Drug trade name- Diovan

Category- Hypertension

Generic name- Valsartan

Introduction and Quick Information:

Diovan is under a group of drug called angiotensin II receptor antagonists used alone or in combination with some other drugs for treating high blood pressure (hypertension). Diovan is also used to treat heart failure in patients who cannot take angiotensin-converting exzyme (ACE) inhibitors. It acts by blocking the movements of certain chemicals that make blood vessels tight and irregular.

Diovan may also reduce the risk of congestive heart failure but this treatment generally is not recommended by doctors.

Is Diovan Approved by FDA?

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval is essential for any drug or medication as far as safety and efficiency is concerned. You just cannot trust any drug it is not approved by FDA. But this is not the case with Diovan as it was approved by FDA in December 1996.

Usage and Benefits of Diovan:

Diovan is a prescription drug that has been approved to treat several heart related conditions and hypertension. Prime use of Diovan-

• Treating congestive heart failure
• Helping to improve survival rates of heart attacks patients
• Controlling high blood pressure (Hypertension)

Diovan for Congestive Heart Failure- congestive heart failure comes in severe disease category and can be fatal for patients who have been suffering for this heart condition. In congestive heart failure, heart is not able to pump enough blood throughout the body but it does not mean that heart has stopped functioning. It only means that heart become incapable to pump sufficient blood the exact way it should be.

For patients with congestive heart failure, Diovan reduces blood pressure and makes heart able to pump blood in normal way. For these reasons, Diovan has been shown to reduce hospitalization and risk of death from congestive heart failure.

Important Notification-Diovan is not approved to treat Congestive Heart Failure.

Diovan for Heart Attack-

Heart attack is considered as life threatening condition that causes several health conditions. In this condition, Diovan is prescribed to reduce chances of deaths by 16% but it is not known that how Diovan improves heart attack symptoms.

Important notification- Diovan is not approved to prescribe as a heart attack medication as well.

Diovan for High Blood Pressure (hypertension) –

Hypertension is considered as common health condition in people with poor life style and food habits. Apart from this, there are some other health conditions which are responsible for high blood pressure. Diovan is widely prescribed by doctors to treat hypertension as it is able to lower down blood pressure by blocking certain chemicals that affect blood vessels.

Important notification- Diovan is not a cure of hypertension.

DiovanSide Effects:

Side effects are a major concern and are always associated with medications. Almost every drug has certain side effect that is reaction to the body but you can ignore their effects if you follow given instruction by your healthcare provider. Lack of information about drug side effects (that you have been taking) can worsen your condition. Diovan also has some side effects and some of them have been discussed below. Here they are-

• runny or stuffy nose
• sore throat, cough
• swelling, weight gain
• fast or pounding heartbeats
• chest pain numbness or tingly feeling
• back pain
• diarrhea, constipation
• sleep problems (insomnia)
• tired feeling
• weakness
• loss of interest in sex
• impotence
• mild itching, skin rash
• dry mouth, stomach pain
• loss of appetite
• headache, anxiety
• dizziness
• feeling like you might pass out
• trouble having an orgasm

This is not a complete list of Diovan side effects. You may ask your doctor for further information about side effects and other safety concerns related to Diovan.

General Recommended Dosages of Diovan:

Take diovan as exactly as it was prescribed for you. Follow the instructions given by your doctor as ignorance of these instructions can be worsening your condition.

Your doctor can change dose to increase the benefits of diovan so that you can get benefits in a rapid way.

Your healthcare provider may prescribe this medicine to take with or without food. Diovan may take 2 to 5 weeks to control blood pressure. For best results keep taking this medicine as instructed by your healthcare provider. Talk to your doctor if you do not see any improvement during the treatment

Keep taking this medicine if you feel fine and remember hypertension generally does not have symptoms.

In Case I Miss a Dose?

According to an unknown medical survey, more than 80% of patients occasionally miss a dose during their treatment. But it is not a big concern as generally missed consequences do not affect your health much as compared to overdose consequences. Every health practitioner gives instructions to their patients which they should follow in case if they miss a dose. Healthcare providers often instruct patients not to use extra amount of dose to make up for the missed one as it could have some discomforts. You may ask your doctor for further assistance.

In Case I Take Overdose?

Overdose of any medicine is considered harmful for health. Patients should be aware of Diovan consequences as this could make your condition worse and can cause some other discomfort as well. You should ask your healthcare provider about proper information about Diovan side effects before you start taking this medicine.

Diovan overdose symptoms may include dizziness, uneven heartbeats, feeling like you might pass out and more. There could be some other side effects of Diovan not listed in the medication guide. Ask your doctor for further assistance on Diovan side effects.

Drug Interactions of Diovan:

Diovan can potentially interact with certain medications. Some of the medications that can lead drug interaction with Diovan include-

• potassium supplements
• potassium sparing diuretics such as amiloride, triamterene, spironolactone among others
• diuretics such as hydrochlorothiazide, furosemide, torsemide and others

There are some other drugs that can interact with Diovan which are not listed in the medication guide. Ask your doctor to explain other drug names that interact with Diovan.

Life Style and Food Habit you must follow when on Diovan:

Since this medicine is prescribed to treat hypertension and heart related problem hence your life style and food habits do matter if you are taking this medicine for treatment of some health conditions. Your doctor may prescribe you to follow strict diet and life style routine because there are some foods and day to day activities that can affect this medicine. Particularly for hypertension, health diet and every day workout routine along with Diovan can provide rapid results.

Inform your doctor if you have any of these health conditions such as-

• kidney disease
• congestive heart failure
• if you are dehydrated
• liver disease

Tell your doctor if you have allergic reaction with diovan as you may need to go through a special medical test to safely take this medicine.

How safe is Diovan for Pregnant Women or Nursing mothers?

Do not take Diovan without your healthcare provider’s consent if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant since this medicine can harm the unborn baby. Stop taking this medicine if you have become pregnant during the treatment and tell your doctor as you may need immediate medical attention. Do not take Diovan without telling your healthcare provider if you are breast-feeding a baby.

Complications and Conditions Possible due to prolonged use of Diovan:

Prolonged use of diovan can be fatal for your health or life. You never try to take this medicine dose longer than recommended as this drug may have habit-forming capabilities. Do not recommend this medicine to people with drug abuse/addiction without telling your healthcare provider.

Availability of Diovan:

Since this drug is approved by FDA hence you can easily buy Diovan from any FDA or licensed drug stores. Apart from this, you buy this medicine from online drug stores where you may get drug coupon to get discount on the purchase of Diovan.