According to the instructions, the medicine “Valsacor” belongs to the class of receptor antagonists that perceive the second type of angiotensin. The medication is prescribed for high blood pressure and as part of the correction of heart failure. The drug is among the powerful enough, so you need to use it carefully, in accordance with the program developed by the doctor, clearly following the recommendations regarding dosages and frequency of use.
Technical details
The medicine for pressure “Valsacor” is available in tablet form. One capsule contains the active component of valsartan in an amount of 80-160 mg, and additional ingredients. The manufacturer uses lactose, cellulose and povidone, sodium compounds and silicon, as well as magnesium stearate. For the manufacture of a shell that simplifies the administration of the drug and ensures its passage through the upper gastrointestinal tract, titanium, iron oxides and dioxides, macrogol and mellose are used.
Are there any alternatives?
Analogs of the medicine "Valsacor" are:
- "Walz".
- Valsafors.
- "Diovan."
In some cases, the doctor may recommend staying with the Nortian drug.
If it is not possible to buy a medication prescribed by a doctor, the issue of replacement must be decided with your doctor. When choosing an alternative, it is important to consider the dosage of the active compound, the presence of auxiliary components, the likelihood of developing an intolerance reaction, hypersensitivity, allergies. As can be seen from the reviews, the analogs of Valsacor practically do not differ in quality from the medication in question. Unauthorized replacement is not recommended and completely not justified, as it carries risks.
Sometimes, as an analogue of Valsacor, doctors recommend the Valaar medication.
general information
Like analogues based on the same active component, Valsacor is one of the drugs that inhibit the activity of receptors that perceive the second type of angiotensin. The drug belongs to the class of antihypertensives. It has a selective effect. The use of the drug leads to an increase in the serum content of the second angiotensin. The effect on certain receptors has an indirect effect on the activity of the first type of angiotensin uptake sites. For these receptors, "Valsacor" does not have a pronounced agonistic effect.
As studies of the activity of the drug have shown, the active substance does not inhibit the second type of kininase necessary for the transformation of angiotensin from the first to the second class. In addition, the drug does not affect bradykinin. Since there is no ACE correction, taking the medicine is extremely rarely accompanied by attacks of dry cough. Compared with patients using ACE inhibitors, the likelihood of developing attacks of this cough is 2.6% and 7.9%.
The nuances of the effect
The medicine "Valsacor" (80, 160 mg) is not able to react with receptors of other hormones, with the exception of the previously mentioned. The drug does not affect the channels of ion conduction, due to which the system of the heart and blood vessels works. The use of the drug against the background of high blood pressure helps to stabilize indicators without adjusting the frequency of acts of contractions of the heart muscle. In most patients, the primary effect can be seen two hours after using the medication. Maximum performance is observed on average five hours after the substance is ingested, lasts about a day. You can use the product regularly. About a two-week period is necessary for a persistent pronounced effect to form. The maximum develops on average by the end of the fourth week and the entire period of taking the tablets continues.
To significantly reduce the pressure, you can use the tool in combination with hydrochlorothiazide. If the use of the drug is stopped abruptly, rebound hypertension does not occur. No other undesirable consequences of termination of the treatment course have been recorded.
Special cases
From clinical practice, the experience of prescribing the drug "Valsacor N" to diabetics is known. If the disease developed according to the scenario of the second type, accompanied by high blood pressure, a study of urine shows microalbuminuria, a therapeutic course can reduce the excretion of albumin from the body. Tests have shown that in diabetics with microalbuminuria and a pressure corresponding to or exceeding the norm, the drug can reduce the concentration of albumin in urine by 36-44%. This requires a therapeutic course lasting 24-30 weeks. Tests were conducted on individuals with a healthy renal system.
Studies were conducted statistics of patients who had a heart attack. If the drug in question is prescribed to persons recently faced with such a condition, the drug course is accompanied by a lower risk of death. A decrease in overall mortality is possible in people who have used the medication regularly for at least two years before. A statistical study took into account data on the condition of patients in the period of 0.5-10 days after a heart attack.
