What Co-Diovan is used for
Co-Diovan is used to control high blood pressure, also called hypertension.
Everybody has blood pressure. This pressure helps get your blood all around your body.
Your blood pressure may be different at different times of the day, depending on how busy or worried you are. You have hypertension (high blood pressure) when your blood pressure stays higher than is needed, even when you are calm and relaxed.
High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart and blood vessels. If it continues for a long time, it can damage the blood vessels in the brain, heart and kidneys. This can lead to stroke, heart failure or kidney failure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attacks. Lowering your blood pressure reduces the chance of these disorders happening.
Co-Diovan contains valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide. These medicines reduce blood pressure in two different ways.
Valsartan blocks the effect of angiotensin II, which is a substance in the body that tightens blood vessels and makes your blood pressure rise. When the effect of angiotensin II is blocked, your blood vessels relax and your blood pressure goes down.
Hydrochlorothiazide helps reduce the amount of excess fluid in the body by increasing the amount of urine produced. This helps lower your blood pressure.
When you must not take it
Do not take Co-Diovan if you have ever had an allergic reaction after taking:
valsartan or hydrochlorothiazide (the active ingredients in Co-Diovan) or sulfonamide-derived medicines (such as some antibiotics eg. Bactrim® trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole)
any of the other ingredients listed at the end of this leaflet
Symptoms of an allergic reaction may include shortness of breath, wheezing or difficulty breathing; swelling of the face, lips, tongue or other parts of the body; rash, itching or hives on the skin.
Do not take Co-Diovan if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Co-Diovan is not recommended for use in pregnancy. Like other similar medicines, it could affect your unborn baby.
Do not take Co-Diovan if you have:
severe kidney or liver disease including biliary cirrhosis
cholestasis, which is reduced or stopped bile flow
anuria, which is a condition where you are unable to urinate
high uric acid levels in the blood, which may cause gout
low level of potassium or sodium, or high level of calcium in your blood
Check with your doctor if you are unsure if you have any of the above conditions.
How much to take
The usual dose is 80/12.5 mg, 160/12.5 mg or 320/12.5 mg once a day. If your blood pressure is still too high after 4 weeks, your doctor may increase the dose to 160/25 mg or 320/25 mg once a day.
How to take it
Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water. Always take Co-Diovan the same way in relation to food. It does not matter if you take Co-Diovan after food or on an empty stomach, as long as you take it the same way each day.
If your stomach is upset after taking Co-Diovan, always take it after a meal (e.g. breakfast).
How long to take it
Take this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop even if you feel quite well. People who have high blood pressure often feel well and do not notice any signs of this problem.
It will take at least 4 weeks for this medicine to have its full effect. After that, it can be continued for as long as needed to control your blood pressure.
Side effects
Tell your doctor or pharmacist as soon as possible if you do not feel well while you are taking Co-Diovan, even if you do not think it is connected with the medicine. All medicines can have side effects. Sometimes they are serious, but most of the time they are not. You may need medical treatment if you get some of the side effects.
Do not be alarmed by this list of possible side effects. You may not experience any of them.
Ask your doctor or pharmacist to answer any questions you may have.
Tell your doctor if you notice any of these side effects and they worry you:
headache
dizziness, spinning sensation, blurred vision
sleepiness, tiredness or weakness
pain in the back or joints
runny or bleeding nose or congested sinuses
dry cough, sore throat or hoarse voice
dry mouth
diarrhoea, constipation or wind
nausea (feeling sick), vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach upset or indigestion
back pain, muscle pain, muscle tenderness or weakness, cramps or joint pain
tingling or numbness in hands or feet
blistering skin
symptoms of sunburn which happens more quickly than normal
difficulty sleeping
feeling anxious or sad
dizziness on standing up, especially when getting up from a sitting or lying position
problems with sexual function
pain when passing urine, frequent urge to urinate
hair loss
facial pain
