Valsartan 40 Mg Film-Coated Tablets
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PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
Valsartan 40 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. 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 40 mg film-coated tablets can be used
for three different conditions:
* to treat high blood pressure 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.
* to treat adult patients after a recent heart attack (myocardial infarction). “Recent” here means between 12 hours and 10 days.
* to treat symptomatic heart failure in adult patients. Valsartan is used when a group of medicines called Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (a medication to treat heart failure) cannot be used or it may be used in addition to ACE inhibitors when beta blockers (another medication to treat heart failure) cannot be used.
Heart failure symptoms include shortness of breath, and swelling of the feet and legs due to fluid build-up. It is caused when the heart muscle cannot pump blood strongly enough to supply all the blood needed throughout the body.
2. BEFORE YOU TAKE VALSARTAN
Do not take Valsartan:
• if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to valsartan or any of the other ingredients of Valsartan 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 any of these apply to you, do not take
Valsartan.
Take special care with 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 have ever experienced swelling of the tongue and face caused by an allergic reaction called angioedema when taking another drug (including ACE inhibitors), 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 effects”, 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).
• 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 any of these apply to you, tell your doctor before you take Valsartan.
Taking other medicines
Please tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking or have recently taken any other medicines, including medicines obtained without a prescription.
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).
• some antibiotics (rifamycin group), a drug used to protect against transplant rejection (ciclosporin) or an antiretroviral drug used to treat HIV/AIDS infection (ritonavir). These drugs may increase the effect of Valsartan.
• lithium, a medicine used to treat some types of psychiatric illness.
In addition:
* if you are being treated after a heart attack, a
combination with ACE inhibitors (a medication to treat heart attack) is not recommended.
• if you are being treated for heart failure, a triple combination with ACE inhibitors and beta blockers (medications to treat heart failure) is not recommended.
Taking Valsartan with food and drink
You can take Valsartan with or without food.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before
taking any medicine.
* You must tell your doctor if you think that you are (or might become) pregnant. Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking Valsartan before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant, and will advise you to take another medicine instead of
Valsartan. Valsartan is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken when more than 3 months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if it is used after the third month of pregnancy.
* Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding. Valsartan is not recommended for mothers who are breast-feeding, and your doctor may choose another treatment for you if you wish to breast-feed, especially if your baby is newborn, or was born prematurely.
Driving and using machines
Before you drive a vehicle, use tools or operate machines, or carry out other activities that require concentration, make sure you know how Valsartan affects you. Like many other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, Valsartan may in rare cases cause dizziness and affect the ability to concentrate.
3. HOW TO TAKE VALSARTAN
Always take Valsartan exactly as your doctor has told you in order to get the best results and reduce the risk of side effects. You should check with your doctor or pharmacist if you are not sure. People with 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 keep your appointments with the doctor even if you are feeling well.
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Children and adolescents (6 to 18 years of age) with high blood pressure
In patients who weigh less than 35 kg the usual dose is 40 mg of valsartan once daily.
In patients who weigh 35 kg or more the usual starting dose is 80 mg of valsartan once daily.
In some cases your doctor may prescribe higher doses (the dose can be increased to 160 mg and to a maximum of 320 mg).
Adult patients after a recent heart attack: After a heart attack the treatment is generally started as early as after 12 hours, usually at a low dose of 20 mg twice daily. You obtain the 20 mg dose by dividing the 40 mg tablet. Your doctor will increase this dose gradually over several weeks to a maximum of 160 mg twice daily. The final dose depends on what you as an individual patient can tolerate. Valsartan can be given together with other treatment for heart attack, and your doctor will decide which treatment is suitable for you.
Adult patients with heart failure: Treatment starts generally with 40 mg twice daily. Your doctor will increase the dose gradually over several weeks to a maximum of 160 mg twice daily. The final dose depends on what you as an individual patient can tolerate.
Valsartan can be given together with other treatment for heart failure, and your doctor will decide which treatment is suitable for you.
You can take Valsartan with or without food. Swallow Valsartan with a glass of water.
Take Valsartan at about the same time each day.
If you take more Valsartan than you should
If you experience severe dizziness and/or fainting, contact your doctor immediately and lie down. If you have accidentally taken too many tablets, contact your doctor, pharmacist, or hospital.
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 symptoms, stop taking Valsartan and contact your doctor straight away (see also section 2 “Take special care with Valsartan”).
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 “Some 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.
5. HOW TO STORE VALSARTAN
• Do not store above 30°C. Store in the original package in order to protect from moisture.
• Keep out of the reach and sight 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 Valsartan if you notice that the pack 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.
One film-coated tablet contains 40 mg valsartan. The other ingredients are microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone type A, colloidal anhydrous silica, magnesium stearate.
The tablet coating contains hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), macrogol 8000, iron oxide red (E172), iron oxide yellow (E172), iron oxide black (E172).
What Valsartan looks like and contents of the pack
Valsartan 40 mg film-coated tablets are yellow, ovaloid tablets that are scored on one side. They have the letters “D” on one side of the score and
“O” on the other side of the score and “NVR” on the reverse side of the tablet. The tablet can be divided into equal halves.
The tablets are supplied in blister packs of 7, 14, 28, 30, 56, 90 or 98 tablets and in calendar blister packs of 14, 28, 56, 98 and 280 tablets. Perforated unit dose blister packs of 56x1,98x1 or 280x1 tablets are also available.
Not all pack sizes may be marketed.
Marketing Authorisation Holder and Manufacturer
The product licence holder is:
Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited
Trading as:
Ciba Laboratories, Frimley Business Park, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey, GU16 7SR, United Kingdom.
Valsartan Tablets are released onto the market by: Sandoz Ltd, Frimley Business Park, Frimley, Camberley, Surrey, GU16 7SR, United Kingdom or Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Limited,
Frimley Business Park, Frimley, Camberley,
Surrey, GU16 7SR, United Kingdom.
If you would like any more information, or would like this leaflet in a different format, please contact Medical Information at Novartis Pharmaceuticals UK Ltd, telephone number 01276 698370.
This leaflet was last revised in May 2013.
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