💊 Valsartan (Valsartan)
Valsartan is a prescription angiotensin II receptor blocker used to lower high blood pressure, treat heart failure, and reduce cardiovascular death after a heart attack. It is taken by mouth, and the dose is set by your doctor or pharmacist. It must not be used during pregnancy because it can harm the fetus.
In Arabic: فالسارتان
🏷️ Brand names & manufacturers
Packages shown are US-market (DailyMed). Brands available in Palestine are in the price section below.
Valsartan🏭 AvPAK
Valsartan🏭 Camber Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Valsartan🏭 Lifsa Drugs LLC✅ What it is used for
- Hypertension: to lower blood pressure in adults and children 1 year and older; lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, primarily strokes and myocardial infarctions
- Heart failure (NYHA class II to IV): to reduce hospitalization for heart failure in adults
- Post-myocardial infarction: to reduce cardiovascular mortality in clinically stable adults with left ventricular failure or dysfunction following a heart attack
🧪 Active ingredient
The active ingredient is valsartan, a specific blocker of the angiotensin II AT1 receptor. It blocks the vasoconstrictor and aldosterone-secreting effects of angiotensin II, which helps lower blood pressure.
🌿 Benefits
- Lowers high blood pressure and reduces the risk of cardiovascular events
- Reduces hospitalization for heart failure
- Reduces cardiovascular mortality after a myocardial infarction
- Dry cough is less common than with ACE inhibitors
📝 How to use
- Take by mouth at the dose set by your doctor or pharmacist; do not change the dose on your own
- For adult hypertension it is generally taken once daily; for heart failure and post-myocardial infarction it is generally taken twice daily, as directed by your doctor
- The blood pressure-lowering effect is substantially present within 2 weeks, and maximal reduction is generally reached after 4 weeks
- Your doctor may add a diuretic or other blood pressure medicines
- Tablets and oral suspension are not interchangeable milligram-for-milligram, and the two forms must not be combined to make up a dose
💊 Dosage forms
- Tablets: 40 mg (scored), 80 mg, 160 mg, 320 mg
- An oral suspension prepared from the tablets is recommended for children aged 1 to 5 years and for patients who cannot swallow tablets
⚠️ Common side effects
- Headache
- Dizziness
- Viral infection
- Fatigue
- Abdominal pain
- In heart failure: low blood pressure, diarrhea, joint pain, back pain, and high blood potassium
🚨 Serious — seek medical help
- Symptomatic low blood pressure (especially in volume- or salt-depleted patients)
- Impaired kidney function
- High blood potassium (hyperkalemia)
- Fetal harm when used during pregnancy
⛔ Do not use if
- Known hypersensitivity to valsartan or any component of the product
- Do not coadminister aliskiren with valsartan in patients with diabetes
❗ Warnings & precautions
- Boxed warning: fetal toxicity. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue valsartan as soon as possible; drugs acting directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus
- Hypotension may occur, especially in volume- or salt-depleted patients or those on high-dose diuretics; correct this first or start under close medical supervision
- Monitor kidney function and potassium in susceptible patients
- Not recommended in children younger than 1 year
🔄 Drug interactions
- Potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, and potassium-containing salt substitutes may raise serum potassium
- NSAIDs, including COX-2 inhibitors, may reduce the antihypertensive effect and increase the risk of kidney function deterioration
- Dual blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (with other ARBs, ACE inhibitors, or aliskiren) increases the risk of low blood pressure, high potassium, and kidney changes
- Lithium: serum lithium levels may increase with risk of lithium toxicity
- Heparin is among drugs that may increase potassium levels
🤰 Pregnancy
Valsartan can cause fetal harm. Use of drugs acting on the renin-angiotensin system in the second and third trimesters reduces fetal kidney function and increases fetal and neonatal illness and death; oligohydramnios may be associated with fetal lung hypoplasia and skeletal deformations. When pregnancy is detected, discontinue valsartan as soon as possible and consult your doctor about alternative treatment.
🍼 Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with valsartan.
🧒 Children
Used for hypertension in children aged 1 to 16 years at doses set by the doctor based on body weight. Not recommended in children younger than 1 year. Kidney function and potassium should be closely monitored as clinically indicated, especially where kidney abnormalities are present. The oral suspension is recommended for ages 1 to 5 years.
👴 Older adults
No overall difference in efficacy or safety was observed in older patients, although greater sensitivity in some older individuals cannot be ruled out. Exposure is about 70% higher in the elderly, but no dosage adjustment is necessary per the label.
🌡️ Storage
Store at 20° to 25°C (68° to 77°F) controlled room temperature. Protect from moisture and keep in a tight container. The prepared suspension can be stored up to 30 days at room temperature (below 30°C/86°F) or up to 75 days refrigerated (2°C to 8°C/35°F to 46°F).
⏰ Missed dose
The label text provided does not include instructions for a missed dose; ask your doctor or pharmacist and do not double the dose on your own.
