Diovan (valsartan)

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How does it work?

Diovan tablets and capsules contain the active ingredient valsartan, which is a type of medicine called an angiotensin II antagonist.

Valsartan works by blocking receptors in the body known as angiotensin II receptors. This prevents the action of a hormone called angiotensin II.

Angiotensin II is involved in regulating blood pressure and fluid balance. It has two main actions. It causes the blood vessels to narrow and the kidneys to retain salt and water.

Valsartan blocks the receptors that angiotensin II acts on, and so prevents its actions. The main result of this is that the peripheral blood vessels are allowed to widen, which means that there is more space and less resistance in these blood vessels. This is the main mechanism by which the pressure in the blood vessels is lowered.

Blocking the actions of angiotensin II also increases the amount of fluid removed from the blood by the kidneys. This decreases the amount of fluid in the blood vessels, which also lessens the resistance and pressure in the blood vessels.

The combined effect of these changes is to lower the blood pressure, hence valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure.

The reduced pressure within the blood vessels also means that the heart doesn't have to work as hard to pump the blood around the body. For this reason, valsartan may be prescribed to people who have had a heart attack. Sometimes a heart attack can damage a chamber of the heart known as the left ventricle. This damage means that the heart doesn't pump as effectively as it should. Valsartan reduces the workload of the heart and has been shown to improve survival in people who have this problem following a heart attack.

What is it used for?

- High blood pressure .
- Improving survival in people with a poorly functioning heart (left ventricular dysfunction or failure) as result of a heart attack.

Warning!

- Dizziness and weariness may occasionally occur during treatment with blood pressure lowering medicines. Dizziness can be relieved by lying down until the symptoms pass. If you are affected, caution is required when driving or operating machinery.
- The safety and efficacy of this medicine in children has not been studied by the manufacturer.

Use with caution in

- Elderly people
- Moderate to severely decreased kidney function
- Narrowing of the artery which supplies blood to the kidneys (renal artery stenosis)
- Mild to moderately decreased liver function
- Severe heart failure
- People with low fluid volume or salt levels in the body, eg due to diuretic therapy, low-sodium diet, diarrhoea or vomiting.