Used For

What Is M117 Pill Used For

What Is M117 Pill Used For? – A Detailed, Fact‑Checked Guide

If you’ve come across a white, oval tablet marked “M117” and are asking “What is M117 pill used for?”, you’re dealing with a specific prescription antihypertensive medication. Below is a concise, fact‑checked overview based only on credible, publicly available drug–identification and prescribing references.

What Is the M117 Pill?

Multiple independent drug–identification databases describe the M117 pill as follows:

  • Imprint: M117
  • Colour: White
  • Shape: Capsule‑shaped or oval
  • Route: Oral tablet

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s drug identifier on DailyMed, an imprint of “M117” corresponds to losartan potassium tablets, 50 mg, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) used as a blood‑pressure medicine, distributed by Mylan Pharmaceuticals Inc. You can see this imprint and strength association in the losartan potassium product labelling on DailyMed’s losartan potassium tablet listing.

Commercial drug‑ID tools such as Drugs.com also list a white, capsule‑shaped tablet with “M117” as losartan potassium 50 mg, supplied by Mylan, in their pill images and identification data (see the “M117 losartan 50 mg” entry in Drugs.com’s Pill Identifier).

Because pill appearance can vary by manufacturer and country, always confirm with a pharmacist or healthcare provider before relying solely on imprint/appearance for identification.

What Is M117 Pill Used For?

Based on its identification as losartan potassium 50 mg, the M117 pill is used for the same medical indications as losartan. Authoritative references such as the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s MedlinePlus monograph on losartan detail its clinically accepted uses.

According to MedlinePlus: Losartan, losartan (and therefore a correctly identified M117 losartan tablet) is used for:

  1. Treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension)
    • Losartan lowers blood pressure by blocking the action of angiotensin II, a substance that narrows blood vessels.
    • MedlinePlus explains that lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.
  2. Treatment of diabetic nephropathy (kidney disease in type 2 diabetes)
    • In patients with type 2 diabetes and a history of high blood pressure, losartan is used to slow the worsening of kidney disease.
    • MedlinePlus notes that losartan can help protect the kidneys in such patients by lowering blood pressure and reducing protein loss in urine.
  3. Reduction of stroke risk in certain patients with heart disease
    • In people with high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy (thickening of the heart’s main pumping chamber), losartan is used to lower the risk of stroke, as described in MedlinePlus: Losartan uses.

In summary:

When correctly identified as losartan potassium 50 mg, the M117 pill is used to treat high blood pressure, protect the kidneys in certain people with type 2 diabetes, and lower the risk of stroke in specific heart‑disease patients.

— Based on the indications described in MedlinePlus – Losartan and the product labelling on DailyMed – Losartan Potassium Tablets.

How Does the M117 (Losartan) Pill Work?

Losartan belongs to a drug class called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). According to the pharmacology section in the official losartan potassium labelling on DailyMed:

  • Angiotensin II normally tightens (constricts) blood vessels and stimulates the release of aldosterone, which promotes sodium and water retention.
  • Losartan blocks the binding of angiotensin II to its receptor (AT1).
  • This leads to relaxed blood vessels, lower vascular resistance, and reduced blood pressure.

By reducing both blood vessel constriction and fluid retention, the drug lowers blood pressure and decreases the workload on the heart, which explains why the M117 pill is used for hypertension and cardiovascular risk reduction.

Typical Dosage and Administration (As Per Official Label)

The exact dose must always be set by a healthcare professional, but the official product information provides usual adult dosing ranges.

The losartan potassium tablets prescribing information on DailyMed summarises typical adult doses as:

  • For hypertension (adults):
    • Initial dose often 50 mg once daily (which corresponds to one M117 tablet if it is 50 mg).
    • The dose may be increased to 100 mg daily (either as a single dose or divided) based on blood pressure response.
  • For diabetic nephropathy (type 2 diabetes & hypertension):
    • Often started at 50 mg once daily, titrated up to 100 mg once daily as tolerated and needed.

These ranges are general guidelines from the product label and are not a substitute for medical advice. Dose may differ based on age, kidney function, liver function, and other medications, as noted in the DailyMed prescribing information.

