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Valsartan

Three valsartan products sit on this shelf: Diovan HCT (80 mg and 160 mg strengths), Exforge and Entresto, all Novartis-branded tablets for high blood pressure and heart failure.

Diovan Hct

Hypertension

80mg + 12.5mg · 160mg + 12.5mg

Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide tablets for high blood pressure. One part relaxes vessels, the other sheds extra fluid.

From$1.63/ tabletView

Exforge

Hypertension

5mg + 80mg

Amlodipine and valsartan tablets for high blood pressure. Two medicines in one pill, each lowering pressure differently.

From$1.13/ tabletView

Entresto

Heart Failure

24mg + 26mg

Sacubitril and valsartan tablets for heart failure. They combine two actions to reduce strain on a failing heart.

From$0.78/ tabletView

Key points

  • Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) that relaxes blood vessels by blocking a hormone that narrows them.
  • The three listed products pair valsartan with hydrochlorothiazide (Diovan HCT), amlodipine (Exforge) or sacubitril (Entresto), each targeting a different cardiovascular role.
  • Valsartan medicines carry a pregnancy warning: the ingredient can seriously harm a developing fetus.

How does Valsartan work?

Valsartan blocks the action of angiotensin II, a hormone that tightens the walls of blood vessels. With that signal interrupted, the vessels relax and widen, so the heart pumps against less resistance and blood pressure falls.

In the sacubitril combination sold as Entresto, valsartan works alongside a second ingredient that raises levels of natural blood-vessel-relaxing peptides. Together they address the strain on the heart in Heart Failure rather than simply lowering pressure.

Brands and forms in this catalogue

All three products are Novartis tablets, but they are not interchangeable. Diovan HCT adds hydrochlorothiazide, a diuretic that removes excess fluid, and comes in two strengths (80 mg + 12.5 mg and 160 mg + 12.5 mg) for Hypertension. Exforge pairs valsartan with amlodipine, a calcium-channel blocker that relaxes vessels by a separate route, at a single 5 mg + 80 mg strength. Entresto combines valsartan with sacubitril at 24 mg + 26 mg and is listed for heart failure rather than uncomplicated high blood pressure.

Because the molecule never appears alone in this catalogue, the choice between the three is a choice of partner drug and indication, not of valsartan dose. All sit within Heart & Blood Pressure.

Further reading