Millions of the people around the globe are the victims of the dreadful diseases like high blood pressure, heart attacks etc. In U.S. nearly 75 million or more people are suffering from hypertension i.e. high blood pressure. And nearly 5000000 lakhs people already had at least one heart attack in U.S. So, it is clear that these two diseases had spread their arms pretty wide and has been ruining the millions of life. Many medicines are available in the stores to treat these problems. Diovan is one of the most effective medicines used to treat high blood pressure and heat attacks also.

Diovan i.e. Valsartan belongs to the class of drugs known as Angiotensin Receptor Blockers ARBs, that is used for treating high blood pressure. It is similar to losartan Cozaar. Valsartan blocks the ability of angiotensin II to constrict or squeeze arteries and veins thereby reducing blood pressure and reducing the pressure in the arteries that the heart must pump against i.e. it blocks the action of certain chemicals that tighten the blood vessels, so blood flows more smoothly. It also reduces deaths caused due to cardiovascular disease in patients with heart failure following heart attacks.

Remember that, Valsartan controls high blood pressure but does not have the capacity to completely cure it. So, do not stop in between and continue to take Valsartan even if you feel well. Consult your doctor before taking any decision relating to the dosage.
Valsartan was approved by the FDA in December of 1996.

Read the prescription label carefully and follow the directions as directed. In case, you have any doubt, feel free to ask your doctor or. Do not take more or less of it or take it more often than prescribed by your doctor i.e. stick to your dosage strictly.

However, take the tablets orally with a full glass of water. The usual dose in patients with hypertension is 80 mg once daily but doses of up to 320 mg daily have been used. Usually, it is taken once in a day but in patients with congestive heart failure twice daily dosing has been used. Administration with food decreases the absorption of Valsartan by about 40, so it should be taken on an empty stomach.

Generally Valsartan is well-tolerated in most of the cases, but very rare side effects are seen sometimes. The most common reasons for discontinuation of therapy with Valsartan are headache and dizziness.

The following symptoms are uncommon but if you experience any of them call your doctor immediately if any of these symptoms become severe: excessive tiredness, muscle aches, fever, lightheadedness, sore throat, congestion, runny nose, cough, trouble in sleeping, diarrhea, fainting, rashes, difficulty in breathing or swallowing, swelling of the arms, legs face, eyes, lips, tongue etc.

Call your doctor if you have any unusual problems while taking this medication.
Consult your doctor immediately and get treated accordingly.

There has been a single case report of a patient who developed lithium toxicity after adding losartan Cozaar to his lithium treatment. The mechanism of the interaction is not known. It is possible that Valsartan shares this interaction. There is possibility that the Diovan may interact with some salts, so consult with your doctor before using salt substitutes containing potassium. If your doctor prescribes a low-salt or low-sodium diet, follow these directions carefully.

Also ask for more information about the interactions possibility with Diovan.

In case of overdose call your local poison control center at 1-800-222-1222.
If the suffering patient has collapsed or is not breathing call local emergency services at 911. Canadian residents should call their local poison control center directly.

While you are on course, your blood pressure should be checked regularly to determine your response to Valsartan. Hence, it is necessary to keep all appointments with your doctor and the laboratory. And remember, never allow any to share your medicine without consulting their respective doctors.

If you missed the dose, do take the medicine immediately provided that there is ample of time in between the next dose. And if it is almost the time of the next dose, skip the missed one. Never double dose it to cope up with the missed dose. And in case, if you miss the two consecutive doses consult to your doctor or physician for guidance and continue further.

Valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure. It may be used alone or in combination with other agents. It has less of an effect in black patients like the ACE inhibitors such as captopril Capoten, enalapril Vasotec, benazepril Lotensin and lisinopril Zestril. Valsartan has been found to reduce deaths following heart attacks in patients with congestive heart failure.

The Valsartan medication can also be prescribed for other uses. But please make it sure from your doctor about this. However, sometimes it is used to treat congestive heart failure. Consult with your doctor about the possible risks of using this drug for your medical condition.

Valsartan tablets are stored at room temperature between 59 – 86 degrees F and 15-30 degrees C. Keep the medicine in a light-resistant tight container and away from heat or direct light.

Check Expiry date without fail. Keep all medicines away from women, newborns, children and pets. Moisture or Heat may cause the break down of the medicine. In any case, do not store the medicine in the bathroom. However, some manufacturers vary in their storage recommendations. Therefore storage conditions for each product should be clarified with your pharmacist.

Following precautions must be taken during consuming generic Diovan:

1. Let your doctor know about your complete medical history, if you have or have ever had any major diseases like heart disease, liver or kidney problems, coronary artery disease, a history of stroke, diabetes, any major surgery or any other disease.

2. Tell your doctor that what prescription and nonprescription medications you are taking or even any OTC like nutritional supplements, vitamins, minerals, herbal products etc. that you may be intaking.

3. Avoid alcohol and smoking during the course as this may add drowsiness. So do not drive or operate heavy machineries until you are sure that how Valsartan is affecting you.

4. If you have to undergo any surgery, major operation or any dental procedure, inform your surgeon, dentist or doctor, that you are taking Diovan. Prior to having an elective surgery, when an anti-platelet effect is not desired, Diovan should be discontinued 5 days prior to the surgery.

5. Let your doctor or the physician know about your any kind allergies. They may be any food, medicine, particularly to Diovan or any composition allergy. This information shall help the doctor to give you the best medicine that will suit your body.

6. Do not share the Diovan with others unless they are prescribed by the doctor themselves. If the medicine is no longer in use or is outdated, discard it immediately after checking with your doctor or your pharmacist.

7. Do not discontinue the medication on your own. Consult your doctor before doing so.

8. Keep the medication out of reach of pregnant women, breast feeding women newborns, children and pets.

9. If you conceive during the course, inform your doctor immediately. Remember, pregnant women and breast feeding women should never take this medicine.