Help! Insomnia with my ARB (cozaar) for high blood pressure?

Question

I take an ARB for my high blood pressure. It's working better than any other blood pressure med that I've tried and I would hate to switch to something else. But I just CAN'T sleep. I can get about 4 hours a night, off and on, but that's really not enough for me and after 2 months, I'm so sleep-deprived that I barely feel human. I've tried two different ARB's so far: cozaar and benicar. Both have had the same effects. I've tried melatonin, valerian, all sorts of natural sleep aids and nothing has helped. I don't want to rely on a prescription sleep aid. Anyone have any suggestions?

Answer 1

Your insomnia may not necessarily be related to the drugs. Insomnia is an uncommon side effect of Cozaar (losartan)--reported by about 1.4% of patients. The first thing you should figure out is if the insomnia started pretty much when you started taking losartan. If it did, then it is more likely that the drug is causing the side effect. If it is indeed something that the drug is causing, the only real option is to change the drug if you are intolerant of its side effects. Most ARB's are interchangeable and just because you have a particular side effect with one does not automatically mean you will have the same side effects will all of them, so sometimes it's just a matter of finding the right one. Of course, with that said, it is certainly possible you will have insomnia with all of them.

Other ARB's and their listed incidence of insomnia (pulled this from the web):

Atacand (candesartan) not reported**
Avapro (irbesartan) not reported**
Diovan (valsartan) 2.0%
Micardis (telmisartan) not reported**
Teveten (eprosartan) not reported**

By "not reported", it does not mean it doesn't occur--it could mean either that the people who participated in the studies (the study subjects) did not report it, the people who conducted the studies did not see it and/or did not write it down on their final reports, or there were not enough people in the study to show all the side effects and therefore did not see it.

I know, that chart wasn't particularly helpful but you can compare other drugs' side effect profiles to see if there are other side effects that are important to you while trying to choose another drug, if you choose that route.

http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/SE/SearchSE/0,3998,,00.html

Lastly--but more importantly, please consider other causes of insomnia. Oftentimes poor sleep habits, stress, depression or hormones can cause or worsen insomnia. However, there can be many different causes so maybe you can read this site (http://www.chs.edu.sg/gep/insomnia/causes.html) to see if you can glean any insight into your condition.

Good luck. I am sure it's maddening to say the least.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

Cozaar Arb

Answer 4

Actually what you are experiencing is just one of those many side effects that you might experience upon taking Cozaar and it is actually normal. You might consider taking sleeping pills but make sure that you will have the prescription of your doctor. If you really don't want to take sleeping pills then you can ask your doctor about the other possibly ways for your case or you can ask alternative drug that won't cause you to have insomnia. If you want to know more things about Cozaar, Do a google with pharmacyescrow.org/s3178-s-COZAAR

Answer 5

Don't ever take the sleeping pills route!!

1. They will damage your liver big time and you can get into serious health problems.

2. You will get hooked up on them and you won't be able to have a normal life any more if you don't take your pills everyday.

The sleeping pills industry is damaging our health by capitalizing on our ignorance, and by distracting people from effective and natural ways to deal with this problem. I had been taking prescription sleep medications [Ambien] for over 5 years. It stopped working and I simply took more. Still did not work. Nights were very difficult - medication put me to sleep but I would wake up after 2–3 hours with a strong sympathetic response (fast pulse, pounding heartbeat, wide awake alert). It was a very difficult cycle to break. I was really in bad shape due to lack of sleep.

After years of struggling I was able to cure my insomnia naturally and pretty fast. I followed the Sleep Tracks sleep optimization program, here is their official web -site if you want to take a look: http://www.insomniacure.net

Ohhh..and Good Luck!

Answer 6

Hi.... Ali Sab!, There is no permanent Cure for B.P. and there is no other system of other Alternative Medicine for B.P. All the other systems can reduce the intake of Medicine and safe guard from side Effects.Hence I am sincerely advising you to go for Allopathic Treatment with a Doctor who Qualified with M.D. who can analyse the root cause for the Problem.There are several causes for the BP . some times Thyroid imbalance may also cause for the Problem. On analysing the cause the Doctor will prescribe the Medicine for controlling BP along with the treatment for the other problems caused for aggravation of BP. I am sincerely advising you you go for the Allopathic treatment and practise Meditation the Manner and Method you like. As has already been Said it will reduce the in-take of Medicine and helps to overcome side effects aroused due to Medicine and the BP you are having. If you are in Hyderabad, India you can get a Best Treatment in NIMS. There a Special Clinic for Hypertension is available.

Answer 7

3 Steps to Cure Insomnia Forever!

Answer 8

I'm taking Lisinopril after getting off Benicar and have the same results as you do. It's nearly 4 A.M. here and I haven't even yawned. I took the Ambien at 11 P.M. It didn't phase me. So I read answers, look at people's 360s and surf this wave. I'm out of Chamomile tea which does get me drowsy after three or four cups(no sugar!!!!). Sorry for your plight, lots of empathy.

Answer 9

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Answer 10

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