Health guides > Medication > Losartan and Alcohol

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Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Losartan?

By Craig Sorkin, DNP, APN

Medically reviewed

July 5, 2022

Alcohol can be a cause of high blood pressure. Losartan is a common medication used to lower blood pressure.

Drinking alcohol while you are taking losartan can lead to increased effects of the medication, which has the potential to cause blood pressure that is too low (hypotension).

While it may be safe to have a drink every now and then, only your medical provider can tell you if it’s safe to consume alcohol if you take losartan.

In this article, we’ll explore how alcohol affects blood pressure, the side effects of losartan, and the potential risks of mixing the two.

What is Losartan?

Losartan is a type of medication commonly used to treat high blood pressure. It is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB).

Hypertension impacts 116 million Americans and only 1 in 4 have their blood pressure well-controlled.

While high blood pressure is common, if left untreated, it can cause damage to organs and problems such as:

Loss of vision and cognitive impairment
Heart disease, heart attack, or heart failure
Stroke
Kidney failure and other kidney problems

There are many effective treatments for keeping blood pressure under control.

How does losartan work?

Losartan and other ARB medications work by preventing a hormone, angiotensin II, from binding with receptors.

When hormones don’t connect with receptors, they can’t exert their action. Angiotensin II causes blood vessels to constrict, leading to an increase in blood pressure.

By blocking the action of angiotensin II, losartan and other ARBs can prevent high blood pressure. This decreases strain on the heart since high blood pressure means it is working harder than it needs to.

Losartan also increases the body’s output of urine, which leads to less water retention and lower sodium levels. This also decreases how much fluid the heart has to pump, which also lowers blood pressure.

It typically starts working within 6 hours and the effects last for 24 hours. It is taken every day at the same time in order to properly regulate blood pressure.

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How Does Alcohol Affect Blood Pressure?

Regular alcohol intake can lead to high blood pressure.

While an occasional drink here or there is usually not problematic, for people who already have high blood pressure for other reasons, regularly drinking alcohol may worsen the problem.

Is it Safe to Drink Alcohol While Taking Losartan?

Most healthcare providers recommend avoiding alcohol while you are being treated for high blood pressure.

This is for a few reasons:

Alcohol can increase blood pressure, which can make it harder to treat hypertension.
Alcohol intake can cause symptoms, like headache or dizziness, that may overlap with side effects of losartan.
Alcohol is metabolized in the liver, which means that it can change the way that the body breaks down medication. Alcohol can increase the effects of losartan, making it seem like you took a higher dose. This could result in a more significant drop in blood pressure. If blood pressure gets too low, it’s known as hypotension. This can cause dizziness, fainting, and could cause problems with normal heart rhythm. In some cases, this can be very serious.

While a healthcare provider may give the OK for occasional alcohol intake while you are being treated for high blood pressure, it is important to check with them first to ensure there are no serious drug interactions.

Losartan Side Effects

Losartan is generally well-tolerated. Common side effects may include:

Cough
Fatigue
Dizziness
Diarrhea
Upper respiratory infection

In some cases, losartan may lead to more serious side effects:

Chest pain
Trouble breathing or swallowing
Allergic reactions or swelling of the face, eyes, throat, lips, or tongue
Hoarseness

If you notice any of these serious signs, get medical help right away.

The Risks of Mixing Alcohol With Blood Pressure Medications

All blood pressure medications work to keep your blood pressure levels within safe limits.

Because alcohol can generally lead to higher blood pressure, regular intake can make it harder to control your condition.

Alcohol is broken down in the liver, and when you take medication, your body also relies on the liver to make sure it gets properly metabolized so you get the benefits.

Alcohol can lead to a slower clearance of blood pressure medications, which means your body retains higher levels of the drug for longer. This can lead to stronger effects, which in some cases might make blood pressure drop too low.

While you don’t want high blood pressure, low blood pressure can also be a concern, especially when it is caused by medication.

Moderate risks

Regularly consuming alcohol while you are taking losartan or being treated for hypertension can lead to some moderate risks. This may increase the chances of:

Dizziness, fainting, or falling
Drowsiness and severe fatigue
Muscle cramping
Unstable blood pressure levels, either too high or too low

Serious risks

For some people, pairing alcohol with losartan can result in more serious problems, including the following:

Upset stomach, nausea, or vomiting
Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmia)
Severely low blood pressure
Chest pains
Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice) or other liver problems

If you notice these serious side effects, seek emergency medical care.

Talk to a doctor online

Refill medications and get certain necessary prescriptions.

Start now

When to See a Medical Provider

If you are being treated with losartan for hypertension or another condition, ask a medical provider before consuming alcohol.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you drink alcohol while taking losartan?

It is not recommended to drink alcohol while you take losartan, other ARBs, or high blood pressure medication in general.

What happens if you drink alcohol while taking blood pressure medicine?

Alcohol can increase the effects of blood pressure medicine. This means that it can make your blood pressure go too low, which in some cases, can cause serious effects such as passing out.

What should you not drink with losartan?

Avoid drinking alcohol when you are taking losartan or other medications for high blood pressure. While a healthcare provider may let you know that an occasional drink is safe, it’s best to check with them before mixing the two.

What alcohol can you drink with high blood pressure?

The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for 2020-2025 consider moderate drinking for people assigned male at birth to be two alcoholic drinks per day or less, and for people assigned female at birth to be one drink or less per day. Moderate drinking may still worsen blood pressure problems, though, so be sure to check with your healthcare provider. They will advise you based on your health history, current medical conditions, and prescription medications that you take.

K Health articles are all written and reviewed by MDs, PhDs, NPs, or PharmDs and are for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute and should not be relied on for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment.

K Health has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references.

Craig Sorkin, DNP, APN

Craig Sorkin, DNP, APN is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner with over 15 years experience. He received his Undergraduate and Graduate degrees from William Paterson University and his doctoral degree from Drexel University. He has spent his career working in the Emergency Room and Primary Care. The last 6 years of his career have been dedicated to the field of digital medicine. He has created departments geared towards this specialized practice as well as written blogs and a book about the topic.

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