Diovan
Diovan helps lower high blood pressure and can be used after a heart attack or for heart failure by relaxing blood vessels.
Form
tabletti, kalvopäällysteinen
Strength
160 mg
Active Ingredient
Valsartan
Manufacturer
Novartis Finland Oy
How to Use
Dosage
For adults with high blood pressure, the usual starting dose is 80 mg once a day. For children, the dose depends on weight, typically 40 mg or 80 mg once daily.
Method
Swallow the tablet whole with a glass of water, with or without food, around the same time each day.
Important
The maximum daily dose is usually 320 mg, but your doctor will decide the right dose for you.
Possible Side Effects
COMMON
- •Dizziness
- •Low blood pressure, which may cause dizziness or fainting when standing up
- •Worsened kidney function (a sign of kidney problems)
RARE
- •Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat (angioedema), or swelling in the intestines causing stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If this happens, seek urgent medical help.
- •Sudden unconsciousness or fainting
- •Feeling like your surroundings are spinning (vertigo)
- •Seriously reduced kidney function
- •Muscle cramps or an unusual heart rhythm due to high potassium levels in the blood
- •Shortness of breath, trouble breathing when lying down, or swollen feet and legs (signs of heart failure)
- •Headache
- •Cough
- •Stomach pain, nausea, or diarrhea
- •Feeling tired or weak
- •Skin blistering or rash, itching, and hives (signs of allergic reactions)
- •Purple-red spots on the skin with fever and itching (inflammation of blood vessels)
- •Unusual bleeding or bruising (low blood platelet count)
- •Muscle aches
- •Fever, sore throat, or mouth sores due to infections (low white blood cell count)
- •Low levels of hemoglobin and red blood cells in the blood (anemia)
- •High liver enzyme levels (may suggest liver damage), including yellowing of skin or eyes
- •High levels of urea nitrogen and creatinine in the blood (abnormal kidney function)
- •Low sodium levels in the blood (can cause tiredness, confusion, muscle twitching, or severe seizures)
Important Warnings
- Do not take Diovan if you are allergic to valsartan or any other ingredients in this medicine.
- Do not use Diovan if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it can harm your baby. It's also best to avoid it in early pregnancy.
- Tell your doctor if you have severe liver problems.
- Tell your doctor if you have severe kidney problems or are on dialysis.
- If you get swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat and have trouble breathing, stop taking Diovan right away and get medical help.
Show 2 more warnings
- Tell your doctor if you are taking other blood pressure medicines, especially aliskiren or certain ACE inhibitors, if you have diabetes or heart failure.
- Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed. Diovan is not recommended during breastfeeding.
Use in Elderly Patients
Category A
Suitable for older adults. Monitor renal function and potassium concentrations during the pharmacotherapy. Avoid concurrent use of NSAIDs. (updated 14.4.2025)