Diovan: Use And Side Effects
Diovan is a medicine whose active ingredient is valsartan. It belongs to a group of medicines known as angiotensin II blockers, which help control high blood pressure. High blood pressure causes the heart and arteries to work harder.
If left untreated, it can damage blood vessels in the brain, heart, cause kidney failure, lead to stroke, heart failure or kidney failure.
Diovan: Action and use
Angiotensin II is a substance in the body that causes blood vessels to become smaller, resulting in increased blood pressure. Diovan works by blocking the effects of angiotensin II, calming blood vessels and lowering blood pressure. This medicine, which can be found in the form of coated tablets, can be used to treat three different conditions:
- High blood pressure in adults, in children older than 6 years and adolescents between 6 and 18 years.
- To treat adult patients who have recently suffered a heart attack, between 12 hours and 10 days after the attack. This medication helps reduce the risk of death after a heart attack.
- Adult patients with heart failure. In these patients, treatment usually begins with 40 mg twice a day.
Dosages obviously depend on the condition. In many cases, doctors will increase the dosage gradually over several weeks to a maximum of 160 mg twice a day. The final dose depends on the person’s tolerance.
This medication can be given with other treatments for heart failure, such as angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE).
Use of valsartan with other medicines
The effects of valsartan may vary when taken with certain medicines. In these cases , the doctor may need to change the dosage and take other reservations.
Medical professionals may even need to stop treatment with other medications, such as those used to lower blood pressure, including diuretics, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE), and aliskerin.
Medical professionals should also consider medications that increase blood potassium levels. It can be potassium supplements or potassium-sparing medications.
possible side effects
Like all other medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them. Some side effects can be serious and may require immediate medical attention. The frequency of some of them can vary depending on the condition of the patient.
People taking this medicine may experience symptoms of an allergic reaction, such as:
- Swelling of the face, lips, tongue and throat.
- Problems breathing or swallowing.
- Intense and itchy rash on the skin.
If you suffer from any of these symptoms, stop taking this medicine and talk to your doctor. Other common side effects include dizziness, low blood pressure with or without symptoms and signs of impaired kidney function.
However, other side effects may appear. These typically include angioedema, sudden loss of consciousness, dizziness, muscle cramps, abnormal heart rate, cough, weakness and abdominal pain.
However, side effects such as dizziness and impaired renal function were less common in adult patients receiving treatment for hypertension. However, they are more common in adult patients who were treated for heart failure or after a recent heart attack.
Communication of side effects
If you get any of these side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. By telling them so, you can help provide more information about the safety of this type of medication. For better results and to reduce the risk of side effects, always take the medicine exactly as your doctor prescribed.
Conclusion on diovan
Overall, studies show that valsartan at doses of 160 mg to 360 mg is more effective in controlling blood pressure compared to other medicines in the same group. However, it is important to talk to your doctor to find out if this is right for you.
