Valsartan

Key facts

• Valsartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) that relaxes blood vessels. It's used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and to protect the heart after a heart attack.
• It's taken as tablets, once or twice a day; blood pressure lowering builds up over two to four weeks.
• Valsartan must not be used during pregnancy. It can cause serious injury or death to the developing baby, especially from the second trimester onward. Stop it and tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant.
• Seek urgent care for facial or throat swelling, severe dizziness or fainting, or signs of very high potassium, such as muscle weakness or an irregular heartbeat.

What valsartan treats

Valsartan treats high blood pressure, heart failure with reduced pumping ability, and reduced heart function after a heart attack. It is also used in some people with diabetes-related kidney disease to reduce pressure inside the kidney's filtering units.

How valsartan works

A hormone called angiotensin II normally makes blood vessels narrow, raising blood pressure. Valsartan blocks the receptors that angiotensin II binds to, so vessels stay relaxed and wider. This lowers blood pressure and reduces the effort the heart needs to pump blood around the body.

Before you take it

• Do not take valsartan if you are pregnant or could become pregnant without using effective contraception.
• Tell your prescriber about severe kidney or liver problems, or narrowing of the arteries to both kidneys.
• Do not combine it with an ACE inhibitor, such as ramipril, or with aliskiren, since this raises the risk of kidney injury, high potassium, and low blood pressure.
• Tell your prescriber about potassium supplements or potassium-sparing diuretics, which can push potassium levels too high alongside valsartan.

Side effects

Common effects include dizziness, headache, tiredness, and mild stomach upset.

Stop and seek urgent medical care for any of these:

• Sudden swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat that makes breathing hard.
• Severe or persistent chest pain.
• Fainting, or an unexplained rapid or irregular heartbeat.
• Muscle weakness suggesting high potassium.

Safety essentials

• Valsartan is contraindicated in pregnancy. If you could become pregnant, use effective contraception, and switch to a pregnancy-safe alternative before trying to conceive.
• It can raise blood potassium to dangerous levels, especially with kidney impairment, potassium supplements, or potassium-sparing diuretics. Your doctor checks blood tests periodically to catch this early.
• Never combine it with an ACE inhibitor or aliskiren; this combination significantly increases the risk of kidney injury, high potassium, and low blood pressure.

This page is educational and does not replace advice from a doctor or pharmacist who knows your health history.