CO-DIOVAN 160/25MG TABLETS

PACKAGE LEAFLET: INFORMATION FOR THE USER
®

Co-Diovan 160/25mg Tablets
(valsartan / hydrochlorothiazide)
This product is available as the above name but will be referred to as Co-Diovan
throughout the following leaflet. Please note that the leaflet also contains information
about other strengths (Co-Diovan 80/12.5mg Tablets and Co-Diovan 160/12.5mg
Tablets).
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it
contains important information for you.
 Keep this leaflet. You may need to read it again.
 If you have any further questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
 This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may
harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
 If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor or pharmacist. This includes any
possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
What is in this leaflet:
1. What Co-Diovan is and what it is used for
2. What you need to know before you take Co-Diovan
3. How to take Co-Diovan
4. Possible side effects
5. How to store Co-Diovan
6. Contents of the pack and other information
1. What Co-Diovan is and what it is used for
Co-Diovan film-coated tablets contain two active substances called valsartan and
hydrochlorothiazide. Both of these substances help to control high blood pressure
(hypertension).
 Valsartan belongs to a class of medicines known as “angiotensin II receptor
antagonists”, which help to control high blood pressure. Angiotensin II is a
substance in the body that causes vessels to tighten, thus causing your blood
pressure to increase. Valsartan works by blocking the effect of angiotensin II. As a
result, blood vessels relax and blood pressure is lowered.
 Hydrochlorothiazide belongs to a group of medicines called thiazide diuretics
(also known as “water tablets”). Hydrochlorothiazide increases urine output, which
also lowers blood pressure.
Co-Diovan is used to treat high blood pressure which is not adequately controlled by a
single substance alone.
High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart and arteries. If not treated, it
can damage the blood vessels of the brain, heart, and kidneys, and may result in a
stroke, heart failure or kidney failure. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart
attacks. Lowering your blood pressure to normal reduces the risk of developing these
disorders.
2. What you need to know before you take Co-Diovan
Do not take Co-Diovan:
 if you are allergic (hypersensitive) to valsartan, hydrochlorothiazide, sulphonamide
derivatives (substances chemically related to hydrochlorothiazide) or to any of the
other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
 if you are more than 3 months pregnant (it is also better to avoid Co-Diovan in
early pregnancy - see pregnancy section).
 if you have severe liver disease, destruction of the small bile ducts within the liver
(biliary cirrhosis) leading to the build up of bile in the liver (cholestasis).
 if you have severe kidney disease.
 if you are unable to produce urine (anuria).
 if you are treated with an artificial kidney.
 if the level of potassium or sodium in your blood is lower than normal, or if the level
of calcium in your blood is higher than normal despite treatment.
 if you have gout.
 if you have diabetes or impaired kidney function and you are treated with a blood
pressure lowering medicine containing aliskiren.
If any of the above apply to you, tell your doctor and do not take Co-Diovan.
Warnings and precautions
Talk to your doctor
 if you are taking potassium-sparing medicines, potassium supplements, salt
substitutes containing potassium or other medicines that increase the amount of
potassium in your blood such as heparin. Your doctor may need to check the
amount of potassium in your blood regularly.
 if you have low levels of potassium in your blood.
 if you have diarrhoea or severe vomiting.
 if you are taking high doses of water tablets (diuretics).
 if you have severe heart disease.
 if you are suffering from heart failure or have experienced a heart attack. Follow
your doctor’s instruction for the starting dose carefully. Your doctor may also check
your kidney function.
 if you suffer from a narrowing of the kidney artery.
 if you have recently received a new kidney.
 if you suffer from hyperaldosteronism. This is a disease in which your adrenal
glands make too much of the hormone aldosterone. If this applies to you, the use of
Co-Diovan is not recommended.
 if you have liver or kidney disease.
 if you have ever experienced swelling of the tongue and face caused by an allergic
reaction called angioedema when taking another drug (including ACE inhibitors), tell
your doctor. If these symptoms occur when you are taking Co-Diovan, stop taking
Co-Diovan immediately and never take it again. See also section 4, “Possible side
effects”.
 if you have fever, rash and joint pain, which may be signs of systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE, a so-called autoimmune disease).
 if you have diabetes, gout, high levels of cholesterol or triglycerides in your blood.
 if you have had allergic reactions with the use of other blood pressure-lowering
agents of this class (angiotensin II receptor antagonists) or if you have allergy or
asthma.
 if you experience a decrease in vision or eye pain. These could be symptoms of an
increase of pressure in your eye and can happen within hours to a week of taking
Co-Diovan. This can lead to permanent vision loss, if not treated. If you earlier have
had a penicillin or sulphonamide allergy you can be at higher risk of developing this.

