COZAAR TABLET 50 mg

TABLET, FILM COATED

**III. DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION** COZAAR may be administered with or without food. COZAAR may be administered with other antihypertensive agents. **Hypertension** The usual starting and maintenance dose is 50 mg once daily for most patients. The maximal antihypertensive effect is attained 3–6 weeks after initiation of therapy. Some patients may receive an additional benefit by increasing the dose to 100 mg once daily. For patients with intravascular volume-depletion (e.g., those treated with high-dose diuretics), a starting dose of 25 mg once daily should be considered (see PRECAUTIONS – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). No initial dosage adjustment is necessary for elderly patients up to 75 years of age, or for patients with mild renal impairment. For patients above 75 years of age, patients with moderate to severe renal impairment and patients on dialysis, a lower starting dose of 25 mg is recommended. A lower dose should be considered for patients with a history of hepatic impairment (see PRECAUTIONS – _please refer to the Product Insert/Patient Information Leaflet published on HSA for the full drug information_). **Reduction in the Risk of Stroke in Hypertensive Patients with Left Ventricular Hypertrophy** The usual starting dose is 50 mg of COZAAR once daily. A low dose of hydrochlorothiazide should be added and/or the dose of COZAAR should be increased to 100 mg once daily based on blood pressure response. **Renal Protection in Type 2 Diabetic Patients with Proteinuria** The usual starting dose is 50 mg once daily. The dose may be increased to 100 mg once daily based on blood pressure response. COZAAR may be administered with other antihypertensive agents (e.g., diuretics, calcium channel blockers, alpha- or beta-blockers, and centrally acting agents) as well as with insulin and other commonly used hypoglycemic agents (e.g., sulfonylureas, glitazones and glucosidase inhibitors).