Kidney Failure - cozaar versus lisinopril

Author

cozaar versus lisinopril

turbinedave

2006-04-26, 11:26 am

Lisinopril was perscribed to help modereate my secondary polycythemia
which started 6 months after my kidney transplant. It helped control
the hematocrit levels but caused me to have high potassium
levels........to control the potassium I have had to stop eating many
foods that are important for obvious reasons. After questioniong my
Dr he said....oh yes, I will perscribe cozaar. It will help control
the potassium.

After researching, I find cozaar has the same potential for elevating
the potassium levels in the body as lisinopril, and it costs 3 times
as much.

I havent started the cozaar yet, so dont know its effect. Does anyone
know if cozaar is the correct alternative for lisinopril and its
characteristics of potassium retention in the body ?

REP

2006-04-26, 11:26 am

In article <1146054098.636315.228740@e56g2000cwe.googlegroups.com>,
"turbinedave" <lasryl@bellsouth.net> wrote:

> I havent started the cozaar yet, so dont know its effect. Does anyone
> know if cozaar is the correct alternative for lisinopril and its
> characteristics of potassium retention in the body ?

(Anecdotal information below - do not confuse for actual advice!)

I am in early failure (stage 2) and nephrotic. I'm on the standard
dietary restrictions, including potassium, and I take 150% of the usual
maximum dose of Cozaar (100mg am; 50mg pm). I'm also on 120mg Lasix -
that along with the restriction may account for my absolutely
dead-in-the-middle potassium levels.

I have been prescribed such a large dose of Cozaar because of my
proteinuria, which is rather a lot and because I don't tolerate ACE
inhibitors well. The only problem I personally experienced was very bad
headaches for about a week after starting it.

--
"Did Father shoot him? I will eat Grandfather for dinner."
- Helen Keller, on learning of the death of her grandfather