valsartan

Brand names: ENTRESTO

# Valsartan: What You Need to Know Valsartan is a medication used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It works by relaxing blood vessels, which helps blood flow more easily through your body and reduces the strain on your heart. By lowering blood pressure, valsartan helps prevent serious health problems like heart attacks and strokes. Your doctor may prescribe this medicine if other treatments haven't worked well enough or as a first treatment option for managing your blood pressure. When taking valsartan, it's important to follow your doctor's instructions carefully. You should avoid taking certain other medications at the same time, including some blood pressure medicines, pain relievers like ibuprofen, and the mood medication lithium, as these can cause dangerous interactions. Tell your doctor about all medicines you take before starting valsartan. Pregnant women should not take this medication. Common side effects may include dizziness or fatigue, but serious side effects are rare. Always keep taking your medication as prescribed, and report any unusual symptoms to your doctor right away.

Known Interactions

7 DRUG INTERACTIONS Avoid concomitant use with aliskiren in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60. ( 7.1 ) Potassium-sparing diuretics: May lead to increased serum potassium. ( 7.2 ) Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): May lead to increased risk of renal impairment. ( 7.3 ) Lithium: Increased risk of lithium toxicity. ( 7.4 ) 7.1 Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Concomitant use of ENTRESTO with an ACE inhibitor is contraindicated because of the increased risk of angioedema [see Contraindications (4)] . Avoid use of ENTRESTO with an ARB, because ENTRESTO contains the angiotensin II receptor blocker valsartan. The concomitant use of ENTRESTO with aliskiren is contraindicated in patients with diabetes [see Contraindications (4)] . Avoid use with aliskiren in patients with renal impairment (eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ). 7.2 Potassium-Sparing Diuretics As with other drugs that block angiotensin II or its effects, co

Source: FDA-approved drug labeling via openFDA

Most Reported Side Effects (FAERS)

  • FATIGUE15,089 reports
  • DIZZINESS15,056 reports
  • DYSPNOEA14,954 reports
  • HYPOTENSION14,748 reports
  • DEATH12,938 reports
  • COUGH11,211 reports
  • DRUG INEFFECTIVE9,973 reports
  • MALAISE9,003 reports
  • WEIGHT DECREASED8,531 reports
  • WRONG TECHNIQUE IN PRODUCT USAGE PROCESS8,386 reports

Source: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Voluntary reports do not establish causation.

Check interactions with valsartan:

SafeCheck provides drug interaction information from FDA-approved product labeling (openFDA). This is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making medication decisions.