What kind of bp med is diovan

Some brands of valsartan were discontinued in and For a short time, there was a problem getting valsartan. Some people switched to other angiotensin receptor blockers to make sure there was no break in their blood pressure-lowering treatment. There are still some companies that make valsartan. Your doctor can prescribe it and your pharmacy should be able to order it for you.

There's no firm evidence to suggest that taking valsartan will reduce fertility in either men or women. However, if you're a woman and you are trying to get pregnant, talk to your doctor first as this medicine is usually not recommended in pregnancy. However, some types of hormonal methods of contraception, such as the combined contraceptive pill and contraceptive patch , aren't usually recommended for women with high blood pressure.

Valsartan can make some people feel dizzy - especially when you first start taking it or after taking a bigger dose. If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery.

You can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes. These will also help if you have high blood pressure or heart failure. Page last reviewed: 13 December Next review due: 13 December Valsartan On this page About valsartan Key facts Who can and can't take valsartan How and when to take it Side effects How to cope with side effects Pregnancy and breastfeeding Cautions with other medicines Common questions.

About valsartan Valsartan is a medicine widely used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. NHS coronavirus advice If you have coronavirus, or think you might have it, keep taking your blood pressure medicines as usual.

Updated: 17 March Valsartan lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.

It's often used as a second-choice treatment if you had to stop taking a similar medicine because it gave you a dry, irritating cough. If you get severe diarrhoea or vomiting from a stomach bug or illness, tell your doctor.

You may need to stop taking valsartan for a while until you feel better. The main side effect of valsartan is dizziness - but it's usually mild and short-lived. Valsartan is not normally recommended in pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant. Valsartan is also called by the brand name Diovan. Valsartan can be taken by adults aged 18 and over.

Children over the age of 6 years can take valsartan, but only to treat high blood pressure. Valsartan isn't suitable for some people. To make sure valsartan is safe for you, tell your doctor if you : have had an allergic reaction to valsartan or other medicines in the past have severe liver disease have diabetes have heart or kidney problems have recently had a kidney transplant have diarrhoea or vomiting or have recently had this are on a low-salt diet have low blood pressure are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you are breastfeeding.

It's usual to take valsartan once or twice a day. How much will I take? The usual dose for adults is: 80mg to mg once a day for high blood pressure 40mg to mg twice a day for heart failure 20mg to mg twice a day after a recent heart attack The dose may be lower if you've recently lost body fluids for example because you've been sick or have diarrhoea.

The dose for children depends on their weight. The usual dose for children is: 40mg to 80mg once a day for children weighing 18kg to 35kg 80mg to mg once a day for children weighing 35kg to 80kg 80mg to mg once a day for children weighing 80kg and more Will my dose go up or down?

How to take it You can take valsartan tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water. Some people take valsartan in combination with other medicines: with amlodipine brand name Exforge to treat high blood pressure with hydrochlorothiazide brand name Co-Diovan to treat high blood pressure with sacubitril brand name Entresto to treat a type of long-term heart failure.

Important Take valsartan even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits of the medicine. What if I get sick while I'm taking it? What if I forget to take it? What if I take too much? The amount of valsartan that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person. Take the valsartan packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with you.

Common side effects These common side effects happen in more than 1 in people: feeling dizzy or having a spinning sensation vertigo headaches feeling sick nausea being sick vomiting or diarrhoea pain in your joints or muscles Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away.

Serious side effects It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects after taking valsartan. Call a doctor straight away if you have: yellow skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow - this can be a sign of liver problems pale skin, feeling tired, faint or dizzy, purple spots, any sign of bleeding, sore throat and fever - these can be signs of blood or bone marrow disorder weakness, an irregular heartbeat, pins and needles and muscle cramps - these can be signs of changes in the sodium and potassium levels in your blood Serious allergic reaction In rare cases, valsartan may cause a serious allergic reaction anaphylaxis.

Information: You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme. What to do about : feeling dizzy - if valsartan makes you feel dizzy when you stand up, try getting up very slowly or stay sitting down until you feel better.

