Dose once-daily. Maximum antihypertensive effects are attained within 2 to 4 weeks after a change in dose.

Diovan HCT may be administered with or without food.

Diovan HCT may be administered with other antihypertensive agents.

Elderly patients :  No initial dosage adjustment is required for elderly patients.

Renal impairment : The usual regimens of therapy with Diovan HCT may be followed as long as the patient’s creatinine clearance is >30 mL/min. In patients with more severe renal impairment, loop diuretics are preferred to thiazides, so Diovan HCT is not recommended.

Hepatic impairment : Care should be exercised with dosing of Diovan HCT in patients with hepatic impairment. Start with a low dose and titrate slowly in patients with hepatic impairment [s ee Warnings and Precautions (5.3)].

A patient whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled with valsartan (or another ARB) alone or hydrochlorothiazide alone may be switched to combination therapy with Diovan HCT.

A patient who experiences dose-limiting adverse reactions on either component alone may be switched to Diovan HCT containing a lower dose of that component in combination with the other to achieve similar blood pressure reductions. The clinical response to Diovan HCT should be subsequently eva luated and if blood pressure remains uncontrolled after 3 to 4 weeks of therapy, the dose may be titrated up to a maximum of 320/25 mg.

Diovan HCT may be substituted for the titrated components.

The usual starting dose is Diovan HCT 160/12.5 mg once daily. The dosage can be increased after 1 to 2 weeks of therapy to a maximum of one 320/25 mg tablet once daily as needed to control blood pressure [see Clinical Studies (14.2)]. Diovan HCT is not recommended as initial therapy in patients with intravascular volume depletion [see Warnings and Precautions  (5.2)].

80/12.5 mg tablets, imprinted CG/HGH (Side 1/Side 2)

160/12.5 mg tablets, imprinted CG/HHH

160/25 mg tablets, imprinted NVR/HXH

320/12.5 mg tablets, imprinted NVR/HIL

320/25 mg tablets, imprinted NVR/CTI

Diovan HCT (valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide, USP) is contraindicated in patients who are hypersensitive to any component of this product.

Because of the hydrochlorothiazide component, this product is contraindicated in patients with anuria or hypersensitivity to other sulfonamide-derived drugs.

Diovan HCT can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman. If this drug is used during pregnancy, or if the patient becomes pregnant while taking this drug, the patient should be apprised of the potential hazard to the fetus.

Drugs that act on the renin-angiotensin system can cause fetal and neonatal morbidity and mortality when used in pregnancy. In several dozen published cases, ACE inhibitor use during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy was associated with fetal and neonatal injury, including hypotension, neonatal skull hypoplasia, anuria, reversible or irreversible renal failure, and death [see Use in Specific Populations (8.1)].

Intrauterine exposure to thiazide diuretics is associated with fetal or neonatal jaundice, thrombocytopenia, and possibly other adverse reactions that have occurr