Losartan 50mg: Cost, Savings, and How to Pay Less
Losartan 50mg is a widely-used ARB for blood pressure control, particularly in patients who cannot tolerate ACE inhibitors, costing approximately 90p per pack.
How much does Losartan 50mg cost on the NHS?
Losartan 50mg has a Drug Tariff price of approximately 90p for a 28-tablets pack — a full month's supply. Yet NHS patients in England pay a flat £9.90 per item. With 14m items dispensed in 2024/25, Losartan is one of the most prescribed drugs in England. Through RepeatsDirect, patients can access the same medication privately for £5.50/month.
How much does Losartan 50mg actually cost?
The NHS Drug Tariff lists the reimbursement price for Losartan 50mg at approximately 90p per 28-tablets pack. This is the price the NHS pays pharmacies for the drug itself. The NHS prescription charge of £9.90 covers this drug cost plus dispensing fees, administration, and a contribution to NHS services — but for cheap generic drugs, it represents a significant markup.
Drug Tariff cost
90p
per pack
NHS charge
£9.90
1,000% markup
Our price
£5.50
via private Rx
Losartan has approximately 14m items dispensed annually in England (NHSBSA PCA 2024/25).
What is Losartan used for?
Losartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) used to treat high blood pressure and diabetic kidney disease. The 50mg dose is the standard starting dose. It is particularly useful for patients who experience a dry cough with ACE inhibitors like ramipril, as ARBs do not cause this side effect.
The Drug Tariff price for Losartan 50mg is approximately 90p per 28-tablet pack. Despite being under £1, patients pay the flat NHS charge of £9.90 — over 11 times the drug cost.
For patients who pay prescription charges and are stable on Losartan 50mg, RepeatsDirect offers this medication privately for £5.50 per month, saving £4.40 versus the NHS charge.
How can you save money on Losartan 50mg?
Patients in England who pay the prescription charge can switch to a private prescription for Losartan 50mg and pay significantly less. Through RepeatsDirect, a qualified pharmacist independent prescriber conducts a short clinical review and issues a private prescription. You pay £5.50 per month — saving £4.40 per month, or £52.80 per year.
| Option | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| NHS prescription charge | £9.90 | £118.80 |
| RepeatsDirect (private Rx) | £5.50 | £66.00 |
| Annual PPC (unlimited NHS Rx) | £9.54/mo avg | £114.50 |
A PPC is better value if you pay for 12+ items per year. RepeatsDirect is better value if you pay for fewer items or only want to switch the cheapest drugs.
Start saving on Losartan 50mg
Join the waitlist to be first when we launch.