If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down so that you don't faint, then sit until you feel better. Do not drive or use tools or machines if you feel dizzy, have muscle cramps or muscle pain, or if you just feel a bit shaky.

Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking valsartan. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe. It may also help if you don't eat rich or spicy food. If you're being sick, take small, frequent sips.

Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration, such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. You may need a blood test to check what might be causing it.

Valsartan and breastfeeding Small amounts of valsartan may get into breast milk. Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:. Some medicines interfere with the way valsartan works. Tell your doctor if you're taking: other medicines to help lower your blood pressure, including aliskiren, enalapril , captopril, lisinopril or ramipril painkillers such as ibuprofen , naproxen , diclofenac , celecoxib or etoricoxib aspirin if you are taking more than 3g a day potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium heparin a medicine for thinning your blood diuretics medicines which make you pee more lithium a medicine for mental health problems spironolactone a medicine to treat heart failure Mixing valsartan with herbal remedies or supplements There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with valsartan.

Important For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

How does valsartan work? Valsartan is a type of blood pressure-lowering medicine called an angiotensin receptor blocker. How long does valsartan take to work? How long will I take it for? Usually, treatment with valsartan is long term, even for the rest of your life. Is it safe to take for a long time? What will happen if I stop taking it? Talk to your doctor if you want to stop taking valsartan. Can I come off valsartan now my blood pressure is lower?

Can taking valsartan increase the risk of getting cancer? Can I drink alcohol with valsartan? If you find valsartan makes you feel dizzy it's best to stop drinking alcohol. Is there any food or drink I should avoid? Are there similar medicines to valsartan? There are also lots of other types of blood pressure-lowering medicines: calcium channel blockers - for example amlodipine angiotensin converting enzyme ACE inhibitors - for example ramipril beta blockers - for example bisoprolol diuretics - for example bendroflumethiazide The blood pressure-lowering medicine you're prescribed depends on your age and ethnicity: if you're under 55 - you'll usually be offered an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker if you're aged 55 or older, or you're any age and of African Caribbean or black African origin - you'll usually be offered a calcium channel blocker Many people need to take a combination of different blood pressure-lowering medicines.

What are the differences between valsartan and other medicines for high blood pressure? Can I take valsartan before surgery? Valsartan can reduce your blood pressure when it's used with a general anaesthetic. Your doctor will probably advise you to stop taking valsartan 24 hours before surgery. Can I take valsartan for migraines? Can I take valsartan to protect myself against Alzheimer's disease?

Is there a problem with getting valsartan? Is valsartan addictive? No, there's no evidence that valsartan is addictive. Will it affect my sex life? Valsartan won't affect your sex life. Will it affect my fertility? Will it affect my contraception? Valsartan won't affect any type of contraception. Talk to your doctor if you're taking a combined hormonal contraceptive.

Can I drive or ride a bike? Can lifestyle changes help? Quit smoking - smoking increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Quitting smoking brings down your blood pressure and relieves heart failure symptoms. Try to avoid secondhand smoke too.

Cut down on alcohol - drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure over time. It makes heart failure worse too. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. A standard glass of wine ml is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol. Exercise - regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. In a clinical trial of people taking valsartan after a heart attack , the following percentages of people stopped taking the drug because of cough:.

If you develop a cough while taking Diovan, talk with your doctor. They may recommend a different medication for treating your condition. Hypotension low blood pressure can be a side effect of Diovan treatment. The risk may vary depending on what condition Diovan is being used to treat.

It may also depend on other medical conditions you have. In clinical studies of people with high blood pressure, 0. No one stopped taking the drug in these studies because of low blood pressure.

Other studies looked at people with certain types of heart failure. In studies of people after a heart attack :. But, if your blood pressure drops too low, you may have symptoms such as blurry vision, dizziness, lightheadedness , or fainting.

This should lessen your risk for low blood pressure while taking Diovan. If you have symptoms of low blood pressure while using Diovan, talk with your doctor. Or they may recommend a medication other than Diovan to treat your condition. In clinical trials of people using valsartan to treat heart failure , dizziness occurred in:.