 if you are taking any of the following medicines used to treat high blood pressure:
o an ACE inhibitors (for example enalapril, lisinopril, Ramipril), in particular if
you have diabetes-related kidney problems.
o aliskiren
Your doctor may check your kidney function, blood pressure and the amount of
electrolytes (e.g. potassium) in your blood at regular intervals.
See also information under the heading “Do not take Co-Diovan”
Co-Diovan may cause increased sensitivity of the skin to sun.
The use of Co-Diovan in children and adolescents (below the age of 18 years) is not
recommended.
You must tell your doctor if you think you are (or might become) pregnant. Co-Diovan
is not recommended in early pregnancy and must not be taken if you are more than 3
months pregnant, as it may cause serious harm to your baby if used at that stage (see
pregnancy section).
Other medicines and Co-Diovan
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken any other
medicines, or might take any other medicines.
The effect of the treatment can be influenced if Co-Diovan is taken together with
certain other medicines. It may be necessary to change the dose, to take other
precautions, or in some cases to stop taking one of the medicines. This especially
applies to the following medicines:
 lithium, a medicine used to treat some types of psychiatric diseases.
 medicines or substances that may increase the amount of potassium in your blood.
These include potassium supplements or salt substitutes containing potassium,
potassium-sparing medicines and heparin.
 medicines that may reduce the amount of potassium in your blood, such as
diuretics (water tablets), corticosteroids, laxatives, carbenoxolone, amphotericin or
penicillin G.
 some antibiotics (rifamycin group), a drug used to protect against transplant
rejection (ciclosporin) or an antiretroviral drug used to treat HIV/AIDS infection
(ritonavir). These drugs may increase the effect of Co-Diovan.
 medicines that may induce “torsades de pointes” (irregular heart beat), such as
antiarrhythmics (medicines used to treat heart problems) and some antipsychotics.
 medicines that may reduce the amount of sodium in your blood, such as
antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiepileptics.
 medicines for the treatment of gout, such as allopurinol, probenecid, sulfinpyrazone.
 therapeutic vitamin D and calcium supplements.
 medicines for the treatment of diabetes (oral agents such as metformin or insulins).
 other medicines to lower your blood pressure including methyldopa, ACE inhibitors
(such as enalapril, lisinopril, etc.) or aliskiren (see also information under the
headings “Do not take Co-Diovan” and “Warnings and precautions”).
 medicines to increase blood pressure, such as noradrenaline or adrenaline.
 digoxin or other digitalis glycosides (medicines used to treat heart problems).
 medicines that may increase blood sugar levels, such as diazoxide or beta
blockers.
 cytotoxic medicines (used to treat cancer), such as methotrexate or
cyclophosphamide.
 pain killers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agents (NSAIDs), including
selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors (Cox-2 inhibitors) and acetylsalicylic acid >
3g.
 muscle relaxing medicines, such as tubocurarine.
 anti-cholinergic medicines (medicines used to treat a variety of disorders such as
gastrointestinal cramps, urinary bladder spasm, asthma, motion sickness, muscular
spasms, Parkinson’s disease and as an aid to anaesthesia).
 amantadine (medicine used to treat Parkinson’s disease and also used to treat or
prevent certain illnesses caused by viruses).
 cholestyramine and colestipol (medicines used mainly to treat high levels of lipids in
the blood).
 ciclosporin, a medicine used for organ transplant to avoid organ rejection.
 alcohol, sleeping pills and anaesthetics (medicines with sleeping or painkilling effect
used for example during surgery).
 iodine contrast media (agents used for imaging examinations).
Taking Co-Diovan with food, drink and alcohol
Avoid taking alcohol until you have talked to your doctor. Alcohol may make your
blood pressure fall more and/or increase the risk of you becoming dizzy or feeling
faint.
Pregnancy and breast-feeding
 You must tell your doctor if you think that you are (or might become)
pregnant
Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking Co-Diovan before you become
pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant, and will advise you to take
another medicine instead of Co-Diovan. Co-Diovan is not recommended in early
pregnancy, and must not be taken when more than 3 months pregnant, as it may
cause serious harm to your baby if it is used after the third month of pregnancy.
 Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding
Co-Diovan is not recommended for mothers who are breast-feeding, and your doctor
may choose another treatment for you if you wish to breast-feed, especially if your
baby is newborn, or was born prematurely.
Driving and using machines
Before you drive a vehicle, use tools or operate machines or carry out other activities
that require concentration, make sure you know how Co-Diovan affects you. Like
many other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, Co-Diovan may occasionally
cause dizziness and affect the ability to concentrate.
3. How to take Co-Diovan
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. This will help you to get
the best results and lower the risk of side effects. Check with your doctor or
pharmacist if you are not sure.
People with high blood pressure often do not notice any signs of this problem. Many
may feel quite normal. This makes it all the more important for you to keep your
appointments with your doctor even if you are feeling well.

