A huge number of people periodically suffer from high blood pressure. However, this pathological condition not only brings tangible discomfort to the patient, but also threatens his life. Therefore, in the modern pharmaceutical market, there are many drugs that help lower blood pressure.
The most popular among those people who regularly suffer from hypertension is a medication such as Diocor 160. Instructions for use, analogues of this medication, as well as reviews about it, features and properties will be presented slightly below.
Composition, description, packaging and form
The medicine “Diocor 160”, the instruction of which is contained in a cardboard box, is made in the form of tablets. They are film-coated and contain active ingredients such as valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide. The composition also includes microcrystalline cellulose, sodium lauryl sulfate, potato starch, talc, corn starch, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, colloidal anhydrous silicon dioxide and opadry II Orange.
It is impossible not to say that on sale you can also find such a drug as “Diocor Solo 160”. It differs from the previous one in that only valsartan acts as its active ingredient.
The principle of action of the drug
What is the preparation "Diocor 160"? Instructions for use report that it is an antihypertensive drug, which includes a thiazide diuretic and an angiotensin II receptor antagonist.
This tool has a wide range of physiological effects that take both indirect and direct participation in the regulation of blood pressure. Angiotensin II is a potent vasoconstrictor caused by a direct vasopressor effect. It also retains sodium and stimulates the secretion of aldosterone.
Valsartan is a specific and active angiotensin II receptor antagonist. It is intended for oral administration and selectively acts on receptors of the AT1 subtype, which are responsible for the effects of angiotensin II. This element does not exhibit partial agonistic activity with respect to receptors of the AT1 subtype.
Also, valsartan does not inhibit ACE, which converts angiotensin I to angiotensin II, destroying bradykinin. Side effects due to bradykinin are not observed.
In people with hypertension, this medication causes a decrease in blood pressure. However, it does not affect heart rate.
In many patients, after taking a single dose of the drug in question, the onset of antihypertensive activity is noted within 2 hours, and a decrease in blood pressure after 6 hours.
The antihypertensive effect of the drug persists for more than a day. With regular intake of tablets, the maximum therapeutic effect is achieved within four weeks and is maintained throughout the long-term therapy.
Pharmacokinetics
What kinetic properties are inherent in the medicine "Diocor 160"? Instructions for use (tablets should be prescribed only by a doctor) states that after taking the drug inside, the absorption of hydrochlorothiazide and valsartan is very fast. The average absolute bioavailability of this product is 23%.
The kinetics of valsartan is linear. Repeated use of the drug does not carry any changes. With a single dose of tablets, their cumulation is negligible.
Valsartan binds to plasma proteins at 94-98%. Its excretion is carried out along with feces and urine. When taking valsartan with food, AUC is reduced by 48%.
After taking the tablets inside, the absorption of hydrochlorothiazide occurs rather quickly (about 2 hours). Moreover, its bioavailability is 60-80%. It is excreted along with urine.
With a combination of valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide, the systemic bioavailability of the latter decreases by about 30%.
Indications for use of tablets
Under what conditions can the patient be prescribed the Diocor 160 medication? Instructions for use, reviews of doctors report that this tool works very well with arterial hypertension, as well as with the insufficient effectiveness of monotherapy for this disease.
Contraindications to taking pills
Do you know when the Diocor 160 tablets are not prescribed? The instruction says that such a medicine is contraindicated in case of individual intolerance to its ingredients.
In addition, it is prohibited for use by patients with cholestasis, severe liver dysfunction and biliary cirrhosis. Also, it is not prescribed for people suffering from any form of severe or moderate renal dysfunction, a symptom of anuria, with a reduced level of sodium or potassium in the blood, hypercalcemia and hyperuricemia.
Tablets "Diocor 160": instructions for use
As a rule, to eliminate high blood pressure at home, patients are advised to use one tablet of Diocora 80 once a day. As for the drug "Diocor 160", it is prescribed only in a hospital. In this case, the patient should be under the constant supervision of a doctor.
As practice shows, a noticeable effect with severe hypertension is noted 2-3 weeks after the start of therapy.
For people with moderate or significant liver or kidney failure, it is necessary to carry out a correction of the indicated dosage (individually).
The duration of therapy with this medicine should be determined only by the attending doctor.
Side effects
What side effects should the patient know before using the Diocor Solo 160 medication? The instruction for use states that the medicine in question extremely rarely causes undesirable effects that are unstable and mild.
Approximately 1% of patients receiving this drug experienced mild headaches, back pain, fatigue, coughing, dizziness, and nasopharyngitis.
Less than 1% complained of abdominal pain, anxiety, discomfort in the neck and chest, asthenia, joint pain, serous bronchitis, drowsiness, laryngitis, shortness of breath, dyspeptic disorders, decreased erection, decreased salivation, hypotension, gastroenteritis, paresthesia, increased sweating, decreased sensitivity, muscle cramps, sleep disturbances, peripheral edema, nausea, otitis media, nasal congestion and a slight increase in body temperature. Patients sometimes experienced blurred vision, unstable tachycardia, and tinnitus. It should be noted that a direct relationship between the appearance of these reactions with the drug has not been established.