🆘 Overdose
Limited human data are available. The most likely manifestations are low blood pressure and rapid heart rate; slow heart rate could occur. Depressed consciousness, circulatory collapse, and shock have been reported. If symptomatic hypotension occurs, supportive treatment should be given. Valsartan is not removed from the plasma by hemodialysis. Seek medical help immediately if overdose is suspected.
💰 Price & brands in your area
🏛️ Official price in Palestine — Ministry of Health price list:
| Product | Company | Pack | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| VALZAN 80 TABLETS (30 TAB) Valsartan 60mg | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 25 ₪ |
| VALZAN-HCT 80/12.5 TABLETS(30 TAB) Valsartan 80mg and 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 26 ₪ |
| VALZAN-HCT 160/25 TABLETS (30 TAB) Valsartan 160mg and 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 35 ₪ |
| VALZAN-HCT 160/12.5 TABLETS (30 TAB) Valsartan 160 mg and 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 36 ₪ |
| Co-Diovan 160/25 ( film- coated ) Tab VALSARTAN (160mg)HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE (25mg) | MASROUJI CO. | 28 Tab. | 36 ₪ |
| Co-Diovan160/12.5 (film-coated) Tab VALSARTAN (160mg)HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE (12.5mg) | MASROUJI CO. | 28 Tab. | 37 ₪ |
| VALZAN 160 TABLETS (30 TAB) Valsartan 160mg | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 38 ₪ |
| VALZADEPINE 80/5 TABLETS (30 TAB) Valsartan 80mg and 5 mg Amlodipine | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 69 ₪ |
| VALFORJ 5/160 mg Tab Amlodipine & Valsartan | Beit Jala | 28 Tab | 70 ₪ |
| VALFORJ 10/160 mg Tab Amlodipine & Valsartan | Beit Jala | 28 Tab | 70 ₪ |
| VALZADEPINE 160/5 TABLETS (30 TAB) Valsartan 160mg and 5 mg Amlodipine | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 74 ₪ |
| VALZADEPINE 160/10 TABLETS (30 TAB) Valsartan 160mg and 10 mg Amlodipine | Pharmacare Company | 30 TABLETS / BOX | 80 ₪ |
| VALBITRIL 50 MG TABLETS Sacubitril - Valsartan | Jepharm Co. | 30 TAB | 170 ₪ |
| VALBITRIL 100MG TABLETS Sacubitril - Valsartan | Jepharm Co. | 60 TAB /BOX | 250 ₪ |
| VALBITRIL 200MG TABLETS Sacubitril - Valsartan | Jepharm Co. | 60 TAB /BOX | 300 ₪ |
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Mechanism of action
Selective AT1 receptor antagonist that blocks angiotensin II-mediated vasoconstriction and aldosterone secretion. It has about 20,000-fold greater affinity for AT1 than AT2. The primary metabolite is essentially inactive (about 1/200 of the parent affinity at AT1). It does not inhibit ACE (kininase II) and so does not affect the bradykinin response.
Labeled dosing
General adult label dosing: Hypertension: start 80 to 160 mg once daily (range 80 to 320 mg once daily). Heart failure: 40 mg twice daily (range 40 to 160 mg twice daily). Post-MI: 20 mg twice daily (range 20 to 160 mg twice daily), as tolerated. The final dose is set by the prescriber.
- Tablets and suspension are not substitutable mg-for-mg; systemic exposure (AUC) is 60% higher with the suspension
- Pediatric 1 to 16 years: start 1 mg/kg once daily (up to 40 mg), range 1 to 4 mg/kg (up to 160 mg daily)
- Adding a diuretic has a greater effect than dose increases beyond 80 mg
- Monitor potassium and creatinine when coadministered with agents that raise potassium
- Hypotension in heart failure trials: 5.5% with valsartan vs 1.8% with placebo
🎓 Key points for students
- Class: angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) acting on the AT1 receptor
- Does not inhibit ACE, so dry cough is less frequent (2.6% vs 7.9% with ACE inhibitors in trials)
- Boxed warning: fetal toxicity with use in pregnancy
- Contraindications: hypersensitivity; no coadministration with aliskiren in diabetes
- Key interactions: potassium supplements and potassium-sparing diuretics, NSAIDs, dual RAS blockade, lithium
- Overdose: hypotension and tachycardia, supportive care, not removed by hemodialysis
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What is valsartan used for?
It is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure and to reduce cardiovascular death after a heart attack; your doctor sets the appropriate dose.
Can valsartan be used during pregnancy?
No, it can cause fetal harm. If pregnancy is detected, it should be stopped as soon as possible and you should consult your doctor.
What are the most common side effects?
Headache, dizziness, viral infection, fatigue, and abdominal pain; low blood pressure may also occur, especially in heart failure.
Does valsartan cause cough?
Dry cough is less common than with ACE inhibitors, but tell your doctor about any bothersome symptoms.
Can I take NSAID painkillers with it?
NSAIDs may weaken valsartan's effect and raise the risk of kidney problems, so ask your doctor or pharmacist before using them.
⚕️ For education only — not a substitute for advice from your doctor or pharmacist. Do not start or stop any medicine without advice. Source: official FDA drug label via openFDA (2026-06), simplified. Updated: 2026-11-11.