Your doctor will tell you exactly how many tablets of Co-Diovan to take. Depending on
how you respond to the treatment, your doctor may suggest a higher or lower dose.

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The recommended dose of Co-Diovan is one tablet per day.
Do not change the dose or stop taking the tablets without consulting your doctor.
The medicine should be taken at the same time each day, usually in the morning.
You can take Co-Diovan with or without food.
Swallow the tablet with a glass of water.

If you take more Co-Diovan than you should
If you experience severe dizziness and/or fainting, lie down and contact your doctor
immediately.
If you have accidentally taken too many tablets, contact your doctor, pharmacist or
hospital.
If you forget to take Co-Diovan
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost
time for your next dose, skip the dose you missed.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Co-Diovan
Stopping your treatment with Co-Diovan may cause your high blood pressure to get
worse. Do not stop taking your medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any further questions on the use of this medicine, ask your doctor or
pharmacist.
4. Possible Side Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause side effects, although not everybody gets
them.
Some side effects can be serious and need immediate medical attention:
You should see your doctor immediately if you experience symptoms of angioedema,
such as:
 swollen face, tongue or pharynx
 difficulty in swallowing
 hives and difficulties in breathing
 Severe skin disease that causes rash, red skin, blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth,
skin peeling, fever (toxic epidermal necrolysis)
 Decrease in vision or pain in your eyes due to high pressure (possible signs of
acute angle-closure glaucoma)
 Fever, sore throat, more frequent infections (agranulocytosis)
These side effects are very rare or of frequency not known.
If you get any of these symptoms, stop taking Co‑Diovan and contact your
doctor straight away (see also section 2 “Warnings and precautions”).
Side effects include:
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
 cough
 low blood pressure
 light-headedness
 dehydration (with symptoms of thirst, dry mouth and tongue, infrequent urination,
dark colored urine, dry skin)
 muscle pain
 tiredness
 tingling or numbness
 blurred vision
 noises (e.g. hissing, buzzing) in ears
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
 dizziness
 diarrhoea
 joint pain
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
 breathing difficulty
 severely decreased urine output
 low level of sodium in the blood (which can trigger tiredness, confusion, muscle
twitching and / or convulsions in severe cases)
 low level of potassium in the blood (sometimes with muscle weakness, muscle
spasms, abnormal heart rhythm)
 low level of white cells in the blood (with symptoms such as fever, skin infections,
sore throat or mouth ulcers due to infections, weakness)
 the level of bilirubin increased in blood (which can, in severe cases, trigger yellow
skin and eyes)
 the level of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine increased in blood (which can
indicate abnormal kidney function)
 the level of uric acid in blood increased (which can, in severe cases, trigger gout)
 syncope (fainting)
The following side effects have been reported with products containing
valsartan or hydrochlorothiazide alone:
Valsartan
Uncommon (may affect up to 1 in 100 people):
 spinning sensation
 abdominal pain
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
 blistering skin (sign of dermatitis bullous)
 skin rash with or without itching together with some of the following signs or
symptoms: fever, joint pain, muscle pain, swollen lymph nodes and/or flu-like
symptoms
 rash, purplished-red spots, fever, itching (symptoms of inflammation of blood
vessels)
 low level of blood platelets (sometimes with unusual bleeding or bruising)
 high level of potassium in the blood (sometimes with muscle spasms, abnormal
heart rhythm)
 allergic reactions (with symptoms such as rash, itching, hives, difficulty breathing or
swallowing, dizziness)
 swelling mainly of the face and throat; rash; itching
 elevation of liver function values
 the level of haemoglobin decreased and the percentage of red cells decreased in
the blood (which both can, in severe cases, trigger an anaemia).