Dizziness was one of the more common side effects in people taking valsartan to treat high blood pressure. If you have dizziness while taking Diovan, talk with your doctor. Diovan treatment could cause hyperkalemia an increased level of a mineral called potassium.

In clinical trials of people using valsartan to treat heart failure , hyperkalemia occurred in:. Kidney damage makes it harder for your kidneys to remove potassium from your body. If your levels start rising, they can adjust your medications before the levels rise further. To help lower your risk for increased potassium level while taking Diovan, you should avoid salt substitutes that contain potassium. In , the FDA announced a recall of some medications that contained valsartan , the active drug in Diovan.

NDMA may cause cancer. Valsartan is a type of ARB. Or talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Diovan is used to treat hypertension high blood pressure in adults and in children ages 6 to 16 years. Lowering blood pressure can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular heart and blood vessel problems. Examples of these problems include heart attack and stroke that, in some cases, can be fatal.

When blood flows through your arteries, it pushes on artery walls. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from your heart to your other organs. This is called blood pressure. But symptoms of severe high blood pressure can include:. These can include damage to your heart and blood vessels, which, in rare cases, can be fatal. In addition, high blood pressure lowers the blood supply to your brain.

Over a long period of time, this could result in brain damage. Diovan lowers blood pressure by blocking the action of angiotensin II. This is a hormone your body makes naturally. Angiotensin II narrow your blood vessels. Over time, this can increase your blood pressure and force your heart to work harder. By preventing angiotensin II from working, Diovan helps keep your blood vessels open. This lowers blood pressure, reducing the risk of certain complications, such as heart attack or stroke.

Clinical studies have shown Diovan to be effective in treating high blood pressure. Seven different studies looked at valsartan and a placebo to see if valsartan was more effective at lowering blood pressure. They found that those taking valsartan had a larger decrease in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure than those taking a placebo.

Systolic blood pressure is the top number in a blood pressure reading, and diastolic blood pressure is the bottom number. Diovan is part of a drug class called angiotensin receptor blockers ARBs. A drug class is a group of medications that work in a similar way. According to clinical guidelines , ARBs are one of four preferred drug classes for treating high blood pressure in most adults.

Your doctor can work with you to determine which medication will work best for you based on your needs. Diovan is approved to reduce the risk of a hospital stay due to certain types of heart failure. Heart failure occurs when your heart is no longer able to pump enough blood to supply your body.

This sometimes happens because the heart muscles have become stiff and hard. As a result, blood flow to the heart may be reduced or even blocked. In other cases of heart failure, the heart may not pump enough blood to support other organs in your body. A clinical study showed that valsartan use helped lower the number of hospital stays due to heart failure.

Researchers randomly assigned people with heart failure to take either Diovan or a placebo twice a day for 2 years. At the end of the study, the researchers found that the following percentages of people went to the hospital for heart failure:.

Clinical guidelines recommend angiotensin receptor blocker ARB medication, such as Diovan, for adults with heart failure. This is to lower the risk of hospital stays and, in some cases, death. Diovan is used to lower the risk of death due to a cardiovascular heart or blood vessel problem after a heart attack. The heart attack must have led to left ventricular failure or left ventricular dysfunction. These are problems with the left side of the heart.

During a heart attack, blood stops flowing to certain areas of the heart. A lack of blood flow can damage the heart, making it weaker and less able to function properly. Diovan opens up your blood vessels, which helps lessen how much work your heart has to do to pump blood through your body.

Clinical studies have shown that valsartan helps lower the risk of death related to heart or blood vessel problems after a heart attack. In the studies, valsartan was compared with a drug called captopril, which is an angiotensin converting enzyme ACE inhibitor. ACE inhibitors are commonly used to lower the risk of death related to heart or blood vessel problems after a heart attack.

The researchers wanted to see if valsartan was as effective in reducing death as an ACE inhibitor for use after a heart attack. They found that valsartan was just as effective as ACE inhibitors in lowering the risk of death related to heart attacks.

