Valturna

Valturna is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure. It is a single tablet containing 2 medications, aliskiren and valsartan. Aliskiren belongs to a group of drugs called renin inhibitors, which work by reducing renin production in the body to reduce blood pressure. Valsartan belongs to a groups of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), which work by relaxing blood vessels to lower blood pressure. 

This medication comes in tablet form and is taken once daily. Fatty meals may decrease the amount of Valturna  your body is able to absorb. It is important you take Valturna the same way, with or without food, everyday.

Common side effects of Valturna include tiredness, sore throat, runny nose, and diarrhea.

Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation has withdrawn Valturna (aliskiren/valsartan) tablets from the U.S. market (as of July 20, 2012).

Valturna is a prescription medicine used alone or with other medicines to lower high blood pressure in adults:

• when one medicine to lower high blood pressure is not enough
• as the first medicine to lower high blood pressure if your doctor decides that you are likely to need more than one medicine

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

• Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation

Valturna may cause serious side effects:

• Injury or death to an unborn baby. See "Drug Precautions" and FDA Warning.
• Low blood pressure (hypotension). Your blood pressure may get too low if you also take water pills, are on a low-salt diet, get dialysis treatments, have heart problems, or get sick with vomiting or diarrhea. Drinking alcohol and taking certain medicines (barbiturates or narcotics) can cause low blood pressure to get worse. Lie down if you feel faint or dizzy, and call your doctor right away.
• Angioedema. Aliskiren, a component in this medication, can cause swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, arms and legs, or the whole body. Get medical help right away and tell your doctor if you get any one or more of these symptoms. Angioedema can happen at any time while you are taking Valturna.

Common side effects of Valturna include:

• Tiredness
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Diarrhea
• Upper respiratory tract infection
• Urinary tract infection
• Flu or flu-like symptoms
• Dizziness

Tell your doctor if you have any side effect that bothers you or that does not go away. These are not all of the possible side effects of Valturna. For a complete list of side effects, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you are taking:

• other medicines for high blood pressure or a heart problem
• water pills (also called “diuretics”)
• medicines for treating fungus or fungal infections
• cyclosporine (a medicine used to suppress the immune system)
• potassium-containing medicines, potassium supplements, or salt substitutes containing potassium
• atorvastatin
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (like ibuprofen or naproxen)

Your doctor or pharmacist will know what medicines are safe to take together. Know your medicines. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your doctor or pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

You should not take Valturna if:

• If you get pregnant, stop taking Valturna and call your doctor right away. If you plan to become pregnant, talk to your doctor about other treatment options for your high blood pressure. 
• Do not take Valturna if you are allergic to any of its ingredients. 

Tell your doctor about all your medical conditions, including whether you:

• have kidney problems
• have liver problems
• have ever had a reaction called angioedema, to another blood pressure medicine. Angioedema causes swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, arms and legs, and may cause difficulty breathing.
• are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. 
• are breastfeeding. It is not known if Valturna passes into your breast milk.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take including prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins and herbal supplements.

The FDA categorizes medications based on safety for use during pregnancy. Five categories - A, B, C, D, and X, are used to classify the possible risks to an unborn baby when a medication is taken during pregnancy.

This medication falls into category D. Valturna can cause harm or death to an unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about other ways to lower your blood pressure if you plan to become pregnant. If you get pregnant while taking Valturna, tell your doctor right away.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. It is not known if Valturna is excreted in human milk or if it will harm your nursing baby.

• Take Valturna exactly as prescribed by your doctor. It is important to take Valturna every day to control your blood pressure.
• Take Valturna once each day, about the same time each day.
• Take Valturnathe same way everyday, either with or without a meal.
• Your doctor may change your dose of Valturna if needed.
• If you miss a dose of Valturna, take it as soon as you remember. If it is close to your next dose, do not take the missed dose. Just take the next dose at your regular time.
• If you take too much Valturna, call your doctor or a Poison Control Center, or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

If you take too much Valturna, call your healthcare provider or local Poison Control Center, or seek emergency medical attention right away.

If Valturna is administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting, it is unlikely that an overdose will occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

• Store Valturna at room temperature between 59°F-86°F (15°C-30°C).
• Keep Valturna in the original prescription bottle in a dry place. Do not remove the desiccant (drying agent) from the bottle.
• Keep Valturna and all medicines out of the reach of children.

WARNING: FETAL TOXICITY

• When pregnancy is detected, discontinue Valturna as soon as possible. 
• Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.