What other side effects can the Diocor Solo 160 medication cause? Instructions for use indicate that when using this tool there have been isolated cases of the appearance of a rash, itching and other manifestations of an allergic nature, including vasculitis, as well as serum sickness. In addition, patients sometimes developed myalgia and nephral dysfunction.
The most rare form of side effects when taking the drug "Diocor 160" is a mild non-cardiogenic edema, which is associated with individual intolerance to hydrochlorothiazide.
Studies have shown that in some patients treated with this drug, the potassium content in the blood decreased, creatinine and urea increased, and moderate neutropenia was detected.
Overdose symptoms
What symptoms appear when taking large doses of Diocor Solo 160? The instruction states that such cases are unknown to date.
The main sign of increased medication may be severe hypotension. If the drug was taken relatively recently, then the victim needs to artificially induce vomiting. Also, the fight against hypotension can be carried out by intravenous administration of saline.
It should be remembered that it is impossible to remove the medication in question from the body using hemodialysis. This is due to the fact that valsartin, which is part of it, reacts with plasma proteins. However, it should be noted that hydrochlorothiazide in this way is eliminated quite successfully.
Drug Interactions with Other Drugs
Is it possible to combine Diocor 160 with other means? The instruction says that the combination of this drug with other drugs of the antihypertensive group can contribute to the enhanced effect of lowering blood pressure.
The simultaneous use of the drug with potassium supplements, soft diuretics, saline substitutes and substances that increase the potassium content in the body requires regular testing of the concentration of potassium in the blood serum.
With the simultaneous use of "Diocore" with ACE inhibitors, a reversible increase in the concentration of lithium in the blood was detected.
What medicines can I use Diocor 160 medicine with no fears? The instruction informs that during monotherapy of arterial hypertension with this agent, no interaction was noted with Glibenclamide, Amlodipine, Warfarin, Cimetidine, Digoxin, Furosemide, Indomethacin and Atenolol.
Due to the fact that the composition of the medication includes a diuretic of the thiazide group, its following interactions are likely:
- a decrease in the diuretic effect of the drug when used together with NSAIDs (for example, salicylates or “Indomethacin”);
- potentiation of muscle relaxants.
What other drug interactions should you know before taking Diocor 160? Instructions, reviews indicate that while using this product with potassium-sparing diuretics, salicylates, ACTH, carbenexolone and amphotericin, a sharp decrease in the concentration of potassium in the blood is possible.
When injecting and oral sugar-lowering drugs are used, it is necessary to individually adjust their dosages.
It is highly not recommended to use the medication in question together with the diuretics of the thiazide group, as this can enhance the side effects of the above drugs and cause hypersensitivity reactions.
With the simultaneous use of hydrochlorothiazide with methyldopa, hemolytic anemia may develop.
With the combination of the drug "Diocor 160" with colestyramine, its bioavailability and absorption are reduced.
When taking the drug with vitamin D, patients may increase the concentration of calcium in the blood.
It is forbidden to take "Diocor" with cyclosporine, as this can cause gouty symptoms and a state of hyperuricheia.
Special recommendations for taking pills
What you need to know before using Diocor Solo 160? Instructions for use, reviews state that during treatment with this drug, the patient should regularly determine serum levels of electrolytes in the blood.
With the development of hypotension, the victim must be moved to a horizontal position. If required, then an intravenous infusion of saline is carried out. After pressure stabilization, therapy may be continued.
In people with bilateral or unilateral renal artery stenosis, taking valsartan can cause an increase in blood creatinine or urea levels.
When prescribing a medication to patients with impaired renal function, dose adjustment is not required, however, periodic monitoring of creatinine and uric acid, as well as potassium in the blood, is required.
There is evidence that thiazide diuretics can cause exacerbation of systemic lupus erythematosus. They also change the patient's glucose tolerance, increase the concentration of cholesterol, uric acid and TG in the blood. In this regard, patients with diabetes may require dose adjustment of oral hypoglycemic agents or insulin.
In patients with moderate and minor liver dysfunction without cholestasis, dose adjustment is not required. But in such conditions, the drug should be taken with extreme caution.
There are reports of cases of photosensitization due to the use of thiazide diuretics. If during the treatment with this agent a photosensitivity reaction occurs, then treatment should be discontinued.
If it is necessary to re-administer the diuretic, vulnerable areas are recommended to be protected from artificial ultraviolet radiation or the sun.
Analogues of the drug
What can replace the tool we are considering? According to experts, similar properties are possessed by such drugs as Avia-Sea, Dentokind, Inzena, Zinnabsin, Softovak, Medotsef, Vinblastin-teva.
Reviews about the drug
Now you know how to use the Diocor 160 medication. Instructions for use of this medication have been described in detail above.
This tool is very popular among patients and doctors. Experts report that it effectively manifests itself in the presence of severe arterial hyperplasia. Consumers completely agree with this. According to their reviews, taking one tablet helps to restore blood pressure, as well as alleviate their condition.
It should be noted that the drug has a convenient form of release and dosage. However, an increased dose of this medication should be taken only in a hospital, under the supervision of a doctor.