Valsartan

Uses of Valsartan

Valsartan is used to treat hypertension or high blood pressure. This medicine works by widening the body’s blood vessels and arteries to ensure proper blood circulation. Besides treating hypertension, Valsartan also prevents heart attack and stroke. Taking this medicine lowers your risk of frequent hospitalization due to high blood pressure and heart failure.

Valsartan belongs to a drug classification called Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). This drug class functions by dilating the blood vessels to prevent recurrent episodes of hypertension. You can purchase Valsartan under the brand name Diovan.

Warnings and Precautions

Avoid using Valsartan if you are pregnant. This medicine can cause severe congenital disabilities. Additionally, if you are allergic to its ingredients, do not use it to avoid complications. Note that any form of allergy or hypersensitivity can be fatal.

To ensure your safety with this treatment, tell your healthcare professional if you have a history of the following conditions:

• Heart problems
• Kidney disease
• Liver disease

Lastly, inform your healthcare professional if you are on dialysis and observing a low-salt diet. These situations may affect your treatment with Valsartan.

Dosage

Before receiving your Valsartan prescription, your healthcare professional will check on some factors to ensure your safety with this medication. These include your age and weight, underlying health conditions, medical history, and other forms of medicines you are currently taking.

Usual Adult Dosage:

• Take 80 to 160 mg of Valsartan orally once per day.
• The maintenance dose is 80 to 320 mg orally once per day.

Usual Pediatric Dose:

• The dosage for children depends on their weight. The recommended dose is 1.3 mg of Valsartan per kilogram, to be consumed orally daily.

Side Effects

Like other medicines, Valsartan also has a set of adverse reactions categorized as the most common and severe effects. These are as follows:

Common side effects:

• High potassium
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Lightheadedness
• Tiredness
• Cough
• Runny nose
• Stomach pain
• Diarrhea
• Back pain
• Joint pain

Severe side effects:

• Nausea
• Weakness
• Tingly feeling
• Chest pain
• Irregular heartbeat
• Loss of movement