VALSARTAN (DiovanŽ) helps lower blood pressure to normal levels. It controls high blood pressure, but it is not a cure. High blood pressure can damage your kidneys, and may lead to a stroke or heart failure. Valsartan helps prevent these things from happening
Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Valsartan is used to lower blood pressure to normal levels. It controls high blood pressure, but it is not a cure.
Tell your doctor if any of these apply to you:
you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
you are allergic to Valsartan, other medicines, foods, dyes, preservatives, or other substances
you have kidney or liver disease
you are on a special diet, such as a low-salt diet
you have electrolyte imbalance (eg, low or high levels of potassium in the blood)
you have swelling of the tongue, face, or lips with difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing
How to use:
Strictly follow your doctor's instructions
Take your doses at regular intervals
You may take Valsartan either with or without food
If you miss a dose, take it as soon as possible
Avoid taking double or extra doses
Safety issues:
Valsartan may cause dizziness or drowsiness. Avoid driving, operating machinery, or perferming other tasks that require mental alertness, until you know how Valsartan affects you.
Check your blood pressure regularly
Avoid salt substitutes unless you are told by your doctor
Tell your doctor if you are going to have surgery
What drug(s) may interact with Valsartan?
water pills
blood pressure medications
potassium salts or potassiom sipplements
hawthorn
monoamine oxidase inhibitors
lithium
Possible side effects:
If you experience these side effects, you should contact your doctor immediately:
decreased sexual function
difficulty breahting or swallowing, hoarseness, or tightening of the throat
fast or uneven heartbeat, chest pain, or palpitations
swelling of the face, lips, tongue, hands, or feet
confusion, dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting spells
unusual rash
decreased amount of urine passed
These side effects usually don't require medical attention (but you should contact your doctor if they continue or are bothersome):
nausea or stomach pain
cough
headache
diarrhea
fatigue or tiredness
What is the shelf life of the pills?
The expiry date is mentioned on each blister. It is different for different batches. The shelf life is 2 years from the date of manufacture and would differ from batch to batch depending on when they were manufactured.
What is a generic pill?
Generic drug (pl. generic drugs, short: generics) is a drug which is produced and distributed without a brand name. A generic must contain the same active ingredients as the original formulation. In most cases, it is considered bioequivalent to the brand name counterpart with respect to pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties.
