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What Causes Stomach Cramps After Switching From Benicar To Losartan?
Question: I was on Benicar 20mg. For 5 years with no problem. Because of insurance, my doctor switched me to losartan 100mg. Today was the first day. 3 hours after taking the med, I got severe stomach cramps and have been having bloody diarrhea. Could this be a reaction to the medicine. I've never had this before.
Brief Answer:
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that losartan could cause diarrhea as a adverse effect. The fact that diarrhea started just after taking losartan indicates a possible relationship.
Anyway the presence of blood in diarrhea is not explained by losartan intake and is concerning about other possible causes of gastro-intestinal bleeding (like an infection, gastro-intestinal erosions, etc.).
I would recommend going to the ER for a careful physical exam and some tests:
- complete blood count
- PCR, sedimentation rate
- blood electrolytes
- a stool test for blood and a stool bacterial culture.
If the presence of blood is confirmed by the stool analysis, you may need to perform fibrogastroscopy to exclude possible gastro-intestinal lesions (including ulcers, erosions, etc.) which can cause gastro-intestinal bleeding.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would recommend performing some tests:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome and thank you for asking on HCM!
I understand your concern and would explain that losartan could cause diarrhea as a adverse effect. The fact that diarrhea started just after taking losartan indicates a possible relationship.
Anyway the presence of blood in diarrhea is not explained by losartan intake and is concerning about other possible causes of gastro-intestinal bleeding (like an infection, gastro-intestinal erosions, etc.).
I would recommend going to the ER for a careful physical exam and some tests:
- complete blood count
- PCR, sedimentation rate
- blood electrolytes
- a stool test for blood and a stool bacterial culture.
If the presence of blood is confirmed by the stool analysis, you may need to perform fibrogastroscopy to exclude possible gastro-intestinal lesions (including ulcers, erosions, etc.) which can cause gastro-intestinal bleeding.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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