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PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER

Valsartan 320 mg film-coated tablets

Valsartan

Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine

- Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.

- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

-    This medicine has been prescribed for you. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their symptoms are the same as yours.

- If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

In this leaflet:

1.    What Valsartan is and what it is used for

2.    What you need to know before you take Valsartan

3.    How to take Valsartan

4.    Possible side effects

5.    How to store Valsartan

6.    Further information

1.    WHAT VALSARTAN IS AND WHAT IT IS USED FOR

Valsartan belongs to a class of medicines known as angiotensin II receptor antagonist, which help to control high blood pressure. Angiotensin II is a substance in the body that causes vessels to tighten, thus causing your blood pressure to increase. Valsartan works by blocking the effect of angiotensin II. As a result, blood vessels relax and blood pressure is lowered.

Valsartan 320 mg film-coated tablets can be used

* to treat high blood pressure in adults and in children and adolescents

6 to 18 years of age. High blood pressure increases the workload on the heart and arteries. If not treated 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 attacks. Lowering your blood pressure to normal reduces the risk of developing these disorders.

2.    WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW BEFORE YOU TAKE VALSARTAN

Do not take Valsartan :

*    if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to valsartan or any of the other ingredients ofValsartan listed at the end of this leaflet.

*    if you have severe liver disease.

*    if you are more than 3 months pregnant (it is also better to avoid Valsartan in early pregnancy - see pregnancy section).

*    if you have diabetes or impaired kidney function and you are treated with a blood pressure lowering medicine containing aliskiren.

If any of these apply to you, do not take Valsartan.

Warnings and precautions

Talk to your doctor before taking Valsartan

*    if you have liver disease.

*    if you have severe kidney disease or if you are undergoing dialysis.

*    if you are suffering from a narrowing of the kidney artery.

*    if you have recently undergone kidney transplantation (received a new kidney).

*    if you are treated after a heart attack or for heart failure, your doctor may check your kidney function.

*    if you have severe heart disease other than heart failure or heart attack.

*    if you are taking medicines that increase the amount of potassium in your blood. These include potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium, potassium-sparing medicines and heparin. It may be necessary to check the amount of potassium in your blood at regular intervals.

*    if you are below 18 years of age and you take valsartan in combination with other medicines that inhibit the renin angiotensin aldosterone system (medicines that lower blood pressure), your doctor may check your kidney function and the amount of potassium in your blood at regular intervals.

*    if you suffer from aldosteronism. This is a disease in which your adrenal glands make too much of the hormone aldosterone. If this applies to you, the use of valsartan is not recommended.

*    if you have lost a lot of fluid (dehydration) caused by diarrhoea, vomiting, or high doses of water tablets (diuretics).

*    If you have ever experienced swelling of the tongue and face caused by an allergic reaction called angioedema when taking another drug (including ACF inhibitor), tell your doctor. If these symptoms occur when you are taking valsartan, stop taking valsartan immediately and never take it again (See also section 4, “Possible side effect”)

*    you must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. valsartan is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken if you are more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used at that stage. (see pregnancy section).

*    if you are taking any of the following medicines used to treat high blood pressure:

-    an ACE-inhibitor (for example enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril), in particular if you have diabetes-related kidney problems.

-    aliskiren

*    if you are being treated with an ACE-inhibitor together with certain other medicines to treat your heart failure, which are known as mineralocorticoid receptors antagonists (MRA) (for example spironolactone, eplerenone) or betablockers (for example metoprolol).

Your doctor may check your kidney function, blood pressure, and the

amount of electrolytes (e.g. potassium) in your blood at regular intervals.

See also information under the heading “Do not take Valsartan”

Other medicines and Valsartan

Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken or might take any other medicines.

The effect of the treatment can be influenced if Valsartan is taken together with certain other medicines. 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-prescription medicines, especially:

*    other medicines that lower blood pressure, especially water tablets

(diuretics).

*    medicines that increase the amount of potassium in your blood. These include potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium, potassium-sparing medicines and heparin.

*    certain type of pain killers called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs).

*    lithium, a medicine used to treat some types ofpsychiatric illness.

