| name | Valsartan |
| classification | ARB |
| pharmacokinetics | | absorption | Rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract. | | peak plasma | 2-4 hours | | metabolism | Extensive hepatic metabolism | | excretion | Primarily in urine | | half life | 6 hours |
|
| dosage | | initial | 80 mg once daily | | maintenance | 80-320 mg once daily, titrated to blood pressure goals | | specific considerations | Individualize dosages based on patient response and blood pressure goals. |
|
| indications | | 1 | Hypertension | | 2 | Diabetic nephropathy |
|
| safety pregnancy | Category D: Avoid use during pregnancy unless clearly needed due to potential fetal harm. |
| safety breastfeeding | Limited data; consult a healthcare professional before use. Potential for excretion in breast milk. |
| side effects | | 1 | Dizziness | | 2 | Headache | | 3 | Fatigue | | 4 | Hypotension | | 5 | Hyperkalemia | | 6 | Cough | | 7 | Diarrhea | | 8 | Nausea | | 9 | Vomiting |
|
| alternatives | |
| contraindications | | 1 | Known hypersensitivity to valsartan or other ARBs | | 2 | Bilateral renal artery stenosis | | 3 | Severe kidney disease |
|
| interactions | | 1 | Concurrent use with other blood pressure medications or potassium-altering agents (e.g., potassium-sparing diuretics, ACE inhibitors) may require dosage adjustments or monitoring. | | 2 | Avoid concomitant use with aliskiren in patients with diabetes or moderate-to-severe renal impairment. |
|
| warnings and precautions | | 1 | Regular monitoring of blood pressure and kidney function. | | 2 | Assess potassium levels, especially in patients with renal impairment. | | 3 | Do not stop abruptly. |
|
| additional information | This is a sample entry. Detailed information for each ARB drug should include more specific data. |
