My Dr. put me on lowest dose of Losartan and I got joint pain in my thumbs and then in a knee so I weaned myself off but my BP was very high (systolic) during visit. He puts me on Irbesartan, SAME class of drug, then goes on VACATION. It's the smallest dose and I took a corner of a pill yesterday, no pill today, BP is fine, I'm in PAIN. My thumbs hurt, my right foot and left knee, I don't feel well and then I read that all of this are side effects of this drug. What's WRONG with these doctors!! How long will this last? When do the side effects go away? I have to keep taking a small bit of this pill until he gets back to the office next week and I'm SCARED.