Common Side Effects Reported for Losartan

When asking “What is M117 pill used for?”, it’s also important to understand common side effects associated with losartan.

According to MedlinePlus – Losartan side effects and the adverse‑reaction section of DailyMed – Losartan potassium tablets, some commonly reported side effects include:

  • Dizziness or light‑headedness, especially when starting treatment or increasing the dose
  • Fatigue or tiredness
  • Nasal congestion or upper respiratory symptoms
  • Less commonly: back pain, stomach pain, or cough

MedlinePlus advises seeking immediate medical attention for serious symptoms such as:

  • Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat
  • Difficulty breathing or swallowing
  • Fainting or very severe dizziness
  • Little or no urine (possible kidney issues)
  • Signs of high potassium (muscle weakness, irregular heartbeat)

Important Safety Warnings

The official losartan potassium labelling on DailyMed and the consumer information on MedlinePlus emphasise several key safety points:

  1. Pregnancy Warning
    • Losartan and other ARBs must not be used during pregnancy.
    • The boxed warning in the DailyMed label states that drugs acting on the renin–angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus; therapy should be stopped as soon as pregnancy is detected.
  2. Kidney Function and Potassium
    • Losartan can affect kidney function and serum potassium levels.
    • MedlinePlus notes that patients with kidney problems, or those on potassium supplements or potassium‑sparing diuretics, need careful monitoring.
  3. Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension)
    • Especially in people who are dehydrated (for example from diuretics, vomiting, or diarrhoea), losartan can cause excessive drops in blood pressure.
  4. Drug Interactions
    • The DailyMed label lists interactions with other blood‑pressure drugs, potassium‑elevating agents, and NSAIDs (non‑steroidal anti‑inflammatory drugs), which may reduce the antihypertensive effect or further affect kidney function.

Always review the full warning and precautions section in the official DailyMed losartan potassium document and discuss your individual risk profile with a healthcare provider.

Identifying the M117 Pill Safely

Drug‑ID tools can be useful, but they do not replace professional confirmation. If you have a pill with “M117” on it:

  1. Do not take it unless it was prescribed to you and came from a legitimate pharmacy container with an intact label.
  2. Use reputable pill‑ID resources designed for consumers, such as the pill images in Drugs.com’s Pill Identifier, to check:
    • Imprint (M117)
    • Colour
    • Shape
    • Manufacturer (e.g., Mylan)
    • Strength (e.g., 50 mg losartan potassium)
  3. Compare this information with the details in authoritative sources like:

If there is any doubt about the pill’s identity, contact:

  • Your pharmacist, who can check the tablet against professional databases and supplier information.
  • A doctor or local poison information centre if the pill was taken accidentally or by a child.

When to See a Healthcare Professional

Because the M117 pill is generally identified as a prescription‑only blood‑pressure medicine (losartan 50 mg), you should speak with a healthcare professional if:

  • You found M117 tablets but don’t know whose they are or why they were prescribed.
  • You are already on blood‑pressure medication and are unsure if this pill duplicates or interacts with your treatment.
  • You experience symptoms suggestive of low blood pressure, high potassium, or allergic reaction, as outlined in MedlinePlus – Losartan side effects.

Never start, stop, or change the dose of losartan (or any pill marked M117 that you believe is losartan) without medical supervision.

Summary: What Is M117 Pill Used For?

Based on current data from reputable drug‑information sources:

  • A white, capsule‑shaped tablet imprinted “M117” is listed in drug‑ID references as losartan potassium 50 mg, supplied by Mylan.
  • According to MedlinePlus – Losartan, this medication is used to:
    1. Treat high blood pressure (hypertension)
    2. Slow the progression of kidney disease in certain type 2 diabetic patients with hypertension
    3. Lower the risk of stroke in patients with high blood pressure and left ventricular hypertrophy

Because pill imprints can sometimes be reused in different markets or strengths, and counterfeits exist, always confirm the identity and use of any M117 pill directly with a pharmacist or doctor before taking it.

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