Diovan Special Precautions

Patients with sodium- and/or volume-depletion: In severely sodium-depleted and/or volume-depleted patients, such as those receiving high doses of diuretics, symptomatic hypotension may occur in rare cases after initiation of therapy with Diovan. Sodium and/or volume depletion should be corrected before starting treatment with Diovan, for example by reducing the diuretic dose.
If hypotension occurs, the patient should be placed in the supine position and, if necessary, given an i.v. infusion of normal saline. Treatment can be continued once blood pressure has been stabilized.
Patients with renal artery stenosis: Short-term administration of Diovan to twelve patients with renovascular hypertension secondary to unilateral renal artery stenosis did not induce any significant changes in renal hemodynamics, serum creatinine, or blood urea nitrogen (BUN). However, since other drugs that affect the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) may increase blood urea and serum creatinine in patients with bilateral or unilateral renal artery stenosis, monitoring of both parameters is recommended as a safety measure.
Patients with impaired renal function: No dosage adjustment is required for patients with renal impairment. However, no data is available for severe cases (creatinine clearance <10 mL/min.), and caution is therefore advised.
The use of ARBs - including Diovan - or of ACEIs with aliskiren should be avoided in patients with severe renal impairment (GFR < 30 mL/min) (see dual blockade of the RAS under Interactions).
Patients with hepatic impairment: No dosage adjustment is required for patients with hepatic insufficiency. Valsartan is mostly eliminated unchanged in the bile, and patients with biliary obstructive disorders showed lower valsartan clearance (see PHARMACOLOGY under Actions). Particular caution should be exercised when administering valsartan to patients with biliary obstructive disorders.
Patients with heart failure / post-myocardial infarction: Use of Diovan in patients with heart failure or post-myocardial infarction commonly results in some reduction in blood pressure, but discontinuation of Diovan therapy because of continuing symptomatic hypotension is not usually necessary provided dosing instructions are followed.
Caution should be observed when initiating therapy in patients with heart failure or post-myocardial infarction (see DOSAGE & ADMINISTRATION).
As a consequence of the inhibition of the RAAS, changes in renal function may be anticipated in susceptible individuals. In patients with severe heart failure whose renal function may depend on the activity of the RAAS, treatment with ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists has been associated with oliguria and/or progressive azotemia and (rarely) with acute renal failure and/or death. Evaluation of patients with heart failure or post-myocardial infarction should always include assessment of renal function.
In patients with heart failure, caution should be observed with the triple combination of an ACE inhibitor, a beta blocker and valsartan (see PHARMACOLOGY under Actions).
Angioedema: Angioedema, including swelling of the larynx and glottis, causing airway obstruction and/or swelling of the face, lips, pharynx, and/or tongue has been reported in patients treated with valsartan; some of these patients previously experienced angioedema with other drugs including ACE inhibitors. Diovan should be immediately discontinued in patients who develop angioedema, and Diovan should not be re-administered.
Dual Blockade of the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS): Caution is required while co-administering ARBs, including Diovan, with other agents blocking the RAS such as ACEIs or aliskiren (see dual blockade of the RAS under Interactions).