Valsartan
Consumer Medicine Information
What is in this leaflet
This leaflet answers some common questions about Diovan.
It does not contain all the available information. It does not take the place of talking to your doctor or pharmacist.
The information in this leaflet was last updated on the date listed on the final page. More recent information on the medicine may be available.
You should ensure that you speak to your pharmacist or doctor to obtain the most up to date information on the medicine. You can also download the most up to date leaflet from www.novartis.com.au.
Those updates may contain important information about the medicine and its use of which you should be aware.
All medicines have risks and benefits. Your doctor has weighed the risks of you taking this medicine against the benefits they expect it will have for you.
If you have any concerns about taking this medicine, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Keep this leaflet with the medicine.
You may need to read it again.
What Diovan is used for
Diovan belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II receptor antagonists (AIIRAs).
Hypertension
Diovan is used to control high blood pressure, also called hypertension. Everyone has blood pressure. This pressure helps get your blood around your body. Your blood pressure may be different at different times of the day, depending on how busy or worried you are. You have hypertension when your blood pressure stays higher than is needed, even when you are calm and relaxed.
There are usually no symptoms of hypertension. The only way of knowing that you have it is to have your blood pressure checked regularly.
High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart and blood vessels. If it continues for a long time, it can damage the blood vessels in the brain, heart and kidneys. This can lead to stroke, heart failure or kidney failure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks. Lowering your blood pressure reduces the chance of these disorders happening.
Heart Failure
Diovan is used to treat heart failure.
Heart failure means that the heart muscle cannot pump blood strongly enough to supply all the blood needed throughout the body. Heart failure is not the same as heart attack and does not mean that the heart stops. Diovan helps the heart to function better and relieves some of the symptoms of heart failure.
Heart Attack
Diovan is also used to treat people after they have had a heart attack (myocardial infarction) to reduce the risk of further heart damage and reduce further heart problems.
Ask your doctor if you have any questions about why this medicine has been prescribed for you.
Your doctor may have prescribed it for another purpose.
There is not enough information to recommend the use of Diovan in children (below 18 years of age).
This medicine is only available with a doctor's prescription. It is not habit-forming.
Before you take Diovan
When you must not take it
Do not take Diovan if you have ever had an allergic reaction after taking:
valsartan (the active ingredient in Diovan)
any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take Diovan if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant.
Diovan is not recommended for use in pregnancy. Like other similar medicines, it could affect your unborn baby.
Do not take Diovan if you have liver disease caused by a blockage in the bile duct or any other severe liver disease.
Diovan is not recommended if you have these conditions.
Do not take Diovan if you are also taking other blood pressure lowering medicines containing aliskiren and have type 2 diabetes.
Do not take Diovan after the expiry date printed on the pack or if the packaging is torn or shows signs of tampering.
In that case, return it to your pharmacist for disposal.
Before you start to take it
Tell your doctor if you have any of the following health problems/medical conditions:
heart disease or high blood pressure that is being treated with large doses of diuretics (also called water or fluid tablets), or being treated with beta-blockers, aliskiren and/or ACE-inhibitors
high blood pressure due to narrowing of the arteries in the kidney
any other kidney problems or are having dialysis
milder forms of liver disease
swelling, mainly of the face and throat, while taking other medicines (including an ACE inhibitor or aliskiren)
you have recently had severe vomiting or diarrhoea
you are severely limiting your salt intake
primary hyperaldosteronism (Conn's syndrome), a hormone disorder causing fluid retention
obstructed blood flow through the heart from narrowing of valves (stenosis) or enlarged septum of the heart (HOCM)
Your doctor may want to take special precautions if you have any of the above conditions.
Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding. Ask your doctor about the risks and benefits of taking Diovan in this case.
It is not known if valsartan, the active ingredient of Diovan, passes into the breast milk and could affect your baby.
Tell your doctor if you are allergic to any other medicines, foods, dyes or preservatives.
