Diovan is the trade name for the prescription drug valsartan. It is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, which is commonly known as an ARB or angiotensin receptor blocker. Diovan is a medication that is used in the treatment of high blood pressure, congestive heart failure, and post myocardial infarction. It is a very popular drug in the treatment of these conditions. In 2005 alone, more than 12 million prescriptions were written for the medication in the United States alone. World wide Diovan boasted global sales of more than $6 billion.

While Diovan has been approved for the treatment of those with the afore mentioned conditions, it has been mentioned in the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease. This comes from a mention in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, but the mention was only based on a mouse model and it is considered highly experimental. There is hope though, that in the future it will be effective in the treatment of such a devastating disease.

Diovan is taken orally in tablet form. The daily dose will vary from patient to patient but will range from 40 to 320 mg daily. The medication is offered in 40, 80, 160, and 320 mg tablets. All of the tablets are scored so that they can be halved for patients who need a more personalized dose. Some markets also offer a gelatin capsule in 40, 80, and 160mg doses.

As is the case with all medications currently on the market, there are some side effects associated with Diovan. Some of the most common side effects are headache and dizziness as well as a sensitivity to the sun or even bright artificial lights. Other patients may experience weight gain and fatigue. There is a report case of stillbirth associated with Diovan which is still under review. It is important to note that there is an increase of about 1% per year that the medication is taken of developing type 2 diabetes. This is even more common with those who have an impaired glucose tolerance. Patients should talk to their doctors about these risks and these side effects and determine if the medication is the best option for their specific situation.