Used primarily to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), Losartan helps lower the risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems, especially in patients with type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of drugs known as angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), which work by relaxing blood vessels to improve blood flow. Losartan is also prescribed to protect kidney function in patients with diabetic nephropathy and to reduce the risk of cardiovascular events in individuals with left ventricular hypertrophy. It is often used when other medications, such as ACE inhibitors, cause intolerable side effects like cough.