*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Side Effects Of Losartan

NHS medicines information on side effects of losartan and what you can do to cope.

Like all medicines, losartan can cause side effects, although not everyone gets them. Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine.

Common side effects

These common side effects of losartan happen in more than 1 in 100 people. There are things you can do to help cope with them:

Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if the advice on how to cope does not help and a side effect is still bothering you or lasts more than a few days.

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects after taking losartan.

Call a doctor or call 111 straight away if:

the whites of your eyes turn yellow, or your skin turns yellow although this may be less obvious on brown or black skin - this can be a sign of liver problems
you get severe stomach pain - this can be a sign of an inflamed pancreas
your skin becomes more pale than usual, you feel tired, faint or dizzy, get purple spots (that come from superficial bleeding into the skin), show any sign of bleeding, or have a sore throat and high temperature - these can be signs of a blood or bone marrow disorder
you feel weak, have an irregular heartbeat, pins and needles and muscle cramps - these can be signs of changes in the potassium levels in your blood

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, it's possible to have a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) to losartan.

Long-term side effects

Sometimes, taking losartan for a long time can cause your kidneys not to work as well as they should. Your doctor will check how well your kidneys are working with regular blood tests.

Other side effects

These are not all the side effects of losartan. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicine packet.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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