Introduction
Package Leaflet: Information for the User
Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen 320mg/25mg film-coated tablets
Read all of this leaflet carefully before you start taking this medicine because it contains important information for you.
- Keep this leaflet, you may need to read it again.
- If you have any further questions, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse.
- This medicine has been prescribed for you only. Do not pass it on to others. It may harm them, even if their signs of illness are the same as yours.
- If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in this leaflet. See section 4.
Contents of the pack and other information
- What is Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen and what is it used for
- What you need to know before you take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen
- How to take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen
- Possible side effects
- Storage of Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen
- Contents of the pack and other information
1. What is Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen and what is it used for
Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen film-coated tablets contain two active ingredients, valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide. These ingredients help control high blood pressure (hypertension).
- Valsartanbelongs to a class of medicines known as “angiotensin II receptor antagonists” that help control high blood pressure. Angiotensin II is a substance in the body that causes blood vessels to narrow, leading to an increase in blood pressure. Valsartan works by blocking the effect of angiotensin II. As a result, blood vessels relax and blood pressure decreases.
- Hydrochlorothiazidebelongs to a class of medicines known as thiazide diuretics. Hydrochlorothiazide increases urine production, which also decreases blood pressure.
Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen is used to treat high blood pressure that is not adequately controlled with a single component.
High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart and arteries. If left uncontrolled, it can damage the blood vessels in the brain, heart, and kidneys, and may lead to a stroke, heart failure, or kidney failure. High blood pressure also increases the risk of heart attacks. Lowering blood pressure to normal levels reduces the risk of developing these disorders.
2. What you need to know before you take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen
Do not take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen
- if you are allergic to valsartan, hydrochlorothiazide, sulfonamide derivatives (chemically related to hydrochlorothiazide), or any of the other ingredients of this medicine (listed in section 6).
- if you are pregnant more than 3 months. (In any case, it is better to avoid taking this medicine also at the beginning of your pregnancy – see section Pregnancy).
- if you have severe liver disease.
- if you have severe kidney disease.
- if you are unable to urinate.
- if you are undergoing dialysis.
- if you have low potassium or sodium levels in your blood, or if your blood calcium levels are higher than normal despite treatment.
- if you have gout.
- if you have diabetes or kidney impairment and are being treated with a blood pressure-lowering medicine that contains aliskiren.
If any of these conditions apply to you, do not take this medicine and consult your doctor.
Warnings and precautions
Consult your doctor or pharmacist or nurse before starting treatment with Valsartan TecniGen.
- if you are using potassium-sparing medicines, potassium supplements, potassium-containing salt substitutes, or other medicines that increase the amount of potassium in your blood, such as heparin. Your doctor may consider it necessary to regularly check your potassium levels.
- if you have low potassium levels in your blood.
- if you experience severe diarrhea or vomiting.
- if you are taking high doses of a diuretic.
- if you have severe heart disease.
- if you have narrowing of the renal artery.
- if you have recently undergone a kidney transplant.
- if you have hyperaldosteronism, a disease in which the adrenal glands produce too much aldosterone hormone. In this case, Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide is not recommended.
- if you have kidney or liver disease.
- if you have fever, skin rash, and joint pain, which can be signs of systemic lupus erythematosus (a known autoimmune disease).
- if you have diabetes, gout, high cholesterol, or lipid levels in your blood.
- if you have previously experienced an allergic reaction with the use of another medicine in this class to lower blood pressure (angiotensin II receptor antagonists), or if you suffer from any type of allergy or asthma.
- may cause increased sensitivity of the skin to the sun.
- if you are taking any of the following medicines used to treat high blood pressure:
- an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE inhibitor) (e.g., enalapril, lisinopril, ramipril), particularly if you have kidney problems related to diabetes.
- aliskiren
Consult your doctor if you experience abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea after taking valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide. Your doctor will decide whether to continue treatment. Do not stop taking valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide on your own.
