Diovan (valsartan) is a brand-name drug that’s prescribed for certain cardiovascular problems. Diovan comes as an oral tablet that’s typically taken once or twice per day. The dosage can vary depending on certain factors.

Specifically, Diovan is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat high blood pressure. It’s also approved to lower the risk of hospitalization or death due to heart failure or heart attack.

Diovan belongs to a drug class called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs). It’s available in a generic version called valsartan. In addition, it also comes as a combination drug called Diovan HCT (valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide). However, this article will only focus on Diovan.

Keep reading for specific information about the dosage of Diovan, including its strengths and how to take the medication. For a comprehensive look at Diovan, see this article.

Note: This article describes typical dosages for Diovan provided by the drug’s manufacturer. When taking Diovan, always follow the dosage prescribed by your doctor.

Below is information about Diovan’s form, strengths, and dosages.

Diovan form

Diovan comes as an oral tablet.

Diovan strengths

Diovan comes in four strengths:

  • 40 milligrams (mg)
  • 80 mg
  • 160 mg
  • 320 mg

Typical dosages

Typically, your doctor will start by prescribing you a low dosage. Then, they’ll adjust it over time to reach the amount that’s right for you. Your doctor will ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used/prescribed or recommended in adults. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.

Dosage for high blood pressure

Doctors may prescribe Diovan to treat high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. Depending on the severity of your condition, Diovan may be prescribed alone or in combination with another blood pressure medication.

If your doctor prescribes Diovan for high blood pressure, your starting dose will likely be 80 mg or 160 mg. Typically, you’ll take this once per day.

Your doctor will monitor your blood pressure over time. If necessary, they may increase your dosage to 320 mg, taken once per day. This is the typical recommended dosage of Diovan for high blood pressure. It’s also the maximum recommended dosage.

If you have questions about your specific dosage, talk with your doctor.

Dosage for reducing the risk of hospitalization due to heart failure

Diovan may be prescribed to help prevent hospitalization due to heart failure. In this case, the recommended starting dose of Diovan is 40 mg twice per day.

Depending on how well your body responds to Diovan, your doctor may increase your dosage up to 160 mg twice per day. This is the maximum recommended dosage of Diovan for heart failure.

Talk with your doctor if you have questions about your dosage.

Dosage for use after heart attack

Diovan is also approved to help prevent fatal complications after a heart attack. For this use, doctors may prescribe Diovan as quickly as 12 hours after the heart attack. The recommended starting dose to prevent complications of a heart attack is 20 mg, taken twice per day.

After 7 days, your doctor may recommend increasing your daily dosage to 40 mg twice per day. The maximum recommended dosage of Diovan after a heart attack is 160 mg twice per day.

If you have questions or concerns about your dosage, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Children’s dosage

Diovan is approved to treat high blood pressure in children ages 1 year and older.

The dosage is based on the child’s body weight in kilograms (kg). One kg equals about 2.2 pounds (lb). Diovan’s dosage for children is measured in milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg) of body weight. Your child’s doctor will calculate this dosage.

The typical starting dose is 1 mg/kg of body weight, taken once per day. For example, if your child weighs 30 kg (66 lb), their starting dose would be 30 mg.

However, depending on the severity of your child’s condition, their starting dose may be 2 mg/kg, taken once per day. The maximum recommended starting dose of Diovan for children is 40 mg per day.

Depending on how your child’s body responds to Diovan, their doctor may recommend adjusting the dosage. The maximum daily dosage of Diovan for children is 4 mg/kg or 160 mg per day, whichever is lower.

If you have questions or concerns about your child’s dosage, talk with their doctor.

Long-term treatment

Diovan is meant to be taken as a long-term treatment. If you and your doctor determine that Diovan is safe and effective for you, you’ll likely take it long term.

Before you start taking Diovan, your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you.

The Diovan dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

  • your age
  • your body weight
  • how your body responds to Diovan
  • the type and severity of the condition you’re using Diovan to treat
  • other medications you take
  • side effects you may have with Diovan

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Diovan dosage.

Diovan comes as an oral tablet that you’ll swallow whole. You may take your dose with or without food. However, it’s important that you do not crush or chew the tablets.

Diovan’s 40 mg tablets are scored, meaning there is a line down the middle. Depending on the dosage your doctor prescribes, they may advise you to cut this tablet in half for a 20-mg dose.

Your pharmacist may also be able to turn Diovan tablets into an oral suspension. This can be helpful if you or your child have difficulty swallowing tablets. It’s also a good option for children who are prescribed a dose that isn’t available in tablet form.

If you need an oral suspension, always ask your pharmacist. Never try to make your own oral suspension at home. Your pharmacist can crush the Diovan tablets safely and mix them into a liquid. Then, they’ll tell you how much of the liquid to take for your regular dose.

If you have trouble swallowing tablets, see this article for tips on how to take this form of medication.

It may be helpful to take Diovan around the same time of day. This helps maintain a steady level of the drug in your body so Diovan can work effectively.

ACCESSIBLE DRUG LABELS AND CONTAINERS

Some pharmacies offer labels with large print, braille, or a code you scan with a smartphone to convert text to speech. If your local pharmacy doesn’t have these options, your doctor or pharmacist might be able to recommend a pharmacy that does.

If you’re having trouble opening medication bottles, ask your pharmacist about putting Diovan in an easy-open container. They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.

If you miss a dose of Diovan, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose at the scheduled time. Do not take two doses to make up for the missed one. If you’re not sure whether you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

To help make sure that you don’t miss a dose, try using a medication reminder. This can include setting an alarm or putting a note where you’ll see it, such as on your bathroom mirror or bedside table. You could also download a reminder app on your phone.

It’s important that you do not take more Diovan than your doctor prescribes. For some medications, taking more than the recommended amount may lead to harmful effects or overdose.

If you take more than the recommended amount of Diovan

Call your doctor right away if you believe you’ve taken too much Diovan. Another option is to call America’s Poison Centers at 800-222-1222 or use its online tool. If you have severe symptoms, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number, or go to the nearest emergency room.

Below are some frequently asked questions about Diovan.

Is the dosage of Diovan similar to the dosage of lisinopril?

No, the dosages of Diovan and lisinopril (Zestril) are not similar. Although these drugs may be prescribed to treat similar conditions, they belong to different classes. Diovan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). In contrast, Lisinopril is an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor.

The dose for each drug differs because they have different active ingredients. Your doctor will prescribe the drug and the dosage that’s right for you.

For more information about the dosage of Zestri (the brand-name version of lisinopril), see this article. To learn more about how these drugs compare, talk with your doctor.

How long does it take for Diovan to start working?

Diovan starts to work after your first dose. Because of how the drug works, you likely won’t feel the drug working in your body. But your doctor will monitor you during treatment to check whether the drug is working to treat your condition.

Your doctor can provide more detail about what to expect during treatment with Diovan.

The dosages in this article are typical dosages provided by the drug’s manufacturer. If your doctor recommends Diovan for you, they will prescribe the dosage that’s right for you. Always follow the dosage that your doctor prescribes.

As with any drug, never change your dosage of Diovan without your doctor’s recommendation. If you have questions about the dosage of Diovan that’s best for you, talk with your doctor.

Besides learning about dosage, you may want other information about Diovan. These additional articles might be helpful:

Disclaimer: Medical News Today has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.