COZAAR, is a medication that is used to treat high blood pressure symptoms. As of January 2014 the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research approved safety label changes for the blood pressure medication.
Studies show that there has been a link to fetal injury and death for those who have taken COZAAR while pregnant.
How Does the High Blood Pressure Symptoms Drug Cozaar Work?
In addition to treating high blood pressure COZAAR is believed to lower the risk of stroke in certain people with heart disease, and also slow long-term kidney damage in people with type 2 diabetes who also have high blood pressure.
COZAAR keeps blood vessels from narrowing which helps lower blood pressure and improves blood flow.
Some of the side effects of COZAAR include:
- Hives
- Difficulty breathing
- Swelling of the face, tongue, lips, throat
- Pain or burning when you urinate
- Cold or flu like symptoms
- Muscle cramps
- Stomach pain
This is not a complete list of side effects, others may occur.
In rare cases COZAAR can cause a condition producing a breakdown of skeletal muscle tissues and as result lead to kidney failure.
COZAAR Linked To Fetal Injury.
A study showed that COZAAR produced adverse effects in rat fetuses, including decreased body weight, delayed physical and behavioral development, mortality and renal toxicity, which is when the body is exposed to drugs that are harmful for the kidney.
The adverse outcomes are usually associated with the use of these drugs in the second and third trimester of pregnancy.
The FDA approved the safety label change and categorized COZZAR as pregnancy category D, meaning the drug should not be consumed while pregnant.
If you are planning to become pregnant or find out you are pregnant stop taking COZAAR as soon as possible and speak with your health care provider.
For more information on COZAAR speak with your pharmacist.