Exforge vs. Diovan

Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) and Diovan (valsartan) are used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

Exforge is usually given after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.

Diovan is also used for heart failure, and post heart attack.

Both Exforge and Diovan contain angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Exforge also contains a calcium channel blocker.

Side effects of Exforge and Diovan that are similar include dizziness, lightheadedness, and cold symptoms (such as runny or stuffy nose, cough, sneezing, and sore throat).

Side effects of Exforge that are different from Diovan include spinning sensation and flushing (warmth, redness, or tingly feeling).

Side effects of Diovan that are different from Exforge include headache, tiredness, flu symptoms, upper respiratory infection, diarrhea, sinusitis, nausea, stomach pain, swelling, blurred vision, itching or skin rash, back pain, and joint pain.

Both Exforge and Diovan may interact with alcohol, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), cyclosporine, ritonavir, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Exforge may also interact with heart medications, vitamin or mineral supplements that contain potassium, other medications that lower blood pressure, “statins” or other cholesterol medications, lithium, antibiotics, and antifungals.

Diovan may also interact with rifampin.

Side effects of Exforge include:

• dizziness,
• spinning sensation, or lightheadedness as your body adjusts to the medication.

Other side effects of Exforge include flushing, and cold symptoms such as runny/stuffy nose, sneezing, and sore throat.

Tell your doctor if you have serious side effects of Exforge including:

• swelling hands/ankles/feet,
• fainting,
• fast heartbeat,
• unusual change in the amount of urine,
• symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat), or
• signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat).

Common side effects of Diovan include:

• headache,
• dizziness,
• lightheadedness,
• tiredness,
• flu symptoms,
• upper respiratory infection,
• diarrhea,
• cold symptoms (cough, runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, sore throat),
• sinusitis,
• nausea,
• stomach pain,
• swelling,
• blurred vision,
• itching or skin rash,
• back pain, and
• joint pain.

Serious side effects of Diovan include:

• chest pain,
• fainting,
• palpitations,
• shortness of breath,
• weight loss,
• vomiting, and
• swelling of the skin, most often around the lips and eyes.

Exforge (amlodipine and valsartan) is a combination of a calcium channel blocker and an angiotensin II receptor antagonist used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Exforge is usually given after other drugs have been tried without successful treatment of hypertension.

Diovan (valsartan) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker used for the control of hypertension, heart failure, and post heart attack. Diovan is available as a generic.

Exforge may interact with heart medication, potassium supplements or salt substitutes, diuretics (water pills), or other medications that lower blood pressure. Tell your doctor all medications you are taking. Exforge is not recommended for use during pregnancy due to the risk for harm to a fetus. It is unknown if this drug passes into breast milk. Consult your doctor before breastfeeding.

Diovan may interact with diuretics (water pills) and or aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Diovan may also interact with rifampin, ritonavir, or cyclosporine.

Exforge (ziprasidone HCl) is available as capsules and Exforge (ziprasidone mesylate) is available as an injection for intramuscular use.

Exforge Capsules should be administered at an initial daily dose of 20 mg twice daily with food. For intramuscular dosing, the recommended dose of Exforge is 10 mg to 20 mg administered as required up to a maximum dose of 40 mg per day.

Diovan is available as tablets for oral administration in strengths of 40, 80, 160 or 320 mg of valsartan. Usual beginning dose is a total of 80 mg per day, but this may vary. For children with pediatric hypertension (ages 6–16), the dose is weight based at 1.3 mg per Kg weight not to exceed 40 mg per day. Diovan is not recommended for children under the age of 6 or in children with certain renal problems. Diovan may interact with cyclosporine, diuretics (water pills), rifampin, ritonavir, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Tell your doctor all medications and supplements you use. Diovan is not recommended for use during pregnancy; it may cause injury or death to a fetus when the medicine is taken during the second or third trimester. Talk to your doctor about use of birth control while taking Diovan. It is unknown if Diovan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. Breastfeeding while using Diovan is not recommended.