VALSARTAN

(val SAR tan) Brand: Diovan

What is the most significant information I must know about valsartan?

• Do not use valsartan if you are pregnant. Stop using this medicine and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Valsartan can reason injury or death to the unborn child if you take the medication during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking valsartan.

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to valsartan. Till you take valsartan, speak your doctor if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any blood pressure medication.

• Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may magnify determined side effects of valsartan.

• Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking valsartan, unless your doctor has told you to.

• Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Visit your doctor regularly.

• Hold using this medication as directed, even if you feel well. Tall blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medicine for the rest of your life.

• In rare cases, valsartan can reason a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.

What is valsartan?

• Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Valsartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.

• Valsartan is used to treat tall blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children who are at least 6 years old. Valsartan is also used in adults to treat heart failure, and to lower the risk of death after a heart attack.

• Valsartan is sometimes given together with another blood pressure medications.

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

What must I discuss with my healthcare provider till taking valsartan?

• You must not use this medicine if you are allergic to valsartan.

• To create certain valsartan is safety for you, speak your doctor if you have any of these another conditions:

· kidney disease;

· liver disease;

· heart malady;

· if you are dehydrated; or

· if you have ever had a severe allergic reaction to any blood pressure medication.

• FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use valsartan if you are pregnant. Stop using this medicine and speak your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Valsartan can reason injury or death to the unborn child if you take the medication during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking valsartan.

• It is not known whether valsartan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing child. You must not breast-feed while you are using valsartan.

• Valsartan must not be given to a baby younger than 6 years old.

How must I take valsartan?

• Take exactly as predesigned by your doctor. Do not take in larger or less amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your doze to create certain you get the excellent results.

• You may take valsartan with or without food. Take the medication at the same time every day.

• If a baby taking valsartan can't swallow a capsule intact, your pharmacist can mix the medication into a liquid. Shake this liquid well just till you measure a doze. Measure the liquid with a particular dose-measuring spoon or medication cup, not with a regular table spoon. If you do not have a dose-measuring device, ask your pharmacist for one.

• Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney function may also need to be checked with frequent blood trials. Visit your doctor regularly.

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

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

• Conditions that may reason very low blood pressure include: vomiting, diarrhea, hard sweating, heart malady, dialysis, a low salt diet, or taking diuretics (water pills). Speak your doctor if you have a prolonged diseases that causes diarrhea or vomiting.

• Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.

What happens if I miss a dose?

• Take the missed doze as soon as you remember. Skip the missed doze if it is nearly time for your following scheduled doze. Do not take extra medication to create up the missed dose.

What happens if I overdose?

• Search abnormal medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.

• Overdose symptoms may include quick or slow heartbeat, dizziness, or feeling like you might pass out.

What must I avoid while taking valsartan?

• Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may magnify determined side effects of valsartan.

• Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking valsartan, unless your doctor has told you to.

• Avoid getting up too quick from a sitting or lying position, or you may feel dizzy. Get up slowly and steady yourself to prevent a fall.

What are the possible side effects of valsartan?

• Get abnormal medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your person, lips, tongue, or throat.

• In rare cases, valsartan can reason a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, nausea or vomiting, and dark colored urine.

• Call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:

· feeling short of breath, even with mild exertion;

· urinating smaller than normal or not at all;

· weakness, confusion, heighten thirst, loss of appetite, vomiting, pounding heartbeats or fluttering in your chest;

· swelling, rapid weight gain;

· feeling like you might pass out; or

· tall potassium (slow heart course, weak pulse, muscle weakness, tingly feeling).

• Smaller serious side effects may include:

· headache, dizziness, weary feeling;

· flu symptoms;

· cool symptoms such as stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough;

· nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea;

· back pain, joint pain;

· blurred vision; or

· mild itching, skin rash.

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

What another drugs will affect valsartan?

• Speak your doctor about all another medicines you use, especially:

· cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune);

· a diuretic (water pill);

· rifampin (Rifadin, Rifater, Rifamate);

· ritonavir (Norvir, Kaletra); or

· a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others.

• This list is not complete and another drugs may interact with valsartan. Speak your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal commodity. Do not start a new medicine without telling your doctor.

Where can I get more information?

• Your pharmacist can provide more information about valsartan.

Remember, hold this and all another medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medicine only for the indication prescribed.

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