What's the most popular angiotensin receptor blocker and why is it the most prescribed? how do doctors decide which arb to prescribe?

Most are very sensitive to drug pushers and that is the reason they are mostly forbidden to enter many dr offices. I would go to Drugs.com and review. The most popular may not be the best. A lot of it depends on how well the company has put into pushing their own med. I would also go to PUBMED.gov and read for yourself.

Angiotensin receptor blockers (also called ARBs or angiotensin II inhibitors) are medicines that dilate (widen) blood vessels, and are used in the treatment of conditions such as high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure, or kidney disease in people with diabetes. The most common one is Losartan. Dr's prescribe meds based on safety profiles, effectiveness, lower cost, Pts med history.

Most clinicians will stick with one or two agents from a class of meds such as ARB's that they use often, are familiar with their efficacy, doses & side effects. In the appropriate patients ARB's are all good at one daily. However, the first of its class, losartan, in my experience, required a dose twice a day to be effective.