Valsartan - EM Doctors

1. About valsartan

Valsartan is a medicine widely used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It's also sometimes prescribed after a heart attack.

Valsartan is only available on prescription. It comes as tablets, capsules and as a liquid that you swallow.

NHS coronavirus advice

If you have coronavirus, or think you might have it, keep taking your blood pressure medicines as usual.

There is no clear evidence that taking angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) like valsartan will cause complications.

Updated: 17 March 2020

2. Key facts

Valsartan lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.
It's often used as a second-choice treatment if you had to stop taking a similar medicine because it gave you a dry, irritating cough.
If you get severe diarrhoea or vomiting from a stomach bug or illness, tell your doctor. You may need to stop taking valsartan for a while until you feel better.
The main side effect of valsartan is dizziness - but it's usually mild and short-lived.
Valsartan is not normally recommended in pregnancy. Talk to your doctor if you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant.
Valsartan is also called by the brand name Diovan.

3. Who can and can't take valsartan

Valsartan can be taken by adults aged 18 and over.

Children over the age of 6 years can take valsartan, but only to treat high blood pressure.

Your doctor may prescribe valsartan if you've tried taking blood pressure-lowering medicines called ACE inhibitors - such as ramipril and lisinopril - but had to stop taking them because of side effects such as a dry, irritating cough.

Valsartan isn't suitable for some people.

To make sure valsartan is safe for you, tell your doctor if you:

have had an allergic reaction to valsartan or other medicines in the past
have severe liver disease
have diabetes
have heart or kidney problems
have recently had a kidney transplant
have diarrhoea or vomiting (or have recently had this)
are on a low-salt diet
have low blood pressure
are trying to get pregnant, are already pregnant or if you are breastfeeding

4. How and when to take it

It's usual to take valsartan once or twice a day.

If you take valsartan once a day, your doctor may suggest that you take your first dose before bedtime, because it can make you dizzy. After the very first dose, you can take valsartan at any time of day. Try to take it at the same time every day.

You can take valsartan tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablets whole with a drink of water.

How much will I take?

The dose of valsartan you take depends on why you need the medicine. Take it as instructed by your doctor.

The usual dose for adults is:

80mg to 320mg once a day for high blood pressure
40mg to 160mg twice a day for heart failure
20mg to 160mg twice a day after a recent heart attack

The dose may be lower if you've recently lost body fluids (for example because you've been sick or have diarrhoea).

The dose for children depends on their weight. The usual dose for children is:

40mg to 80mg once a day (for children weighing 18kg to 35kg)
80mg to 160mg once a day (for children weighing 35kg to 80kg)
80mg to 320mg once a day (for children weighing 80kg and more)

Will my dose go up or down?

After a few weeks your doctor will check your blood pressure and ask you if you're getting any side effects. You may also have blood tests to check how well your kidneys are working and the amount of potassium in your blood. Your doctor will then decide whether to change your dose of valsartan.

If valsartan doesn't bring your blood pressure down, your doctor may want to increase the dose. If your blood pressure gets too low or you get side effects, your doctor may want to lower your dose of valsartan.

How to take it

You can take valsartan tablets with or without food. Swallow the tablets with a drink of water.

If you're taking valsartan as a liquid, it will come with a plastic syringe or spoon to help you measure out the right dose. If you don't have one, ask your pharmacist for one. Do not use a kitchen teaspoon as it will not give the right amount of medicine.

Some people take valsartan in combination with other medicines:

with amlodipine (brand name Exforge) to treat high blood pressure
with hydrochlorothiazide (brand name Co-Diovan) to treat high blood pressure
with sacubitril (brand name Entresto) to treat a type of long-term heart failure

Important

Take valsartan even if you feel well, as you will still be getting the benefits of the medicine.

What if I get sick while I'm taking it?

If you get severe diarrhoea or vomiting for any reason, contact your doctor or a pharmacist. They’ll be able to advise you about what to do.

They may recommend that you stop taking valsartan until you’re better, and you’re able to eat and drink normally again.

What if I forget to take it?

If you miss a dose of valsartan, take it as soon as you remember, unless it's almost time for your next dose. Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten one.

If you forget doses often, it may help to set an alarm to remind you. You could also ask your pharmacist for advice on other ways to help you remember to take your medicine.

What if I take too much?

If you take too many valsartan tablets by accident, contact your doctor or go to your nearest hospital A&E department straight away. An overdose of valsartan can cause dizziness, sleepiness and a pounding heartbeat.

The amount of valsartan that can lead to an overdose varies from person to person.

