What Should I Tell My Healthcare Provider Before Taking Aliskiren and Valsartan?
- Kidney disease, such as kidney failure (renal failure)
- Liver problems, such as liver failure or cirrhosis
- Heart problems, especially congestive heart failure (CHF) or a recent heart attack
- High blood potassium (hyperkalemia)
- Any allergies, including to food, dyes, or preservatives.
Also, let your healthcare provider know if you are:
- Pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant
- Breastfeeding.
Make sure to tell your healthcare provider about all of the medicines you take, including prescription and nonprescription medications, vitamins, and herbal supplements.
Specific Aliskiren and Valsartan Warnings and Precautions
Some warnings and precautions to be aware of prior to taking
aliskiren and
valsartan include the following:
- Pregnant women should not take this drug. Medications like aliskiren and valsartan have been shown to cause serious problems when used during pregnancy (see Valturna and Pregnancy for more information).
- Aliskiren and valsartan can cause angioedema, a life-threatening reaction involving swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, or throat. If you experience such symptoms, seek immediate medical attention.
- Just like all blood pressure medications, aliskiren and valsartan may sometimes cause low blood pressure (hypotension). Let your healthcare provider know if you develop signs of low blood pressure, such as dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting.
- Make sure your healthcare provider knows if you have kidney, liver, or heart problems before you take this medicine. Your healthcare provider may need to monitor you more closely, and in some situations, aliskiren and valsartan may not be the best choice for you.
- In rare cases, aliskiren and valsartan causes high blood potassium (hyperkalemia). However, this may be more common if you already have elevated potassium levels or if you take certain medications that also increase potassium levels (see Drug Interactions With Aliskiren and Valsartan).
- It is not known whether aliskiren and valsartan passes through breast milk. Therefore, if you are breastfeeding or plan to start, discuss this with your healthcare provider prior to taking the drug (see Valturna and Breastfeeding).
