🧪 Drug of the Day: Losartan Potassium
🧪 Drug of the Day: Losartan Potassium Category: Antihypertensive Drug Class: ARB (Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker) 🔍 Why Losartan is Important for Pharmacy Students? Losartan is one of the most commonly prescribed drugs for hypertension and diabetic nephropathy . It is often asked in: Medicinal Chemistry exams Pharmacology viva Clinical pharmacy case discussions 👉 If you understand Losartan well, many other ARBs become easy automatically. 🧬 Chemical & Pharmacological Overview First orally active ARB Blocks Angiotensin II (AT₁ receptors) Prevents vasoconstriction and aldosterone release 📌 Unlike ACE inhibitors, Losartan does NOT cause cough – very important clinical point! ⚙️ Mechanism of Action (Easy to Remember) Angiotensin II normally increases BP by vasoconstriction Losartan blocks AT₁ receptors Blood vessels relax Blood pressure decreases 🧠 Memory tip for exam: “Losartan blocks AT₁ → vessels relax → BP drops” 💊 ...