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Product Catalogue
NOVARTIS
CO-DIOVAN
Scientific Name:
Valsartan, hydrochrothiazide
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Before you use Co-Diovan, please read this leaflet carefully because it contains important information about this medicine. If you have further questions or special concerns, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Composition
One coated tablet contains:
80 mg valsartan + 12.5 mg hydrochlorothiazide or
160 mg valsartan + 25 mg hydrochlorothiazide
Properties of the drug
Co-Diovan contains valsartan an angiotensin-II receptor antagonists and hydrochlorothiazide a diuretic, which help to control high blood pressure. Angiotensin-II is a substance in the body that causes blood vessels to tighten, thus causing your blood pressure to increase. Valsartan in Co-Diovan blocks the effect of angiotensin-II. As a result, blood vessels relax and blood pressure is lowered. Diuretics reduce the amount of salt and water in the body by increasing the flow of urine. With longer use this helps to reduce and control blood pressure.
Indications
Co-Diovan is used to treat high blood pressure. High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart and arteries. If it continues for a long time, it can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, and may result in a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attaks. Lowering your blood pressure to normal reduces the risk of developing these disorders.
Contraindications
You should not take Co-Diovan :
- If you have ever had an unusual or allergic reaction to valsartan,hydrochlorothiazide or related sulfonamides or to any other component of this drug; if you are not sure which drugs to avoid, ask your doctor or pharmacist;
- If you have serious liver or kidney disease;
- If you have too low a level of potassium or sodium in your blood or if you have too high a level of calcium in your blood despite treatment;
- If you have gout;
- If you are pregnant.
Precautions
You may only take Co-Diovan after a medical examination. Co-Diovan may not be suitable for all patients.
Tell your doctor before taking Co-Diovan if you have or have had:
- Kidney or liver disease;
- Fever,rash, and joint pain, which may be signs of lupus erythematosus (or a history of this disease);
- Low levels of potassium in your blood;
- High levels of cholesterol in your blood;
- Are suffering from vomiting or diarrhea or taking high doses of a diuretic;
- If you are breast-feeding.
Drug and drug interactions
Before taking any medicine with Co-Diovan, tell your doctor or pharmacist. It may be necessary to change the dose, to take other precautions, or in some cases to stop taking one of the medicines. This applies to both prescription and non-prescripton medicines, especially:
- Medicines used to lower blood pressure, especially diuretics;
- Potassium-sparing medicines, potassium supplements, or salt substitutes containing potassium;
- Lithium, a medicine used to treat some psychological conditions;
- Medicines used to relieve pain or inflammation, especially non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents;
- Cortisone-like medicines, steroids;
- Digoxin (a heart medicine);
- Insulin or antidiabetic medicines taken by mouth;
- Cholestyramine and colestipol, resins used mainly to treat high levels of lipids in the blood;
- Vitamin D and calcium salts;
- Avoid alcohol because it may make blood pressure fall more or increase possibility of dizziness and fainting.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Do not take Co-Diovan if you are pregnant.
Use of similar medicines may cause serious harm to the unborn child. It is therefore important to check with your doctor immediately if you think you may have become pregnant or are planning to become pregnant. It is also advisable not to take Co-Diovan during breast-feeding. The diuretic component of Co-Diovan may also reduce your milk supply. If you are breast-feeding tell your doctor.
Children and elderly patients
Co- Diovan may be used in elderely patients; experience in elderely patients is substantial, because of the diuretic component of Co-Diovan. There is no experience with Co-Diovan in children.
Effects on ability to drive and use machines
Like many other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, Co-Diovan may in some patients cause dizziness and affect the concentration. So before you drive a vehicle, use machinery, or do other things that need concentration, make sure you know how you react to the effects of Co-Diovan.
Dosage and administration
Patients who have high blood pressure often do not notice any signs of this problem. Many may feel quite normal. This makes it all the more important for you to take your medicine as directed by the doctor and to keep your appointments with him even if you are feeling well.
The usual dosage is 80/12.5 mg tablet once a day. In some cases, your doctor may prescribe a higher dose(e.g. 160/ 25 mg tablet). Do not change the dose or stop treatment without talking to your doctor.
You may take Co-Diovan with or without food. Swallow your tablet with a glass of water.
It is advisable to take your medicine at the same time each day, preferably in the morning. However, if you forget to take a dose of this medicine, carry on with the next one at the usual time. Do not double the doses.
Overdose
If you experience severe dizziness and/or fainting, unusual tiredness, weakness, or muscle cramps, or irregular heart beats, tell your doctor as soon as possible.
Caution
It is important for your doctor to check your progress at regular visits to make sure that this medicine is working properly.
It may be necessary from time to time to measure the amount of potassium or other minerals in your blood, especially if you are over 65 years old, have certain heart, liver, or kidney diseases, or are not taking potassium supplements. Your doctor will advise you about this.
Undesirable effects
Like all medicines, Co-Diovan may cause unwanted reactions( side effects) in some people, in addition to its goods effects. Some of these unwanted reactions may be similar to symptoms caused by your specific medical condition; others may not be reactions at all, being unrelated to your treatment. Many side effects will clear up without you having to stop treatment.
Check with your doctor if any of the following unwanted effects occur:
Rare:
Sore throat, fever, or chills (signs of a blood disorder); yellow eyes or skin (jaundice); numbness or tingling in the hands, feet or lips; unusual bleeding or bruising (signs of thrombocytopenia); blurred vision; irregular heart beat.
Very rare:
Abdominal pain with nausea, vomiting, or fever (sign of pancreatitis); inflammation of vessels with or without pain (sign of necrotising vasculitis); blistering rash; breathing problems (signs of pneumonitis and pulmonary oedema).
Check with your doctor if any of the following persist or are distressing:
Common:
Headache, dizziness or lightheadedness when getting up from a lying or sitting position; stomach upset; unusual tiredness or weakness (sometimes sign of potassium loss), loss of appetite; skin rash or itching; increased sensitivity of the skin to sunlight; difficulty in achieving erection or less of interest in sex.
Less common or rare:
Vomiting, nausea, diarrhea; pain in the back or stomach; constipation; pain in the joints; cold and flu-like symptoms, dry cough; vertigo (feeling of spinning); rash; sleep disturbances.
If you notice any other effects not listed above, check with your doctor.
Warning
Do not take Co-Diovan past the expiry date shown on the pack.
Store your tablets in the original package in a dry place at room temperature and avoid temperatures above 25o C.
Keep this medicine out of the reach of children because it may harm them.
Remember
This medicine has been prescribed for you. You should not pass it on to others.
It is important that you take this medicine exactly as your doctor tells you.This will get you the best results and reduce the chance of side effects.
Presentation
Pack of 14 tablets
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