Can Arginine Supplements Be Taken With Losartan?
In our latest question and answer, the pharmacist discusses the interaction between arginine supplements and losartan.
Can I take total arginine with losartan 100mg?
Jun 27, 2024- Arginine and losartan can interact to lower blood pressure more than intended, which may cause dizziness, drowsiness, or increased fall risk.
- Arginine's blood pressure-lowering effects tend to be temporary rather than long-lasting, so occasional use as a workout supplement may pose less concern than daily use.
- Talk with your doctor about whether combining these two is safe for your specific health situation, especially if your blood pressure already tends to run low.
Answer
Hello and thanks for reaching out to us!
Our herbal-drug interaction checker does list an interaction between arginine and losartan, which can be found on our website (L-arginine - Losartan Potassium Interaction Details | HelloPharmacist).
The interaction is as follows:
- L-arginine boosts nitric oxide, which helps widen blood vessels and can lower blood pressure.
- When combined with certain blood pressure medications, the effects of widening blood vessels and lowering blood pressure can be stronger, increasing the risk of blood pressure dropping too low.
When your blood pressure drops too low, you may experience symptoms such as dizziness and drowsiness, and it also increases your risk of falling.
This interaction is simply a precaution to make you aware of the combined effects of losartan and arginine. If your blood pressure already runs low, it may be more of a concern compared to if you have normal blood pressure.
Arginine also tends to have only intermittent effects and doesn't appear to be long-lasting. So if you only take it as a workout supplement, the long-term risk might not be significant.
I highly recommend speaking with your doctor about whether or not combining losartan and arginine is safe for your medical situation.
Final Words
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References & sources
- Blood pressure and metabolic changes during dietary L-arginine supplementation in humans — PubMed
Glossary — Terms in This Answer
- Herbal-drug interaction
- A situation where an herbal supplement affects how a prescription medication works in your body.
- Arginine
- An amino acid supplement often used to boost workout performance and muscle development.
- Losartan
- A prescription medication used to lower blood pressure and treat heart conditions.
- Nitric oxide
- A natural chemical in your body that helps relax blood vessel walls and improve blood flow.
- Blood pressure medications
- Prescription drugs designed to lower and control high blood pressure.
- Hypotension
- The condition of having blood pressure that is dangerously low, which can cause dizziness and fainting.
- Potassium
- A mineral found in many foods and medications that helps regulate heart rhythm and blood pressure.
Dr. Brian Staiger, PharmD
Doctor of Pharmacy, board certified clinical pharmacist (BCPS), American Herbalist Guild, Medication Therapy Management certified
Brian Staiger, PharmD, BCPS, is a licensed pharmacist with more than 13 years of experience across retail pharmacy, clinical pharmacy, medication safety, pharmacy program development, and healthcare administration. He is the founder of HelloPharmacist.com, where he helps patients...
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