Diovan (Valsartan) for Heart Disease

Diovan (valsartan) is a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the risk of hospitalization in adults with heart failure.

How Diovan Works and How It’s Taken

Diovan belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin 2 receptor blockers (ARBs). It works by blocking the effects of angiotensin 2, a substance that causes blood vessels to tighten and helps the body hold on to salt and water.

Doctors prescribe Diovan when their goal is to:

Reduce the risk of hospitalization in adults with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class 2 to 4 heart failure.
Reduce the risk of death from heart-related causes in adults who are medically stable but have certain problems with the heart’s main pumping chamber after a heart attack (post-myocardial infarction).

Diovan is taken by mouth. The dose may be increased based on how well a person tolerates the medicine.

Typical Dosing for Heart Failure

Starting dose — 40 milligrams twice daily.
Dose increases — The dose may be increased to 80 milligrams twice daily and then 160 milligrams twice daily, or to the highest dose the person can tolerate.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Typical Dosing After a Heart Attack

Treatment may begin as early as 12 hours after a heart attack.

Starting dose — 20 milligrams twice daily.
Dose increases — The dose may be increased to 40 milligrams twice daily within seven days, followed by further increases toward a target dose of 160 milligrams twice daily, as tolerated.

This information is based on prescribing information, but your healthcare provider may tailor your treatment plan. Always follow their guidance.

Diovan Side Effects

In clinical studies of Diovan for heart failure, the most common side effects occurred in about 2 percent to 17 percent of people.

Side effects in people with heart failure included:

Dizziness
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Diarrhea
Arthralgia (joint pain)
Fatigue (tiredness or low energy)
Back pain
Hyperkalemia (high potassium levels in the blood)

Side effects that caused people to stop taking Diovan after a heart attack included:

Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Cough
Increased blood creatinine

Serious Side Effects and Warnings

Diovan can cause serious side effects that may require immediate medical attention. These include:

Fetal harm during pregnancy — Diovan can harm or cause death to a developing fetus and carries the FDA’s strongest safety warning, a boxed warning, for this risk. A boxed warning does not mean the drug is unsafe for everyone or that everyone faces the same level of risk.
Severe hypotension — Very low blood pressure can cause severe dizziness, fainting, or feeling like you might pass out.
Kidney problems, including acute kidney failure — Kidney function can worsen, especially in people whose kidneys are already vulnerable.
Hyperkalemia — High potassium levels can affect heart rhythm and may be dangerous.

Get medical help right away if you think you are having a serious reaction.

This drug has a boxed warning, the FDA's strongest safety warning, for some of the serious risks mentioned above. A boxed warning does not mean the drug is unsafe for everyone or that everyone faces the same level of risk.

If you experience serious side effects, you can report them to the FDA online or by calling 1-800-FDA-1088. You can also contact the drug's manufacturer.

How to Save on Diovan

Novartis, the manufacturer of Diovan, offers a copay savings program. Eligible people with commercial (private) insurance may pay as little as $10 per month, subject to maximum annual savings limits. The offer is not available to people who pay cash or are enrolled in government-funded programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid.

To learn more, visit the Novartis copay savings program or call 844-685-3406.

What To Know Before Taking Diovan

Before starting Diovan, your doctor may check your blood pressure, kidney function, and potassium levels.

Before taking Diovan, tell your doctor if you:

Are allergic to valsartan or any ingredients in Diovan.
Have heart problems.
Have kidney problems.

Tell your doctor about all medicines you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Diovan may affect how other medicines work.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you take:

Other medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems
Diuretics (water pills)
Medicines or supplements containing potassium, or salt substitutes containing potassium
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Lithium

Do not take Diovan if you:

Are allergic to any of its ingredients.
Have diabetes and are taking aliskiren.

Diovan is also approved by the FDA to lower hypertension (high blood pressure) in adults and children 1 year of age and older. It may be used alone or with other blood pressure medicines.

If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the regular time. Do not take two doses to make up for a missed dose.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant, planning to become pregnant, or breastfeeding. If you plan to become pregnant, talk with your healthcare provider about other treatment options.

Diovan can harm or cause death to a developing fetus. If you become pregnant while taking Diovan, stop taking it and tell your healthcare provider right away.

Breastfeeding is not recommended during treatment with Diovan.

Community FAQs

These answers are fact-checked by our editorial staff.

How effective is Diovan for heart failure?

In a study of 5,010 adults with heart failure who were followed for about two years, heart failure-related health problems, including hospitalization and death, occurred in 28.8 percent of people taking Diovan and 32.1 percent of those taking placebo (an inactive treatment). Overall death rates were similar between groups, at 19.7 percent with Diovan and 19.4 percent with placebo.

In adults who had a heart attack and then had heart failure or reduced heart pumping function, a large study of 14,703 people found that Diovan had similar effects on overall survival compared with captopril. The average treatment lasted two years.

What tests or monitoring are needed with Diovan for heart disease?

Your healthcare provider may monitor your blood pressure, kidney function, and potassium levels while you take Diovan, especially if you have a higher risk of side effects.

Potassium monitoring is especially important if Diovan is taken with potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, salt substitutes containing potassium, or other medicines that can raise potassium levels.

Kidney function should also be checked periodically if Diovan is taken with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Can Diovan interact with other medicines?

Yes. Diovan can interact with other medicines. Some interactions may increase the risk of low blood pressure, high potassium levels, or kidney problems.

Medicines and products that may interact with Diovan include:

Potassium-sparing diuretics, potassium supplements, and salt substitutes containing potassium — These may increase potassium levels in the blood.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — These may increase the risk of kidney problems and reduce Diovan’s blood pressure-lowering effect.
ACE inhibitors, other angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs), and aliskiren — Combining these with Diovan can increase the risk of low blood pressure, high potassium levels, and kidney problems.
Lithium — Diovan may increase lithium levels in the blood, raising the risk of lithium toxicity.

Do not take Diovan with aliskiren if you have diabetes.

Tell your healthcare provider about all medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take before starting Diovan. Your healthcare provider may need to monitor your blood pressure, kidney function, or blood potassium levels.