Valzaar-H 80-12.5mg (Valstartan/Hydrochlorthiazide)

Valzaar-H general information

What is Valzaar-H used for?

Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 mg are a fixed dose combination medication used to treat hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest, in people whose blood pressure cannot be controlled by a single medication. Although there are usually no other symptoms, high blood pressure increases risk of cardiovascular disease and Valzaar-H tablets reduce the risk of stroke and heart attack, by lowering blood pressure to normal resting levels which helps the heart to cope better, reducing symptoms of breathlessness on exertion and also increasing life expectancy.

How does Valzaar-H work?

Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 mg contain a fixed dose combination of two medications that work together to reduce blood pressure, in a way that is more effective that if each drug is used alone. Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), which acts by blocking the binding of the hormone angiotensin II to its receptor in a variety of tissues including vascular smooth muscle (blood vessel walls) and kidney cells. Angiotensin II is a naturally produced hormone that has several actions involved in regulating blood pressure, which is the force needed to pump blood around the body, as well as fluid balance, the amount of water removed from the blood by the kidneys. Angiotensin II causes salt (sodium and potassium) and water retention by the kidneys, and causes blood vessels to constrict (narrow); this increases blood volume while at the same time reducing blood vessel volume, which increases blood pressure. Valsartan in Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 mg blocks the binding of Angiotensin II to its receptor, preventing its pressor actions (blood pressure increasing) resulting in dilation (widening) of blood vessel and increased amount of salt and water removed by the kidneys into the urine, which lowers blood pressure. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic and acts directly on the kidneys to promote the removal of salts and water from the blood, which increase the urine volume and decreases blood volume. The combined action of Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide provides a significant and additive reduction in blood pressure, which is maintained for as long as you take your Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 mg.

What does Valzaar-H contain?

Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 mg contains two active ingredients; valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), and hydrochlorothiazide a thiazide diuretic, which work together to lower blood pressure.

Treating hypertension (high blood pressure) with Valzaar-H

Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 mg contain a fixed dose combination of two medications that are used to treat hypertension, which is high blood pressure when at rest, in people whose blood pressure cannot be controlled by a single medication and who are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease, including stroke and heart attack. The two antihypertensive drugs work together to reduce blood pressure, by causing relaxing and widening of blood vessels (vasodilation) and by increasing the removal water and salt from the blood, in a way that is more effective than if each drug is used alone. Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that blocks the action of angiotensin II, a naturally produced hormone that has several actions involved in regulating blood pressure, and works by preventing the binding of angiotensin II to its receptor in vascular smooth muscle (blood vessel walls), where it causes constriction (narrowing); and in the kidneys, where it causes salt and water retention. Hydrochlorothiazide is a diuretic and acts directly on the kidneys and also promotes the removal of salts and water from the blood. The combined action of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide in Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 mg increases urine volume, decreases blood volume and increases blood vessel volume, all of which reduces the force needed for the hreart to pump blood around the body, and lowers blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure helps the heart to cope better, reducing symptoms of breathlessness on exertion and also increasing life expectancy in people with high blood pressure, who are at risk of cardiovascular disease.

What are the side effects of Valzaar-H?

The most commonly reported side effects when using Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 mg include: dizziness, headache, nasopharyngitis (inflammation of the nose and throat), fatigue, back pain, cough, respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, diarrhoea, nausea, changes in blood salts, skin rash.

When should Valzaar-H not be used?

You should not use Valzaar-H if you:

• are allergic to valsartan, hydrochlorothiazide or any ingredients in Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 mg
• are allergic to sulphonamides
• are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breast-feeding
• have liver or kidney disease
• have trouble passing urine
• are taking medications that interact with Valzaar-H, including: other antihypertensives, diuretics like furosemide, potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, potassium tablets or potassium-containing salt substitutes, digoxin for heart failure, lithium for mood swings, corticosteroids like, prednisone, barbiturates for epilepsy like phenobarbitone, insulin and other diabetic medications like metformin, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, narcotic analgesics like codeine, cholestyramine and colestipol, for high cholesterol, muscle relaxants like tubocurarine, adrenaline for emergency treatment.
• are taking Co-trimoxazole (Sulphamexthoxazole/Trimethoprim) [Trusul/Bactrim DS]

What medications interact with Valzaar-H?

Several medications interact with Valzaar-H and should either not be taken while you are taking Valzaar-H or only after discussion and instruction from your doctor:

• Drugs that increase side effects: other antihypertensives, diuretics like furosemide, narcotic analgesics like codeine, barbiturates for epilepsy like phenobarbitone, corticosteroids like, prednisone
• Drugs that affect Valzaar-H: cholestyramine and colestipol, for high cholesterol, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
• Drugs that are affected by Valzaar-H: digoxin for heart failure, lithium for mood swings, muscle relaxants like tubocurarine, potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, insulin and other diabetic medications like metformin, adrenaline for emergency treatment, potassium tablets or potassium-containing salt substitutes, digoxin for heart failure, lithium for mood swings

How should Valzaar-H be taken?

You should take your Valzaar-H tablets 80/12.5 with a glass of water, with or without food once a day, at the same time each day. Valzaar-H tablets 80/12 will help control your blood pressure but will not cure it, so you should continue to take your Valzaar-H tablets 80/12 for as long as your doctor recommends, to keep your blood pressure down to normal levels.

How long should you take Valzaar-H?

Valzaar-H tablets 80/12 will help control your blood pressure but will not cure it, so you should continue to take your Valzaar-H tablets 80/12 for as long as your doctor recommends to keep your blood pressure down to normal levels.

Missed dose of Valzaar-H

If you miss a dose of Valzaar-H tablets 80/12 take it as soon as you remember, unless it is time to take the next dose, then skip the missed dose. Do not take a double dose.

How should Valzaar-H be stored?

You should keep your Valzaar-H tablets 80/12 in their blister packs until use and store below 30°C in a cool dry place.