Safe and reliable
As indicated in the instructions and reviews about Valsacor, the medication is one of the most commonly prescribed for diseases of the heart and vascular system. As tests have shown, the use of medication can increase the average life expectancy of patients, reduce the frequency of deaths caused by vascular disease, heart disease. At the same time, the number of hospitalizations is declining for the same reason. “Valsacor” allows you to reduce the risk of recurrent heart attack, the need for urgent help due to insufficient functioning of the heart. Among those taking such pills, there are far fewer people who require resuscitation due to cardiac arrest, non-fatal stroke.
Valsartan, which is part of the medicine “Valsacor N” (160 or 80 mg of this substance is present in each capsule), according to the safety profile, corresponds to the clinic picture of people who have had a heart attack. The use of the drug may be accompanied by an increase in serum creatinine concentration. If the medicine is prescribed against a background of a heart attack, it is necessary to provide the opportunity to regularly check the patient's renal system.
Allowed the appointment of the drug in case of insufficiency of the heart from the second to fourth grade. Studies have shown that in this category of individuals the functional class of the disease improves, the adverse symptoms of pathology are weakened, the overall quality of life is increased. Studies show more stable heart rates.
Is it worth taking?
As can be seen from the reviews, the medicine “Valsacor”, used by patients in accordance with the medical recommendation, can significantly improve the patient's condition. Positive dynamics was noted only by those who took the drug strictly at dosages determined by a specialist, without missing a dose and without using the composition more often than necessary.
As can be concluded from the reviews, the use of “Valsacor” without permission by persons who did not receive such an appointment from the doctor often leads to undesirable effects. Many are faced with side effects and an allergic response of the body. In addition, the drug may be ineffective in a particular case. If it is prescribed by a doctor, this is practically impossible.
Kinetics
As the manufacturer indicates in the instructions for use of the drug "Valsacor", absorption occurs orally soon after using the drug. The maximum plasma concentration is achievable in 2-4 hours. Bioavailability is estimated at 23% on average. If you use the medicine during the meal, availability decreases by 40%, and the concentration in the blood is halved. 8 hours after taking the medication, the content in the blood serum of those who used the drug on an empty stomach, and in those who use it, is leveled with food. The decrease in bioavailability practically does not affect the effectiveness of the product, therefore it is allowed to use it regardless of meals.
Instructions for use of the drug "Valsacor" states that the volume of distribution of the active component reaches 17 l, the substance practically does not penetrate into organic tissues. The compound is capable of reacting with blood proteins, mainly albumin. Active processes of transformation in the body do not occur, about one fifth of the dose is converted into metabolites. An inactive compound is detected in the blood at a concentration approximately ten times lower than the basic substance.
The elimination half-life is estimated at six hours. Elimination is carried out by bile, feces. With urine - up to 13% of the dose. Plasma clearance reaches 2 l / h, in the kidneys - 0.62 l / h.
When is it necessary?
The medicine "Valsacor" is prescribed if an essential increased pressure in the arteries is established. It is allowed to use the drug for hypertension in children. The drug is allowed from the age of six. If a person has recently suffered a heart attack, it belongs to the class of clinically unstable patients, if there are signs of insufficiency of the heart, prescribe "Valsacor". The drug is indicated if a ventricular examination on the left shows systole dysfunction without obvious symptoms of this condition, while the patient recently suffered a heart attack.
In case of insufficiency of the heart, the use of "Valsacor" for the correction of symptoms is allowed. They resort to the tool if the patient can not take ACE inhibitors. Sometimes "Valsacor" is prescribed as an additional element of the therapeutic course, combined with ACE inhibitors. As a rule, this is practiced if beta-blockers cannot be prescribed to the patient.
Many or few?
The medicine "Valsacor" is intended for oral administration. Time of use is not determined by meals. Each tablet should be washed down with a reasonable amount of water without additives. With high blood pressure, adults are recommended to start a therapeutic course with 80 mg of the active substance consumed once a day. A stable effect on pressure can be seen after about two weeks, the maximum - after a month. If it is not possible to take pressure under control, it is allowed to double the dose. The maximum daily volume is 320 mg. It is allowed to combine the medication in question and other drugs to correct hypertension. An additional decrease in pressure is observed if Valsacor is used simultaneously with diuretics.
