasoconstrictor, the primary vasoactive hormone of the renin-angiotensin system, and an important component … | Angiotensin II is formed from angiotensin I in a reaction catalyzed by angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE, kininase II). |
| Half-life (label) | The terminal half-life of losartan is about 2 hours and of the metabolite is about 6-9 hours. | Olmesartan appears to be eliminated in a biphasic manner with a terminal elimination half-life of approximately 13 hours. |
| Earliest approval on file (Drugs@FDA) | April 14, 1995 | April 25, 2002 |
| First generic approved | April 6, 2010 | October 26, 2016 |
| Generic labelers (NDC) | 43 labelers | 30 labelers |
| Pharmacy cost (NADAC, each one's most listed form; strengths differ) | $0.0327 per tablet (Losartan potassium 50 mg tablet) | $0.0805 per tablet (Olmesartan medoxomil 20 mg tablet) |
| 12-month price change | +2% | +1% |
| Boxed warning | Yes | Yes |
| Shortage now | No current entry | No current entry |
| Recalls recorded | 77 | 2 |
| FAERS reports (a report is not proof of cause; counts follow how widely a medicine is used) | 200,566 | 35,743 |
| DEA schedule | none | none |
Source: Drugs@FDA, FDA NDC Directory, CMS NADAC of October 7, 2026, FDA shortages and recalls, FAERS via openFDA (FDA files October 8, 2026)
What next?
- Alternatives to losartan
- every medicine labeled for the same conditions