Generic Name: hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan (HYE droe klor oh THYE a zide and val SAR tan)
Brand Names: Diovan HCT
What is Diovan HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan)?
Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.
Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist. Valsartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure improves blood flow.
The combination of hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).
Hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What is the most important information I should know about Diovan HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan)?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide or valsartan, or if you are unable to urinate. Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan.
Before using hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan, tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure, kidney or liver disease, asthma, low or high blood levels of potassium, gout, lupus, diabetes, glaucoma, or an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan, unless your doctor has told you to. In rare cases, hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking Diovan HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan)?
You should not use this medication if you are allergic to hydrochlorothiazide or valsartan, or if you are unable to urinate.
To make sure you can safely take hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:
- kidney disease;
- liver disease;
congestive heart failure;
asthma or allergies;
low or high levels of magnesium or potassium in your blood;
gout;
lupus;
glaucoma;
diabetes; or
an allergy to sulfa drugs or penicillin.
FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan. It is not known whether hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan passes into breast milk. Do not take this medication without first talking to your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
How should I take Diovan HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan)?
Take exactly as prescribed by your doctor. Do not take in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended. Follow the directions on your prescription label.
Your doctor may occasionally change your dose to make sure you get the best results.
Take this medication with a full glass (8 ounces) of water.
Your blood pressure will need to be checked often. Visit your doctor regularly.
Hydrochlorothiazide can interfere with the results of a thyroid test. Tell any doctor who treats you that you are using this medication.
Keep using this medicine as directed, even if you feel well. High blood pressure often has no symptoms. You may need to use blood pressure medication for the rest of your life.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the medicine at the next regularly scheduled time. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
Overdose symptoms may include fast or slow heartbeat, feeling light-headed, or fainting.
What should I avoid while taking Diovan HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan)?
Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan.
Avoid becoming overheated or dehydrated during exercise and in hot weather. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan, unless your doctor has told you to.
Diovan HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan) side effects
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat. In rare cases, hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan can cause a condition that results in the breakdown of skeletal muscle tissue, leading to kidney failure. Call your doctor right away if you have unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness especially if you also have fever, unusual tiredness, and dark colored urine. Stop using this medication and call your doctor at once if you have a serious side effect such as:
eye pain, vision problems;
feeling light-headed, fainting;
swelling, rapid weight gain;
fast or pounding heartbeats;
urinating less than usual, or not at all;
jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
dry mouth, increased thirst, drowsiness, restless feeling, confusion, increased urination, fast heart rate, fainting, or seizure (convulsions).
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
Less serious side effects may include:
stomach pain, diarrhea;
back pain;
headache, tired feeling, dizziness;
skin rash;
stuffy nose, sore throat; or
dry cough.
What other drugs will affect Diovan HCT (hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan)?
Tell your doctor about all other medicines you use, especially:
any other blood pressure medications;
steroids (prednisone and others);
lithium (Eskalith, Lithobid);
celecoxib (Celebrex) or valdecoxib (Bextra);
cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) or colestipol (Colestid);
insulin or diabetes medications you take by mouth;
rifampin (Rifadin, Rimactane, Rifater);
a barbiturate such as amobarbital (Amytal), butabarbital (Butisol), mephobarbital (Mebaral), secobarbital (Seconal), or phenobarbital (Luminal, Solfoton);
any other diuretics, such as amiloride (Midamor), bumetanide (Bumex), chlorthalidone (Hygroton, Thalitone), ethacrynic acid (Edecrin), furosemide (Lasix), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril), indapamide (Lozol), metolazone (Mykrox, Zarxolyn), spironolactone (Aldactone), triamterene (Dyrenium, Maxzide, Dyazide), torsemide (Demadex), and others;
aspirin or other NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn, Naprelan, Treximet), celecoxib (Celebrex), diclofenac (Arthrotec, Cambia, Cataflam, Voltaren, Flector Patch, Pennsaid, Solareze), indomethacin (Indocin), meloxicam (Mobic), and others;
a muscle relaxer such as baclofen (Lioresal), carisoprodol (Soma), cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), dantrolene (Dantrium), metaxalone (Skelaxin), or methocarbamol (Robaxin), orphenadrine (Norflex), or tizanidine (Zanaflex);
a narcotic medication such as hydrocodone (Lortab, Vicodin), hydromorphone (Dilaudid, Palladone), levorphanol (Levo-Dromoran), meperidine (Demerol), methadone (Methadose), morphine (Kadian, MS Contin), oxycodone (OxyContin), oxymorphone (Numorphan), or propoxyphene (Darvon, Darvocet).
This list is not complete and other drugs may interact with hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan. Tell your doctor about all medications you use. This includes prescription, over-the-counter, vitamin, and herbal products. Do not start a new medication without telling your doctor.
More Diovan HCT resources
- Diovan HCT Side Effects (in more detail)
- Diovan HCT Use in Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
- Drug Images
- Diovan HCT Drug Interactions
- Diovan HCT Support Group
- 15 Reviews for Diovan HCT - Add your own review/rating
- Diovan HCT Prescribing Information (FDA)
- Diovan HCT Advanced Consumer (Micromedex) - Includes Dosage Information
- Diovan HCT MedFacts Consumer Leaflet (Wolters Kluwer)
Compare Diovan HCT with other medications
- High Blood Pressure
Where can I get more information?
- Your pharmacist can provide more information about hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan.
See also: Diovan HCT side effects (in more detail)
