Common questions about valsartan

Valsartan is a type of blood pressure-lowering medicine called an angiotensin receptor blocker.

Like other angiotensin receptor blockers, valsartan relaxes and widens your blood vessels. This lowers your blood pressure and makes it easier for your heart to pump blood around your body.

Valsartan starts to work after about 2 hours to reduce high blood pressure but it may take 2 to 4 weeks to work fully.

If you have high blood pressure, you may not have any symptoms. In this case, you may not feel any different when you take valsartan. This does not mean that the medicine is not working. It's important to keep taking it.

Valsartan is generally safe to take for a long time. In fact, it works best when you take it for a long time.

However, taking valsartan for a long time can sometimes cause your kidneys not to work as well as they should. Your doctor will check how well your kidneys are working with regular blood tests.

There are several other angiotensin receptor blockers that work in the same way as valsartan. They include candesartan, irbesartan and losartan.

There are also lots of other types of blood pressure-lowering medicines:

• calcium channel blockers – for example amlodipine
• angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors – for example ramipril
• beta blockers – for example bisoprolol
• diuretics – for example bendroflumethiazide

The blood pressure-lowering medicine you're prescribed depends on your age and ethnicity:

• if you're under 55 and you're not of African Caribbean or Black African origin, you'll usually be offered an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker
• if you're aged 55 or older, or you're any age and of African Caribbean or Black African origin, you'll usually be offered a calcium channel blocker

Many people need to take a combination of different blood pressure-lowering medicines.

Valsartan works as well as other angiotensin receptor blockers when it's used to lower blood pressure. The side effects are also similar.

Valsartan is different from some other angiotensin receptor blockers because it is also officially approved for patients who have had a recent heart attack.

For the treatment of heart failure, valsartan is usually taken twice a day. Other angiotensin receptor blockers used to treat heart failure are usually taken once a day.

Valsartan also works as well as ramipril and other angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors to lower blood pressure, treat heart failure and prevent heart attacks.

It can be used by people who have tried taking ramipril or other ACE inhibitors but had to stop taking them because of side effects such as a dry, irritating cough.

Even if your blood pressure is successfully lowered by valsartan, it's best to carry on taking it. If you stop taking valsartan, your blood pressure could go back up again.

If you need blood pressure-lowering medicines, you'll probably need to take them for the rest of your life.

Remember, by keeping your blood pressure low, you're protecting yourself against having a heart attack or stroke in the future.

If you're going to have a general anaesthetic (be put to sleep) for an operation, tell your doctor that you're taking valsartan.

Valsartan can reduce your blood pressure when it's used with a general anaesthetic.

Your doctor will probably advise you to stop taking valsartan 24 hours before surgery.

There's some evidence that valsartan might help prevent migraines.

However, valsartan is not officially approved for migraine. Your doctor would probably advise you to try other medicines first.

There have been some studies that have looked at whether blood pressure medicines could help protect people against Alzheimer's disease. However, at the moment, there is not enough evidence to recommend taking valsartan or other similar medicines for Alzheimer's.

There are steps you can take that may reduce your risk of Alzheimer's. If you are worried about getting Alzheimer's disease in the future or have a family history of this condition, speak to your doctor.

Some brands of valsartan were discontinued in 2016 and 2017. For a short time, there was a problem getting valsartan. Some people switched to other angiotensin receptor blockers to make sure there was no break in their blood pressure-lowering treatment.

There are still some companies that make valsartan. Your doctor can prescribe it and your pharmacy should be able to order it for you.

Valsartan will not affect any type of contraception.

However, some types of hormonal methods of contraception, such as the combined contraceptive pill and contraceptive patch, are not usually recommended if you have high blood pressure.

Talk to your doctor if you're taking or using a combined hormonal contraceptive.

If valsartan makes you sick (vomit) or have severe diarrhoea for more than 24 hours, your contraceptive pills may not protect you from pregnancy. Check the pill packet to find out what to do.

Find out more:

• what to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the combined pill
• what to do if you're sick or have diarrhoea when taking the progestogen-only pill

Valsartan can make some people feel dizzy, especially when they first start taking it or after taking a bigger dose. If this happens to you, do not drive a car, ride a bike, or use tools or machinery, until you feel better.

It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.

Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking valsartan. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.

Drinking alcohol can increase the blood pressure-lowering effect of valsartan, which can make you feel dizzy or light-headed.

During the first few days of taking valsartan or after your dose increases, it's best to stop drinking alcohol until you see how the medicine affects you.

If you find valsartan makes you feel dizzy it's best to stop drinking alcohol.

Do not use salt substitutes such as Lo-Salt. This is because they are high in potassium and when mixed with valsartan, they may make the level of potassium in your blood too high.

You can boost the health of your heart by making some key lifestyle changes. These will also help if you have high blood pressure or heart failure.

• Quit smoking – smoking increases your heart rate and blood pressure. Quitting smoking brings down your blood pressure and relieves heart failure symptoms. Try to avoid secondhand smoke too.
• Cut down on alcohol – drinking too much alcohol raises blood pressure over time. It makes heart failure worse too. Try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week.
• Exercise – regular exercise lowers blood pressure by keeping your heart and blood vessels in good condition. It does not need to be too energetic. Walking every day will help.
• Eat well – aim to eat a diet that includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, wholegrains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products and lean proteins. Eating too much salt is the biggest cause of high blood pressure. The more salt you eat, the higher your blood pressure will be. Aim for no more than 6g of salt a day. While you are taking valsartan speak to a doctor before reducing your salt intake. Do not use salt substitutes such as Lo-Salt. This is because they are high in potassium. When mixed with valsartan they may make the level of potassium in your blood too high.
• Manage stress – when you're anxious or upset, your heart beats faster, you breathe more heavily and your blood pressure often goes up. This can make heart failure worse too. Find ways to reduce stress in your life. To give your heart a rest, try napping or putting your feet up when possible. Spend time with friends and family to be social and help keep stress at bay.
• Vaccinations – if you have heart failure, it's recommended that you have the flu vaccine every year and the pneumococcal vaccine as recommended by your GP. Ask your doctor about these vaccinations. You can have them free on the NHS. Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccination is recommended for most people. Make sure you've had all the doses that you are eligible for. Talk to your doctor if you think you might be in one of the at risk groups.