For this group of people, clinical guidelines recommend they use an angiotensin receptor blocker ARB , such as Diovan, after a heart attack. Diovan is FDA-approved to treat high blood pressure in children ages 6 to 16 years. Clinical studies looked at children who took valsartan or a placebo a treatment with no active drug. This was compared with the blood pressure of the placebo group.

Diovan was also studied in children ages 1 to 5 years. For this reason, Diovan is approved for use only in children ages 6 years and older. Depending on the condition Diovan is used to treat, the drug may be used alone or with other medications. To treat high blood pressure , Diovan is often used with other medications that lower blood pressure. Drugs such as Diovan are commonly given with medications called diuretics water pills. An example of a diuretic is hydrochlorothiazide.

In addition to diuretics, Diovan may also be used with other drugs that lower blood pressure. These include calcium channel blockers, such as amlodipine Norvasc.

Diovan may be used with other drugs that treat heart failure. This is because diuretics and Diovan can cause similar side effects. Lowering the dose of your diuretic may lower your risk for these side effects. This combination drug is approved for treating heart failure. Diovan may be given with other treatments typically used for heart attack. Examples include aspirin and statin medications, such as atorvastatin Lipitor and rosuvastatin Crestor.

Other drugs are available that can treat your condition. Some may be a better fit for you than others. They can tell you about other medications that may work well for you. Note : Some of the drugs listed below are used off-label to treat these specific conditions. Examples of other drugs that may be used to treat high blood pressure include:. Examples of other drugs that may be used to lower the risk of a hospital stay due to heart failure include:. You may wonder how Diovan compares with other medications that are prescribed for similar uses.

Here we look at how Diovan and losartan Cozaar are alike and different. Diovan contains the active drug valsartan.

Both Diovan and losartan are in a drug class called angiotensin receptor blockers ARBs. Diovan and losartan can cause similar side effects but some different ones as well. Below are examples of these side effects. These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with either Diovan or losartan, as well as mild side effects that both drugs may share.

Diovan and losartan are approved to treat high blood pressure in adults as well as in children ages 6 years and older. But studies have found both Diovan and losartan to be effective for treating high blood pressure in adults as well as in children ages 6 years and older.

Diovan and losartan are both in a drug class called angiotensin receptor blockers ARBs. According to estimates on GoodRx. Diovan is brand-name drug. Losartan is a generic drug. Brand-name medications usually cost more than generics. Like losartan above , the drug lisinopril Zestril has uses similar to those of Diovan. Diovan is in a drug class called angiotensin receptor blockers ARBs.

Lisinopril belongs to a class of medications called angiotensin converting enzyme ACE inhibitors. Diovan and lisinopril are both approved by the Food and Drug Administration FDA to treat high blood pressure in adults as well as in children ages 6 years and older. Also, both drugs are approved to lower the risk of death due to a cardiovascular heart or blood vessel problem after a heart attack.

But Diovan is approved for this use only in certain people. In addition, Diovan is FDA-approved to reduce the risk of a hospital stay due to certain types of heart failure. For more information on the uses of lisinopril, talk with your doctor. Diovan and lisinopril can cause similar side effects but some different ones as well. These lists contain up to 10 of the most common mild side effects that can occur with either Diovan or lisinopril, as well as mild side effects that both drugs may share.

These lists contain examples of serious side effects that can occur with lisinopril, as well as serious side effects that both drugs may share. But studies have found both Diovan and lisinopril to be effective for treating high blood pressure in adults and in children ages 6 years and older.

Clinical guidelines recommend using one of four preferred medication classes to treat high blood pressure in most adults. A medication class is a group of medications that work in the similar way. One of the preferred medication classes is angiotensin receptor blockers ARBs , which includes Diovan.

Another class is angiotensin converting enzyme ACE inhibitors , which includes lisinopril. Your doctor can decide which medication will work best for you. But studies have found both Diovan and lisinopril to be effective for reducing the risk of a hospital stay due to heart failure in adults. But studies have found both Diovan and lisinopril to be effective for treating adults after a heart attack.