Urgent advice: Call a doctor or go to A&E as soon as possible if you've taken too much valsartan

If you need to go to hospital, do not drive yourself - get someone else to drive you or call for an ambulance.

Take the valsartan packet or leaflet inside it plus any remaining medicine with you.

5. Side effects

Like all medicines, valsartan can cause side effects although not everyone gets them. Side effects often improve as your body gets used to the medicine.

Common side effects

These common side effects happen in more than 1 in 100 people:

feeling dizzy or having a spinning sensation (vertigo)
headaches
feeling sick (nausea)
being sick (vomiting) or diarrhoea
pain in your joints or muscles

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if these side effects bother you or don't go away.

Serious side effects

It happens rarely, but some people have serious side effects after taking valsartan.

Call a doctor straight away if you have:

yellow skin or the whites of your eyes turn yellow - this can be a sign of liver problems
pale skin, feeling tired, faint or dizzy, purple spots, any sign of bleeding, sore throat and fever - these can be signs of blood or bone marrow disorder
weakness, an irregular heartbeat, pins and needles and muscle cramps - these can be signs of changes in the sodium and potassium levels in your blood

Serious allergic reaction

In rare cases, valsartan may cause a serious allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).

Immediate action required: Call 999 or go to A&E if:

you get a skin rash that may include itchy, red, swollen, blistered or peeling skin
you're wheezing
you get tightness in the chest or throat
you have trouble breathing or talking
your mouth, face, lips, tongue or throat start swelling

You could be having a serious allergic reaction and may need immediate treatment in hospital.

These are not all the side effects of valsartan. For a full list, see the leaflet inside your medicines packet.

You can report any suspected side effect to the UK safety scheme.

6. How to cope with side effects

What to do about:

feeling dizzy - if valsartan makes you feel dizzy when you stand up, try getting up very slowly or stay sitting down until you feel better. If you begin to feel dizzy, lie down so that you don't faint, then sit until you feel better. Do not drive or use tools or machines if you feel dizzy, have muscle cramps or muscle pain, or if you just feel a bit shaky.
headaches - make sure you rest and drink plenty of fluids. Do not drink too much alcohol. Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller. Headaches should usually go away after the first week of taking valsartan. Talk to your doctor if they last longer than a week or are severe.
feeling sick (nausea) - try taking your tablets with or after a meal or snack. It may also help if you don't eat rich or spicy food.
being sick (vomiting) or diarrhoea - drink plenty of fluids, such as water or squash, to prevent dehydration. If you're being sick, take small, frequent sips. Speak to a pharmacist if you have signs of dehydration, such as peeing less than usual or having dark, strong-smelling pee. If you get severe diarrhoea or vomiting from a stomach bug or illness, tell your doctor. You may need to stop taking valsartan for a while until you feel better.
pain in your joints or muscles - if you get unusual muscle pain, weakness or tiredness that isn't from exercise or hard work, talk to your doctor. You may need a blood test to check what might be causing it.

7. Pregnancy and breastfeeding

Valsartan is not normally recommended in pregnancy or when breastfeeding. However, your doctor may prescribe it if they think the benefits of the medicine outweigh the risks.

If you're trying to get pregnant or you're already pregnant, talk to your doctor about the benefits and possible harms of taking valsartan. These will depend on how many weeks pregnant you are and the reason you need to take it. There may be other treatments that are safer for you.

For more information about how valsartan can affect you and your baby during pregnancy, visit the Best Use of Medicines in Pregnancy (BUMPS) website.

Valsartan and breastfeeding

Small amounts of valsartan may get into breast milk. This can cause low blood pressure in the baby. Talk to your doctor, as other medicines might be better while you are breastfeeding.

Non-urgent advice: Tell your doctor if you're:

trying to get pregnant
pregnant
breastfeeding

8. Cautions with other medicines

Some medicines interfere with the way valsartan works.

Tell your doctor if you're taking:

other medicines to help lower your blood pressure, including aliskiren, enalapril, captopril, lisinopril or ramipril
painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, celecoxib or etoricoxib
aspirin (if you are taking more than 3g a day)
potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium
heparin (a medicine for thinning your blood)
diuretics (medicines which make you pee more)
lithium (a medicine for mental health problems)
spironolactone (a medicine to treat heart failure)

Mixing valsartan with herbal remedies or supplements

There's very little information about taking herbal remedies and supplements with valsartan.

Important

For safety, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you're taking any other medicines, including herbal remedies, vitamins or supplements.

9. Common questions

How does valsartan work?

How long does valsartan take to work?

How long will I take it for?

Is it safe to take for a long time?

What will happen if I stop taking it?