Your doctor will want to know if you are prone to allergies.
If you have not told your doctor about any of these things, tell them before you take Diovan.
Taking other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking any other medicines, including medicines that you buy without a prescription from a pharmacy, supermarket or health food shop.
Other medicines may be affected by Diovan or they may affect how well Diovan works. You may need to take different amounts of your medicines or you may need to take different medicines.
These medicines include:
beta-blockers, which are medicines used to treat hypertension or other heart conditions
ACE-inhibitors or aliskiren, which are also medicines used to treat hypertension or other heart conditions
some diuretics (water or fluid pills)
potassium supplements (e.g. Slow-K®) or other drugs that may increase potassium levels
salt substitutes containing potassium
lithium (a medicine used to treat some types of psychiatric illness)
some antibiotics (rifamycins), anti-rejection drugs (cyclosporin), antiretrovirals (ritonavir) which may increase the effect of Diovan
anti-inflammatory medicines such as Celebrex, Voltaren and Indocid (NSAIDs) or Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitors (Cox-2 Inhibitors).
Your doctor may also check your kidney function.
Your doctor and pharmacist have a more complete list of medicines to be careful of while taking Diovan.
How to take Diovan
Follow carefully all directions given to you by your doctor and pharmacist.
These instructions may differ from the information contained in this leaflet.
If you do not understand the instructions on the label, ask your doctor or pharmacist for help.
How much to take
For hypertension, the usual dose is one 80 mg tablet once a day. If your blood pressure is still too high after 4 weeks, your doctor may increase the dose to 160 mg once a day, or from 160 mg to 320 mg once a day. If your blood pressure is still too high, your doctor may add a different type of blood pressure lowering medicine.
For heart failure the usual starting dose is 40 mg twice daily. Your doctor may increase the dose gradually up to one 160 mg tablet twice daily.
Following a heart attack, treatment is generally started at a dose of 20 mg (half a 40 mg tablet) twice daily. Your doctor may increase the dose gradually up to 160 mg twice daily.
When to take it
When you take the first tablet from the pack of Diovan, take the one marked with the correct day of the week (e.g. if it is Wednesday, take the tablet marked Wednesday).
Diovan comes in a calendar pack with the days of the week marked on it to help you remember to take your tablet each day.
Take it at the same time each day.
This also helps you remember to take it, especially if you take it as part of your usual routine (e.g. at breakfast time).
How to take it
Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water. Always take it in the same way in relation to food.
It does not matter if you take it after food or on an empty stomach, as long as you take it the same way each day.
If your stomach is upset after taking Diovan, always take it after a meal (e.g. breakfast).
How long to take it
Take this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop even if you feel quite well.
It will take at least 4 weeks for this medicine to have its full effect. After that, it will be continued for as long as your doctor thinks it is needed.
If you forget to take it
If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one when you are meant to.
Otherwise, take the dose as soon as you remember and then go back to taking it as you would normally.
Do not take a double dose to make up for the one that you missed.
This may increase the chance of you getting unwanted side effects.
If you have trouble remembering when to take your medicine, ask your pharmacist for some hints.
If you take too much (Overdose)
Immediately telephone your doctor or the Poisons Information Centre (telephone number: 13 11 26) for advice, or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you think that you or anyone else may have taken too much Diovan. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning.
Keep the telephone numbers for these places handy.
Too much Diovan may make you feel dizzy, lightheaded or faint. You may experience rapid, shallow breathing or cold, clammy skin. Your heartbeat may be faster than usual. This is because your blood pressure is too low.
While you are taking Diovan
Things you must do
If you become pregnant while taking Diovan, tell your doctor immediately.
You should not take this medicine while you are pregnant.
Tell your doctor if, for any reason, you have not taken your medicine exactly as prescribed.
Otherwise your doctor may think that it was not effective and change your treatment unnecessarily.
Be sure to keep all of your doctor's appointments so that your progress can be checked. Do this even if you feel well.
