Main Uses and Off-Label Uses of Losartan
The U.S. FDA has approved three main uses of Losartan. These include:
– Reduce high blood pressure, also known as hypertension in adults and several children
– Treat diabetic nephropathy, a kidney problem caused by diabetes. This use may help some people with high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, either in the past or currently
– Reduce the overall risk of stroke in adults with left ventricular hypertrophy and high blood pressure. In people with left ventricular hypertrophy, the walls of the heart’s left ventricle are thickened [3]
In addition to the main uses, Losartan can be used off-label, meaning that these uses have not been approved by the FDA. For instance, people with severe lung damage caused by Covid-19 tend to have higher angiotensin II in the body than usual. This chemical may restrict the blood pressures, which would subsequently increase blood pressure and lead to the buildup of more fluids. Losartan can be taken to restrict these activities of angiotensin II. Therefore, many scientists are trying to verify whether this medication can be used for treating some cases of Covid-19. [4]