Can I come off valsartan now my blood pressure is lower?

Even if your blood pressure is successfully lowered by valsartan, it's best to carry on taking it. If you stop taking valsartan, your blood pressure could rise back up again.

If you need blood pressure-lowering medicines, you'll probably need to take them for the rest of your life.

Remember, by keeping your blood pressure low, you're protecting yourself against having a heart attack or stroke in the future.

Can taking valsartan increase the risk of getting cancer?

In July 2018, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recalled some packs of valsartan produced by a manufacturer in China. Some samples contained traces of a chemical (NDMA). NDMA may be linked to a very small increased risk of developing cancer.

Since then the EMA have also found traces of a similar chemical (NDEA) in batches of valsartan, losartan and irbesartan. They have recalled any affected batches from the manufacturers while they investigate further.

In the meantime the EMA advise that there’s no immediate risk to patients. It’s important to continue your treatment for high blood pressure and you should keep taking your medicine as usual.

If you have any worries or concerns about the medicine that you’re taking, speak to your doctor or pharmacist.

Can I drink alcohol with valsartan?

Is there any food or drink I should avoid?

Are there similar medicines to valsartan?

There are several other angiotensin receptor blockers that work in the same way as valsartan. They include candesartan, irbesartan and losartan.

There are also lots of other types of blood pressure-lowering medicines:

calcium channel blockers - for example amlodipine
angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors - for example ramipril
beta blockers - for example bisoprolol
diuretics - for example bendroflumethiazide

The blood pressure-lowering medicine you're prescribed depends on your age and ethnicity:

if you're under 55 - you'll usually be offered an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker
if you're aged 55 or older, or you're any age and of African Caribbean or black African origin - you'll usually be offered a calcium channel blocker

Many people need to take a combination of different blood pressure-lowering medicines.

What are the differences between valsartan and other medicines for high blood pressure?

Valsartan works as well as other angiotensin receptor blockers when it's used to lower blood pressure. The side effects are also similar.

Valsartan is different from some other angiotensin receptor blockers because it is also officially approved for patients who have had a recent heart attack.

For the treatment of heart failure, valsartan is usually taken twice a day. Other angiotensin receptor blockers used to treat heart failure are usually taken once a day.

Valsartan also works as well as ramipril and other angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower blood pressure, treat heart failure and prevent heart attacks.

It can be used by people who have tried taking ramipril or other ACE inhibitors but had to stop taking them because of side effects such as a dry, irritating cough.

Can I take valsartan before surgery?

Can I take valsartan for migraines?

Can I take valsartan to protect myself against Alzheimer's disease?

There have been some studies that have looked at whether blood pressure medicines could help protect people against Alzheimer's disease. However, at the moment, there is not enough evidence to recommend taking valsartan or other similar medicines for Alzheimer's.

There are steps you can take that may reduce your risk of Alzheimer's. If you are worried about getting Alzheimer's disease in the future or have a family history of this condition, speak to your doctor.

Is there a problem with getting valsartan?

Some brands of valsartan were discontinued in 2016 and 2017. For a short time, there was a problem getting valsartan. Some people switched to other angiotensin receptor blockers to make sure there was no break in their blood pressure-lowering treatment.

There are still some companies that make valsartan. Your doctor can prescribe it and your pharmacy should be able to order it for you.

Is valsartan addictive?

Will it affect my sex life?

Will it affect my fertility?

Will it affect my contraception?

Can I drive or ride a bike?

Can lifestyle changes help?

You can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes. These will also help if you have high blood pressure or heart failure.

Quit smoking - smoking increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Quitting smoking brings down your blood pressure and relieves heart failure symptoms. Try to avoid secondhand smoke too.
Cut down on alcohol - drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure over time. It makes heart failure worse too. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. A standard glass of wine (175ml) is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol.
Exercise - regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. It doesn't need to be too energetic - walking every day will help.
Eat well - aim to eat a diet that includes plenty of fruit and veg, wholegrains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products and lean proteins. It's a good idea to cut down on salt too. Eating too much salt is the biggest cause of high blood pressure - the more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure will be. Aim for no more than 6g of salt a day.
Deal with stress - when you're anxious or upset, your heart beats faster, you breathe more heavily and your blood pressure often goes up. This can make heart failure worse too. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. To give your heart a rest, try napping or putting your feet up when possible. Spend time with friends and family to be social and help keep stress at bay.
Vaccinations - if you have heart failure, you should have a flu jab every year and a pneumonia vaccination (also called the pneumococcal vaccine) every 5 years. Ask your doctor about these vaccinations. You can have them free on the NHS.