What is the most important information I should know about valsartan?
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 take valsartan with any medication that contains aliskiren (a blood pressure medicine).
What is valsartan?
Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (sometimes called an ARB).
Valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children who are at least 1 year old. Lowering blood pressure may lower your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
Valsartan is also used in adults to treat heart failure and lower your risk of needing to be hospitalized, and to lower your risk of death after a heart attack.
Valsartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking valsartan?
You should not use valsartan if you are allergic to it.
If you have diabetes, do not take valsartan 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 (or if you are on dialysis); or
- if you are on a low-salt diet.
Do not use if you are pregnant. Stop using the medicine and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Valsartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester.
If you plan to get pregnant, ask your doctor for a safer medicine to use before and during pregnancy. Having high blood pressure during pregnancy may cause complications in the mother and the baby.
You should not breastfeed while using this medicine.
Valsartan is not approved for use by anyone younger than 1 year old.
How should I take valsartan?
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.
For a child who cannot swallow a tablet whole, a pharmacist can mix the medicine into a liquid. If your child switches from valsartan tablets to liquid, the dose will not be the same.
Shake the liquid for 10 seconds before you measure a dose. Use the dosing syringe provided, or use a medicine dose-measuring device (not a kitchen spoon).
Valsartan doses are based on weight in children and/or teenagers. Your child's dose needs may change if the child gains or loses weight.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Your kidney function may also need to be checked.
Call your doctor if you are sick with vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking valsartan.
It may take 2 to 4 weeks 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. Treatment may also include diet, exercise, lowering cholesterol, not smoking, and controlling diabetes.
Store the tablets or liquid at room temperature away from moisture and heat. Throw away any unused liquid after 30 days.
The liquid may be stored for up to 75 days if kept in a refrigerator.
Keep valsartan liquid in the original glass bottle, tightly closed when not in use.
What happens if I miss a dose?
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?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include fast heartbeats or fainting.
What should I avoid while taking 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 are the possible side effects of valsartan?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Call your doctor at once if you have:
- a light-headed feeling, like you might pass out;
- little or no urination; or
-
high potassium level --nausea, weakness, tingly feeling, chest pain, irregular heartbeats, loss of movement.
Common side effects may include:
- high potassium;
- headache, dizziness, feeling light-headed;
- flu symptoms, tiredness;
- cough;
- stomach pain, diarrhea;
- back pain, joint pain; or
- abnormal kidney test.
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 other drugs will affect valsartan?
Tell your doctor about all your other medicines, especially:
- lithium;
- a diuretic (water pill) or other medicines that lower blood pressure; 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?
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.
Copyright 1996-2022 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 18.01. Revision date: 4/26/2021.
MyChart