Your doctor may need to change your dose and/or to take other precautions:

*    If you are taking an ACE-inhibitor or aliskiren (see also information

If you forget to take Valsartan

If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed.

Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.

If you stop taking Valsartan

Stopping your treatment with Valsartan may cause your disease to get worse. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.

If you have further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.

4. POSSIBLE SIDE EFFECTS

Like all medicines, Valsartan can cause side effects, although not everybody gets them.

These side effects may occur with certain frequencies, which are defined as follows:

•    very common: affects more than 1 user in 10

•    common: affects 1 to 10 users in 100

•    uncommon: affects 1 to 10 users in 1,000

•    rare: affects 1 to 10 users in 10,000

•    very rare: affects less than 1 user in 10,000

•    not known: frequency cannot be estimated from the available data.

Some symptoms need immediate medical attention:

You may experience symptoms of angioedema (a specific allergic reaction), such as

•    swollen face, lips, tongue or throat

•    difficulty in breathing or swallowing

•    hives, itching

If you get any of these, see a doctor immediately.

Side effects include:

Common

•    dizziness

•    low blood pressure with or without symptoms such as dizziness and fainting when standing up

•    decreased kidney function (signs of renal impairment)

Uncommon

•    angioedema (see section “symptoms need immediate medical attention”)

•    sudden loss of consciousness (syncope)

•    spinning sensation (vertigo)

•    severely decreased kidney function (signs of acute renal failure)

•    muscle spasms, abnormal heart rhythm (signs of hyperkalaemia)

•    breathlessness, difficulty breathing when lying down, swelling of the feet or legs (signs of cardiac failure)

•    headache

•    cough

•    abdominal pain

•    nausea

•    diarrhoea

•    tiredness

•    weakness

Not known

•    allergic reactions with rash, itching and hives; symptoms of fever, swollen joints and joint pain, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes and/or flu-like symptoms may occur (signs of serum sickness)

•    purplish-red spots, fever, itching (signs of inflammation of blood vessels also called vasculitis)

•    unusual bleeding or bruising (signs of thrombocytopenia)

•    muscle pain (myalgia)

•    fever, sore throat or mouth ulcers due to infections (symptoms of low level of white blood cells also called neutropenia)

•    decrease of level of haemoglobin and decrease of the percentage of red blood cells in the blood (which can lead to anaemia in severe cases)

•    increase of level of potassium in the blood (which can trigger muscle spasms and abnormal heart rhythm in severe cases)

•    elevation of liver function values (which can indicate liver damage) including an increase of bilirubin in the blood (which can trigger yellow skin and eyes in severe cases)

•    increase of level of blood urea nitrogen and increase of level of serum creatinine (which can indicate abnormal kidney function)

•    low level of sodium in the blood (which can trigger tiredness, confusion, muscle twitching and/or convulsions in severe cases)

The frequency of some side effects may vary depending on your condition. For example, side effects such as dizziness, and decreased kidney function, were seen less frequently in adult patients treated with high blood pressure than in adult patients treated for heart failure or after a recent heart attack.

Side effects in children and adolescents are similar to those seen in adults.

If any of the side effects gets serious, or if you notice any side effects not listed in this leaflet, please tell your doctor or pharmacist.

Reporting of side effects

If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.

5.    HOW TO STORE VALSARTAN TABLETS

•    Store below 25°C in the original package. Protect from moisture.

•    Keep out of the sight and reach of children.

•    Do not use Valsartan after the expiry date which is stated on the pack. The expiry date refers to the last day of that month.

•    Do not use any Valsartan if you notice that the pack that is damaged or shows signs of tampering.

•    Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will help to protect the environment.

6.    FURTHER INFORMATION What Valsartan contains

-    The active substance is valsartan.

-    The other ingredients are Cellulose, microcrystalline, Crospovidone (Type A), Silica, colloidal anhydrous, Magnesium Stearate.

-    The tablet coating contains Hypromellose 5 cp (E464), Titanium dioxide (E171), Talc (E553b), Macrogol 8000, iron oxide red (E172) and iron oxide black (E172).

What Valsartan looks like and content of the pack

Violet, oval shaped, biconvex, film coated tablets debossed with “L15” on one side and plain on other side (approximate size 20.5 x 9.4 mm).