It is important to keep track of your progress. Your doctor will want to check your blood pressure and your kidney and liver function from time to time.
If you are about to be started on any new medicine, remind your doctor and pharmacist that you are taking Diovan.
Tell any other doctor, dentist or pharmacist who treats you that you are taking Diovan.
Things you must not do
Do not use Diovan to treat any other complaints unless your doctor says you can.
Do not give this medicine to anyone else, even if their condition seems to be similar to yours.
Things to be careful of
Be careful driving, operating machinery or doing jobs that require you to be alert while you are taking Diovan until you know how it affects you.
This medicine can cause tiredness, sleepiness or dizziness in some people. If you have these symptoms, do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous.
If this medicine makes you feel dizzy or light-headed, be careful when getting up from a sitting or lying position.
Dizziness can usually be prevented by getting up slowly and flexing leg muscles and toes to get the blood flowing. When getting out of bed, dangle your legs over the side for a minute or two before standing up.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Diovan, even if you do not think it is connected with the medicine.
All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of these side effects and they worry you:
headache
dizziness, spinning sensation (vertigo)
sleepiness, tiredness or weakness
diarrhoea, constipation or wind
nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach pains or indigestion
dry cough, sore throat or hoarse voice
blistering skin
runny nose or congested sinuses
pain in the back or joints
muscle pain or cramps
difficulty sleeping
feeling anxious
tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
problems with sexual function
Tell your doctor immediately or go to Accident and Emergency at your nearest hospital if you notice any of the following:
signs of allergy such as rash, itching or hives on the skin; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other part of the body; fever, shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing
feeling of fast or irregular heart beat (pounding, racing, skipping beats)
chest pain
shortness of breath not caused by exercise, with swelling of legs or feet
tiredness or lack of energy, being short of breath when exercising, dizziness and looking pale
constant "flu-like" symptoms such as chills, fever, sore throat, aching joints, sores in mouth, swollen glands
severe dizziness or fainting
liver disease with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell, fever, itching, yellowing of the skin and eyes, and dark coloured urine
The above side effects may be serious. You may need urgent medical attention.
Tell your doctor if you notice anything else that is making you feel unwell.
Other side effects not listed above may also occur in some people.
After using Diovan
Storage
Keep your tablets in the original container until it is time to take them.
Store them in a cool dry place (room temperature).
Do not store Diovan or any other medicine in the bathroom or near a sink.
Do not leave it in the car or on window sills.
Heat and dampness can destroy some medicines. Diovan will keep well if it is cool and dry.
Keep the medicines where children cannot reach them.
A locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Disposal
If your doctor tells you to stop taking Diovan, or the tablets have passed their expiry date, ask your pharmacist what to do with any that are left over.
Product description
What it looks like
Diovan tablets are supplied in blister packs of 28.
Diovan 40 mg tablets are oval and yellow marked with "DO" on one side and "NVR" on the other.
Diovan 80 mg tablets are round and pale red with a "D" and "V" marked on one side of the tablet and "NVR on the other.
Diovan 160 mg tablets are oval shaped, and grey-orange in colour. They have the letters "DX/DX" marked on one side of the tablet and "NVR" on the other.
Diovan 320 mg tablets are oval shaped, and grey-violet in colour. They have the letters "DXL" marked on one side of the tablet and "NVR" on the other.
Ingredients
Diovan tablets contain 40 mg, 80 mg, 160 mg or 320 mg of valsartan as the active ingredient.
The tablets contain the following non active ingredients:
cellulose microcrystalline
crospovidone
silica - colloidal anhydrous
magnesium stearate
hypromellose
titanium dioxide
macrogol 8000
iron oxide red CI77491
iron oxide yellow CI77492
The 40 mg, 160 mg and 320 mg tablets also contain:
iron oxide black CI77499
Diovan tablets and capsules do not contain glucose, lactose, sucrose, saccharin, gluten, tartrazine or other azo dyes.