 kidney failure
 low level of sodium in the blood (which can trigger tiredness, confusion, muscle
twitching and/or convulsions in severe cases)
Hydrochlorothiazide
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people):
 low level of potassium in the blood
 increase of lipids in the blood
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people):
 low level of sodium in the blood
 low level of magnesium in the blood
 high level of uric acid in the blood
 itchy rash and other types of rash
 reduced appetite
 mild nausea and vomiting
 dizziness, fainting on standing up
 inability to achieve or maintain erection
Rare (may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people):
 swelling and blistering of the skin (due to increased sensitivity to sun)
 high level of calcium in the blood
 high level of sugar in the blood
 sugar in the urine
 worsening of diabetic metabolic state
 constipation, diarrhoea, discomfort of the stomach or bowels, liver disorders which
can occur together with yellow skin and eyes
 irregular heart beat
 headache
 sleep disturbances
 sad mood (depression)
 low level of blood platelets (sometimes with bleeding or bruising underneath the
skin)
 dizziness
 tingling or numbness
 vision disorder
Very rare (may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people):
 inflammation of blood vessels with symptoms such as rash, purplish-red spots,
fever (vasculitis)
 rash, itching, hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, dizziness (hypersensitivity
reactions)
 facial rash, joint pain, muscle disorder, fever (lupus erythematosus)
 severe upper stomach pain (pancreatitis)
 difficulty breathing with fever, coughing, wheezing, breathlessness (respiratory
distress including pneumonitis and pulmonary oedema)
 pale skin, tiredness, breathlessness, dark urine (haemolytic anaemia)
 fever, sore throat or mouth ulcers due to infections (leucopenia)
 confusion, tiredness, muscle twitching and spasm, rapid breathing (hypochloraemic
alkalosis)
Not known (frequency cannot be estimated from the available data):
 weakness, bruising and frequent infections (aplastic anemia)
 severely decreased urine output (possible signs of renal disorder or renal failure)
 rash, red skin, blistering of the lips, eyes or mouth, skin peeling, fever (possible
signs of erythema multiforme)
 muscle spasm
 fever (pyrexia)
 weakness (asthenia)
Reporting of side effects
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any
possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. You can also report side effects directly
via the Yellow Card Scheme at: www.mhra.gov.uk/yellowcard. By reporting side
effects you can help provide more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. How to store Co-Diovan

 Keep out of the sight and reach of children.
 Do not use after the expiry date printed on the carton label or blister strip. The
expiry date refers to the last day of that month.
 Do not store above 30°C. Store in the original package in order to protect from
moisture.
 If your doctor tells you to stop taking the tablets, please take them back to the
pharmacist for safe disposal. Only keep the tablets if your doctor tells you to.
 Medicines should not be disposed of via wastewater or household waste. Ask your
pharmacist how to dispose of medicines no longer required. These measures will
help to protect the environment.
 If the tablets become discoloured or show signs of any deterioration, you should
seek the advice of your pharmacist.
6. Contents of the pack and other information
What Co-Diovan contains
Each film-coated Co-Diovan Tablet contains 160mg of valsartan and 25 mg of
hydrochlorothiazide as the active ingredients.
Co-Diovan also contains the following inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose,
colloidal anhydrous silica, crospovidone, magnesium stearate, hypromellose,
macrogol 4000, talc, titanium dioxide (E171) and red, black and yellow iron oxide
(E172).
What Co-Diovan looks like and contents of the pack
The brown orange coloured capsule-shaped tablets are marked ‘HXH’ on one side
and ‘NVR’ on the reverse.
Co-Diovan is available as calendar blister packs of 28 tablets.
POM

PL No: 17805/0376

This product is manufactured by Novartis Farma S.p.A, Via Provinciale Schito 131,
80058 Torre Annunziata NA, Italy and procured from within the EU by the Product
Licence holder Delta Pharma (Europe) Ltd, 1 Colonial Way, P.O. Box 233, North
Watford, Herts, WD24 4EW and repackaged by O.P.D. Laboratories Ltd., Watford,
Herts, WD24 4PR.
Co-Diovan is a registered Trade Mark of Novartis AG, Switzerland.
Leaflet revision issue date (ref): 20.06.2016.
To request a copy of this leaflet in Braille, large print or audio please call 01923 332 796.