If you experience a decrease in vision or eye pain, these could be symptoms of fluid accumulation in the vascular layer of the eye (choroidal effusion) or an increase in eye pressure and can occur within hours to a week after taking valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide.
Your doctor may regularly check your kidney function, blood pressure, and electrolyte levels (e.g., potassium) in your blood.
See also the information under the heading “Do not take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen”
Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide is not recommended for use in children and adolescents (under 18 years).
If you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby, ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking this medicine. It is not recommended to take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide during the first three months of pregnancy and in no case should it be administered after the third month of pregnancy as it may cause serious harm to your baby, see section Pregnancy.
Athletes:
This medicine contains hydrochlorothiazide, which may produce a positive result in doping tests (see references in section 4.4 of the technical sheet).
Use of Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen with other medicines
Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are using or have recently used other medicines, including those obtained without a prescription.
The effect of treatment with Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen may be altered if taken with certain medicines. Your doctor may need to modify your dose and/or take other precautions or, in some cases, stop treatment with one of the medicines. This is especially applicable to the following medicines:
- lithium, a medicine used to treat certain psychiatric disorders
- medicines that may affect or be affected by potassium levels, such as digoxin, a medicine to control heart rhythm, some antipsychotic medicines
- medicines that may increase potassium levels in the blood, such as potassium supplements, potassium-containing salt substitutes, potassium-sparing medicines, heparin
- medicines that may decrease potassium levels in the blood, such as corticosteroids, some laxatives
- diuretics (medicines to increase urine production), medicines to treat gout, such as allopurinol, therapeutic vitamin D, and calcium supplements, medicines to treat diabetes (oral antidiabetics or insulin)
- other medicines to lower blood pressure, such as beta-blockers or methyldopa, ACE inhibitors (such as enalapril, lisinopril, etc.) or aliskiren (see also the information under the headings “Do not take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen” and “Warnings and precautions”).
- medicines that narrow your blood vessels or stimulate your heart, such as noradrenaline or adrenaline
- medicines to increase blood sugar levels, such as diazoxide
- medicines to treat cancer, such as methotrexate or cyclophosphamide
- medicines for pain
- medicines for arthritis
- muscle relaxants, such as tubocurarine
- anticholinergic medicines, such as atropine or biperiden
- amantadine (a medicine to prevent flu)
- cholestyramine and colestipol (medicines used to treat high lipid levels in the blood)
- cyclosporine, a medicine used to prevent organ rejection after transplantation
- certain antibiotics (tetracyclines), anesthetics, and sedatives
- carbamazepine, a medicine used to treat seizures.
Taking Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen with food, drinks, and alcohol
You can take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen with or without food.
Avoid drinking alcohol until you have talked to your doctor. Alcohol may further lower your blood pressure and/or increase the risk of dizziness and weakness.
Pregnancy, breastfeeding, and fertility
Ask your doctor or pharmacist for advice before taking any medicine.
- You must inform your doctor if you are pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or are planning to have a baby.Your doctor will normally advise you to stop taking Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide before you become pregnant or as soon as you know you are pregnant, and will advise you to take another medicine to treat your high blood pressure. Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide should not be used during the first three months of pregnancy and should not be used after the third month of pregnancy as it may cause serious harm to your baby.
- Tell your doctor if you are breast-feeding or about to start breast-feeding, as Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide is not recommended for use during breast-feeding. Your doctor may decide to prescribe a different treatment if you want to breast-feed, especially if you are breast-feeding a newborn or premature baby.
Driving and using machines
Before driving a vehicle, using tools, or operating machinery, or engaging in other activities that require concentration, make sure you know how Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide affects you. Like many other medicines used to treat high blood pressure, Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide may cause, in rare cases, dizziness and affect your ability to concentrate.
3. How to take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen
Always take this medicine exactly as your doctor has told you. This will help you to get the best results and reduce the risk of side effects. If you are not sure, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
People with high blood pressure often do not notice any symptoms; many feel normal. This makes it very important to attend your doctor's appointments, even if you feel well.
