Valsartan

Valsartan, sold under the brand name Diovan among others, is an oral medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and diabetic kidney disease. It is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). It is a reasonable initial treatment for high blood pressure.

Common side effects include feeling tired, dizziness, high blood potassium, diarrhea, and joint pain. Other serious side effects may include kidney problems, low blood pressure, and angioedema. Use in pregnancy may harm the baby and use when breastfeeding is not recommended. It is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist and works by blocking the effects of angiotensin II.

Valsartan was patented in 1990, and came into medical use in 1996. It is available as a generic medication. In 2023, it was the 85th most commonly prescribed medication in the United States, with more than 7million prescriptions.