Brand Names: Diovan

Generic Name: valsartan

What is valsartan (Diovan)?
What are the possible side effects of valsartan (Diovan)?
What is the most important information I should know about valsartan (Diovan)?
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking valsartan (Diovan)?
How should I take valsartan (Diovan)?
What happens if I miss a dose (Diovan)?
What happens if I overdose (Diovan)?
What should I avoid while taking valsartan (Diovan)?
What other drugs will affect valsartan (Diovan)?
Where can I get more information (Diovan)?

What is valsartan (Diovan)?

Valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children who are at least 6 years old. Valsartan is sometimes given together with other blood pressure medications.

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

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

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egg, red, imprinted with NVR, DV

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egg, orange, imprinted with NVR, DX

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egg, purple, imprinted with DXL, NVR

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oval, yellow, imprinted with NVR, DO

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oval, orange, imprinted with VS 160, LOGO

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oval, gray/purple, imprinted with VS 320, LOGO

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oval, yellow, imprinted with NVR, DO

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oval, gray/lavender, imprinted with NVR, DXL

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round, red, imprinted with I, 8

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oval, orange, imprinted with I, 67

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Diovan 160 mg tab

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Diovan 320 mg

egg, purple, imprinted with DXL, NVR

Diovan 40 mg tab

round, yellow, imprinted with NVR, DO

Diovan 80 mg tab

egg, red, imprinted with NVR, DV

Valsartan 160 mg 136680069

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Valsartan 160 mg 293000234

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Valsartan 160 mg 597460362

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Valsartan 320 mg 293000235

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Valsartan 320 mg 597460363

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Valsartan 40 mg 005912167

oval, yellow, imprinted with V S, LOGO

Valsartan 40 mg 136680067

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Valsartan 40 mg 293000232

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Valsartan 40 mg 597460360

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Valsartan 80 mg 005912168

round, pink, imprinted with VS 80, LOGO

Valsartan 80 mg 136680068

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Valsartan 80 mg 293000233

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Valsartan 80 mg 597460361

round, peach, imprinted with C3, C

What are the possible side effects of valsartan (Diovan)?

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

Also call your doctor at once if you have:

a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
swelling, rapid weight gain;
shortness of breath;
little or no urination;
pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest; or
high potassium level--nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement.

Common side effects may include:

headache, dizziness, tired feeling;
flu symptoms;
stomach pain, diarrhea; or
back pain, joint pain.

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.

What is the most important information I should know about valsartan (Diovan)?

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 use valsartan together with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).

What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking valsartan (Diovan)?

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

If you have diabetes, do not use valsartan together 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;
kidney disease;
liver disease;
if you are on a low-salt-diet; or
if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any blood pressure medication.

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

You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.

Valsartan should not be given to a child younger than 6 years old.

How should I take valsartan (Diovan)?

Follow all directions on your prescription label and read all medication guides or instruction sheets. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Use the medicine exactly as directed.

Take valsartan at the same time(s) each day, with or without food.

If a child taking valsartan cannot swallow a capsule whole, your pharmacist can mix the medicine into a liquid. Shake this liquid well just before you measure a dose. Measure the medicine carefully. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).

Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney function may also need to be checked.

You may have very low blood pressure while taking valsartan. Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual.

It may take 2 to 4 weeks of using this medicine before your blood pressure is under control. Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

Talk with your doctor if your symptoms do not improve after 4 weeks of treatment.

Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

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What happens if I miss a dose (Diovan)?

Take the medicine as soon as you can, but skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next dose. Do not take two doses at one time.

What happens if I overdose (Diovan)?

Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

What should I avoid while taking valsartan (Diovan)?

Drinking alcohol can increase certain side effects of valsartan.

Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes unless your doctor has told you to.

Avoid getting up too fast from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy.

What other drugs will affect valsartan (Diovan)?

Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:

a diuretic (water pill) or other medicines that lower blood pressure;
cyclosporine;
lithium;
rifampin;
ritonavir;
heart medication; or
NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)--aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), celecoxib, diclofenac, indomethacin, meloxicam, and others.

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

Where can I get more information (Diovan)?

Your pharmacist can provide more information about valsartan.

Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

valsartan (Diovan)