Is Diovan Safe ?

USES: treatment of high blood pressure, congestive heart failure (CHF), and post-myocardial infarction (MI)

Diovan^® (valsartan) is a prescription medicine that has been licensed to treat several conditions related to the heart and blood vessels. It is part of a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers, or ARBs for short.

What Is Diovan Used For?

• Controlling high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Treating congestive heart failure
• Helping to improve survival rates for people who have had a heart attack.

Before using Diovan :

Some medical conditions may interact with Diovan . Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you have any medical conditions, especially if any of the following apply to you:

• if you are pregnant, plan to become pregnant, or are breast-feeding
• if you are taking any prescription or nonprescription medicine, herbal preparation, or dietary supplement
• if you have allergies to medicines, foods, or other substances
• if you have dehydration or low blood sodium, or kidney or liver problems
• if you have heart failure or you have had a heart attack

Some MEDICINES MAY INTERACT with Diovan . Tell your health care provider if you are taking any other medicines, especially any of the following:

• Potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, amiloride) and potassium supplements because high blood potassium levels may occur and cause listlessness, confusion, abnormal skin sensations of the arms and legs, heaviness of limbs, slowed heart rate, irregular heart rhythm, or stopping of the heart when used with Diovan
• Lithium because its actions and side effects may be increased by Diovan

This may not be a complete list of all interactions that may occur. Ask your health care provider if Diovan may interact with other medicines that you take. Check with your health care provider before you start, stop, or change the dose of any medicine.

Important safety information:

• Diovan may cause dizziness or drowsiness. These effects may be worse if you take it with alcohol or certain medicines. Use Diovan with caution. Do not drive or perform other possibly unsafe tasks until you know how you react to it.
• Diovan may cause dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting; alcohol, hot weather, exercise, or fever may increase these effects. To prevent them, sit up or stand slowly, especially in the morning. Sit or lie down at the first sign of any of these effects.
• Patients who take medicine for high blood pressure often feel tired or run down for a few weeks after starting treatment. Be sure to take your medicine even if you may not feel "normal." Tell your doctor if you develop any new symptoms.
• Check with your doctor before you use a salt substitute or a product that has potassium in it.
• Lab tests, including blood pressure monitoring, may be performed while you use Diovan . These tests may be used to monitor your condition or check for side effects. Be sure to keep all doctor and lab appointments.
• Diovan should not be used in CHILDREN; safety and effectiveness in children have not been confirmed.
• PREGNANCY and BREAST-FEEDING: Do not take Diovan after the third month of pregnancy. It may cause injury or death to the fetus. If you become pregnant, contact your doctor right away. It is not known if Diovan is found in breast milk. If you are or will be breast-feeding while you use Diovan , check with your doctor. Discuss any possible risks to your baby.