Valsartan

Generic name: Valsartan
Brand names: Diovan
Drug class: Angiotensin receptor blockers

Usage of Valsartan

Diovan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children who are at least 1 year old. Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children who are at least 6 year old. Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.

Valsartan is also used in adults to treat heart failure and lower your risk of needing to be hospitalized, and to lower your risk of death after a heart attack.

Valsartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Valsartan side effects

Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic Reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.

Valsartan may cause serious side effects. Call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;

little or no urination; or

high blood potassium--nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement.

Common side effects of valsartan may include:

high blood potassium;

headache, dizziness, feeling light-headed;

cough, flu symptoms, tiredness;

stomach pain, diarrhea;

back pain, joint pain; or

abnormal kidney test.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Before taking Valsartan

You should not use valsartan if you are allergic to it.

If you have diabetes, do not take valsartan with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

You may also need to avoid taking valsartan with aliskiren if you have kidney disease.

Tell your doctor if you have ever had:

a heart condition other than one being treated with valsartan;

if you are on a low-salt diet;

liver disease; o

kidney disease (or if you are on dialysis).

Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using the medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Valsartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester.

Do not breastfeed.

Relate drugs

How to use Valsartan

Usual Adult Dose for Congestive Heart Failure:

Initial dose: 40 mg orally twice a dayMaintenance dose: 80 to 160 mg twice a day. The dose should be increased to the highest dose tolerated by the patient.

Usual Adult Dose for Hypertension:

Initial dose: 80 to 160 mg orally once a day.Maintenance dose: 80 to 320 mg orally once a day

Usual Adult Dose for Myocardial Infarction:

Initial dose: 20 mg orally twice a day Maintenance dose: The initial doSage may be titrated upward within 7 days to 40 mg twice daily, with subsequent titrations to a target maintenance dose of 160 mg twice a day as tolerated by the patient. If symptomatic hypotension or renal dysfunction occurs, consideration should be given to a dosage reduction. Comment: Valsartan may be initiated as early as 12 hours after a myocardial infarction, and may be given with other standard postmyocardial infarction treatment, including thrombolytics, aspirin, beta blockers, and statins.

Usual Pediatric Dose for Hypertension:

6 to 16 years:Initial dose: 1.3 mg/kg once a day (up to 40 mg)Maintenance dose: up to 2.7 mg/kg (up to 160 mg) once a day titrated according to patient responseComments:-If the calculated dosage does not correspond to the available tablet strengths, or if children are unable to swallow tablets, the use of a suspension (which can be prepared from the tablets) is recommended. The valsartan dose may need to be increased if the suspension is replaced by a tablet.-No data are available in pediatric patients either undergoing dialysis or with a glomerular filtration rate less than 30 mL/min.

Warnings

Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using valsartan and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant.

If you have diabetes, do not take valsartan with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

What other drugs will affect Valsartan

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

lithium;

cyclosporine;

ritonavir;

an antibiotic--rifamycin, rifabutin, rifampin, rifapentine;

a diuretic or "water pill" or other heart or blood pressure medication; or

NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), Naproxen (Aleve), Celecoxib, diclofeNAC, Indomethacin, Meloxicam, and others.

This list is not complete and many other drugs may affect valsartan. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible drug interactions are listed here.

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