You can assign "Valsacor" to children, adolescents. It is allowed to use the product from the age of six and older. If body weight is less than 35 kg, at first the patient is given 40 mg daily at the same time. If the body weight is 35 kg or exceeds this limit, the course begins with 80 mg. The dosage is adjusted by monitoring the effectiveness of the drug. The selection should be individual in each case. The maximum daily dosage for individuals whose weight varies between 18-35 kg - 80 mg per day; for those whose weight reaches 80 kg - 160 mg; and for people with a body weight greater than this value, it is allowed to consume up to 320 mg of the drug.
Safety comes first
When prescribing Valsacor medicine for children and adolescents, the doctor must first evaluate the work of the renal system. In case of severe insufficiency of functioning and creatinine clearance of less than 30 ml / min, it is recommended to choose an alternative option: the manufacturer does not recommend the use of Valsacor for such patients. If kidney failure is characterized by creatinine clearance greater than 30 ml / min, the drug can be used in a standard dosage.
The entire period of treatment should check the potassium content in the blood, as well as test the functioning of the renal system.
In case of insufficient functioning in severe form, biliary cirrhosis, cholestasis for children and adolescents, "Valsacor" is not assigned. There is very limited data on the use of the drug in children with mild or moderate liver dysfunction. The maximum daily amount of medication for such patients is 80 mg.
Diagnoses and Doses
Prescription of the medicine “Valsacor” against the background of a recent heart attack is allowed. If the clinical condition is stable, the drug is first taken 0.5 days after the attack. The initial dose is 20 mg. Recommended to use the drug twice a day. Then the volumes gradually increase: 40-80-160 mg. The build-up occurs gradually, under the supervision of a doctor, over several weeks. The target daily maximum dose is 160 mg twice. At first, two weeks twice a day should be used, half that amount, then another three months twice a day, the target volume. The duration and specificity of the course are determined by the tolerance of the drug to the patient. If hypotension occurs, signs of kidney failure are noted, it is necessary to reduce the volume of the drug.
It is allowed to prescribe Valsacor and other drugs effective after a heart attack at the same time. Often, medication is combined with thrombolytics, Aspirin and beta-blockers. Its combination with diuretics, statins is allowed. Whenever possible, combination with ACE inhibitors should be avoided. Analyzing the condition of a person who has suffered a heart attack, the doctor must evaluate the renal activity. The duration of treatment is determined by the attending doctor, based on the dynamics of the condition.
Heart failure
With this diagnosis, the medicine "Valsacor" is used only for the treatment of adult patients. There is no reliable information and clinical observations that would confirm the safety of the drug for children and adolescents. There is also no official information confirming the effectiveness of the composition for such a group of patients.
Initially, “Valsacor” is prescribed twice daily at 40 mg, then gradually increase the dosage to 160 mg twice a day. The pause between increasing the dose should be at least two weeks. Choose what to focus on, focusing on the effectiveness and portability of the product. If the patient uses diuretics, their dosage is reduced when they start taking Valsacor.
With heart failure, the maximum amount of medication per day is 320 mg. This amount is divided into several portions. You can combine the medication with other medications indicated for people with heart failure. The manufacturer advises avoiding the combination of Valsacor, ACE inhibitors and beta-blockers at the same time. Analyzing the patient's condition, special attention must be paid to the work of the kidneys.
Unwanted effects
It is noted that taking the drug can cause a decrease in hemoglobin in the blood. There is a chance of neutro, thrombocytopenia. An allergic response may develop, including serum sickness. There is a chance of an increase in potassium in the blood, a lack of sodium. Possible impaired renal function, an increase in creatinine concentration.
Side effects are known that have been observed in patients taking the medicine "Valsacor", but it was not possible to establish exactly whether they were caused by the use of this drug or other factors. These include arthralgia, asthenia and back pain. Fixed stool disorders, pain and dizziness, deterioration in sleep quality and sexual activity. Some were worried about swelling, nausea, infection of the respiratory system developed, and viral invasion was observed.