Valsartan

💊 What is Valsartan used for?

• •High blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children 1 year of age and older. The label says lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of strokes and heart attacks. It may be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines.
• •Heart failure in adults, to help decrease the need for hospital stays for heart failure.
• •Certain adults with left ventricular failure or left ventricular dysfunction after a heart attack, to increase the chance of living longer after a heart attack.

How it works

The label describes valsartan as a blocker of the angiotensin II receptor (the AT1 receptor subtype). Angiotensin II is a substance that acts on this receptor, so blocking it is part of how valsartan works. The label does not explain this process in more detail.

How it is usually taken

• •For high blood pressure, the label says to take valsartan once a day. For adults with heart failure or after a heart attack, the label says to take it twice a day. It can be taken with or without food. Take it exactly as your healthcare provider prescribed. For children who cannot swallow tablets, or whose dose does not match an available tablet strength, a pharmacist may mix valsartan as a liquid suspension. The label says to shake that suspension well for at least 10 seconds before each dose.

Comes as

• •Tablets: 40 mg (scored), 80 mg, 160 mg, and 320 mg
• •Oral suspension (liquid), mixed by a pharmacist for some children. The label says tablets and suspension are not interchangeable on a milligram-for-milligram basis, so your provider may need to adjust the dose if you switch.

⚠️ Valsartan side effects

🛑 Who should not take Valsartan, and who should be careful

The label says not to take it if

• 🚨You are allergic to any ingredient in valsartan. The label lists the full ingredients at the end of the leaflet.
• 🚨You have diabetes and are also taking aliskiren. The label says these should not be used together in people with diabetes.

Tell your doctor before taking it if

• •Tell your provider about all of your medical conditions, especially heart problems and kidney problems.
• •Tell your provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. The label says valsartan can harm an unborn baby.
• •Tell your provider if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. The label says you should not breastfeed during treatment.
• •Tell your provider and pharmacist about all medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
• •Keep a list of your medicines to show your provider and pharmacist when a new medicine is prescribed.

🔀 Valsartan with other medicines, food and alcohol

The label says to discuss these with your doctor or pharmacist

• •Potassium-sparing diuretics (such as spironolactone, triamterene, or amiloride), potassium supplements, and salt substitutes containing potassium can raise potassium levels. Your provider may check your blood potassium.
• •Water pills (diuretics) can increase the chance of low blood pressure.
• •NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), including COX-2 inhibitors, may affect kidney function and reduce the blood pressure effect of valsartan.
• •Lithium: valsartan can raise lithium levels in the blood, so your provider will check your lithium level regularly.
• •Other blood pressure medicines that act on the renin-angiotensin system (such as ACE inhibitors or aliskiren): the label says to generally avoid combining them, because this raises the risk of low blood pressure, high potassium, and kidney changes.
• •Other medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems can also interact with valsartan, so tell your provider about them.

Alcohol and food

Valsartan can be taken with or without food. The label does not mention alcohol.

🤰 Valsartan in pregnancy and breastfeeding

Pregnancy

The label says valsartan can cause fetal harm when taken during pregnancy, especially in the second and third trimesters. If you become pregnant during treatment, the label says to stop taking valsartan and tell your healthcare provider right away. Your provider may consider other treatments for blood pressure.

Breastfeeding

The label says it is not known whether valsartan passes into breast milk. It says you should not breastfeed during treatment. Talk with your provider about the best way to feed your baby.

🗓️ Storage, missed doses and taking too much

Storage

Store at 20°C to 25°C (68°F to 77°F). Short temperature changes between 15°C and 30°C (59°F and 86°F) are allowed. Protect from moisture and keep in a tight container. If a pharmacist mixes the liquid form, the label says it can be stored for up to 30 days at room temperature (below 30°C) or up to 75 days in the refrigerator (2°C to 8°C) in a glass bottle with a child-resistant cap.

If a dose is missed

The label says to take a missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Take the next dose at your regular time.

If too much is taken

The label says that if you take too much valsartan, call your doctor or Poison Control Center, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. The label says the most likely effects of too much are low blood pressure and a fast heartbeat. Valsartan is not removed from the blood by hemodialysis.

🗒️ Questions to ask about Valsartan

• Am I taking valsartan for high blood pressure, heart failure, or a past heart attack, and how often should I take it?
• What should I do if I feel lightheaded or dizzy when I start taking it?
• What symptoms of low blood pressure or kidney problems should I watch for?
• Will I need blood tests to check my potassium and kidney function?
• What should I do if I become pregnant or plan to become pregnant while on valsartan?
• Which of my other medicines, supplements, or salt substitutes could interact with valsartan?
• What should I do if I miss a dose?

❓ Valsartan: frequently asked questions