For this group of people, clinical guidelines recommend they use an ARB , such as Diovan, after a heart attack. Lisinopril is a generic drug. Diovan is a type of drug called an angiotensin receptor blocker ARB. Beta-blockers are often prescribed to treat the same conditions Diovan is used to treat. These include high blood pressure and heart failure. Beta-blockers are also commonly given to people after a heart attack. Beta-blockers stop the action of certain hormones such as noradrenaline and adrenaline.

ARBs, such as Diovan, relax the muscles in your blood vessels. This helps lower blood pressure and helps your heart pump blood more easily than usual.

If you have questions about beta-blockers or Diovan, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. Yes, Diovan does have a few contraindications. These are conditions or factors that would prevent you from taking the medication. The drug can harm a developing fetus or cause miscarriage. This could increase your risk for certain side effects while taking Diovan. These include low blood pressure and kidney problems, such as producing less urine than usual or kidney failure. However, some blood pressure medications can cause ED as a side effect.

These drugs may be prescribed with Diovan for treating high blood pressure or other conditions, such as heart failure. For example, diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide can cause ED. Beta-blockers , such as carvedilol Coreg , may also cause this side effect.

But the researchers did observe that some older people are more sensitive to Diovan. This group of people may need a lower dose of Diovan than usual to help avoid side effects. Some salt substitutes use potassium in place of sodium salt.

This may increase your potassium level. Diovan itself can increase potassium levels. So using a salt substitute while taking Diovan could further increase your potassium level.

Having too much potassium in your body can be dangerous. You can also ask them any questions that you may have about salt substitutes. As with all medications, the cost of Diovan can vary. To find current prices for Diovan tablets in your area, check out GoodRx. The cost you find on GoodRx. Keep in mind that you may be able to get a day supply of Diovan. If approved by your insurance company, getting a day supply of the drug could lower your number of trips to the pharmacy and help lower the cost.

Before approving coverage for Diovan, your insurance company may require you to get prior authorization. This means that your doctor and insurance company will need to communicate about your prescription before the insurance company will cover the drug. The insurance company will review the prior authorization request and decide if the drug will be covered. If you need financial support to pay for Diovan, or if you need help understanding your insurance coverage, help is available.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, the manufacturer of Diovan, offers a copay card that may help lower the cost of the drug.

Diovan may be available through a mail-order pharmacy. Some Medicare plans may help cover the cost of mail-order medications. Diovan is available in a generic form called valsartan. And generics tend to cost less than brand-name drugs. To find out how the cost of valsartan compares to the cost of Diovan, visit GoodRx. They may have a preference for one version or the other.

The heart needs a constant supply of blood and oxygen to function. This supply is carried out by blood vessels, which can stretch and tighten. Angiotensin II, a hormone made by the body, constricts tightens the muscles in the blood vessels. Angiotensin II also causes the body to hold on to water and salt. The tightening of blood vessels and increases in the levels of salt and water can all raise blood pressure and harm blood vessels. Increased blood pressure can raise your risk for heart disease including heart failure , heart attack, and stroke.

Stroke is a type of blood vessel problem. Receptors are proteins on the outside of cells that act like docking stations. These receptors are found in the blood vessels, heart, and kidneys. Blocking angiotensin II from its receptor keeps the receptor from working. Diovan relaxes the muscles in your blood vessels, which helps lower blood pressure. It also helps your heart pump blood more easily. Therefore, Diovan lowers the risk of certain complications, such as heart attack or stroke, and helps blood flow in people with heart failure.

Diovan begins working as soon as you take your dose. Most people notice drops in blood pressure within 2 weeks. But your doctor will monitor you, including checking your blood pressure, to see if the drug is working for you. However, drinking alcohol could worsen certain side effects of Diovan. These include diarrhea , dizziness, and fatigue lack of energy.

Diovan can interact with several other medications. It can also interact with certain supplements and certain foods. Different interactions can cause different effects. For instance, some interactions can interfere with how well a drug works.

Other interactions can increase side effects or make them more severe. Below are examples of medications that can interact with Diovan. This section does not include all drugs that may interact with Diovan. Before taking Diovan, talk with your doctor and pharmacist.