Your doctor will tell you exactly how many Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide tablets to take. Depending on how you respond to treatment, your doctor may suggest increasing or decreasing the dose.
- The usual dose of Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide is one tablet per day.
- Do not change the dose or stop treatment without consulting your doctor.
- This medicine should be taken at the same time every day, usually in the morning.
- You can take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide with or without food.
- Swallow the tablet with a glass of water.
If you take more Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen than you should
If you notice a strong dizziness and/or fainting, lie down and contact your doctor immediately.
In case of overdose or accidental ingestion, consult your doctor or pharmacist immediately or call the Toxicology Information Service, phone: 91 562 04 20 (indicating the medicine and the amount ingested).
If you forget to take Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen
If you forget to take a dose, take it as soon as you remember. However, if it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose.
Do not take a double dose to make up for a forgotten dose.
If you stop taking Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide TecniGen
If you stop your treatment with Valsartan/Hydrochlorothiazide, your high blood pressure may worsen. Do not stop taking the medicine unless your doctor tells you to.
If you have any further questions on the use of this product, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
4. Possible Adverse Effects
Like all medicines, this medicine can cause adverse effects, although not all people suffer from them.
These adverse effects may occur with certain frequencies, which are defined below:
- very frequent: may affect more than 1 in 10 people.
- frequent: may affect up to 1 in 10 people
- infrequent: may affect up to 1 in 100 people
- rare: may affect up to 1 in 1,000 people
- very rare: may affect up to 1 in 10,000 people
- frequency not known: the frequency cannot be estimated from the available data
Some adverse effects can be serious and require immediate medical attention:
You should visit your doctor immediately if you notice symptoms of angioedema, such as:
- swelling in the face, tongue, or pharynx
- difficulty swallowing
- hives and difficulty breathing.
Other adverse effects include:
Infrequent
- cough
- low blood pressure
- dizziness
- dehydration (with symptoms of thirst, dry mouth and tongue, reduced urination frequency, dark-colored urine, dry skin)
- muscle pain
- fatigue
- tingling or numbness
- blurred vision
- noises (e.g., ringing or buzzing) in the ears
Very rare
- dizziness
- diarrhea
- joint pain
Frequency not known
- difficulty breathing
- severe decrease in diuresis
- low sodium levels in the blood (sometimes with nausea, fatigue, confusion, discomfort, convulsions)
- low potassium levels in the blood (sometimes with muscle weakness, muscle spasms, abnormal heart rhythm)
- low white blood cell count in the blood (with symptoms such as fever, skin infections, sore throat or mouth ulcers due to infections, weakness)
- increased bilirubin levels in the blood (which, in severe cases, can cause the skin and eyes to turn yellow)
- increased urea and creatinine levels in the blood (which may indicate abnormal kidney function)
- increased uric acid levels in the blood (which, in severe cases, can trigger a gout attack)
- syncope (fainting)
Adverse effects observed with valsartan or hydrochlorothiazide alone, but not observed with Valsartán/Hidroclorotiazida TecniGen:
Valsartán
Infrequent
- feeling of rotation
- abdominal pain
Very rare
- Intestinal angioedema: swelling in the intestine with symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
Frequency not known
- skin rash with or without itching along with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever, joint pain, muscle pain, lymph node inflammation and/or symptoms similar to those of the flu
- skin rash, red-purple spots, fever, itching (symptoms of blood vessel inflammation
- low platelet count (sometimes with bleeding or bruising more frequently than usual)
- high potassium levels in the blood (sometimes with muscle spasms, abnormal heart rhythm)
- allergic reactions (with symptoms such as skin rash, itching, hives, difficulty breathing or swallowing, dizziness)
- swelling mainly of the face and throat; skin rash; itching
- elevation of liver function values
- decrease in hemoglobin levels and reduction of red blood cell percentage in the blood (which, in severe cases, can cause anemia)
- renal failure
Hydrochlorothiazide
Frequent
- skin rash with itching and other types of rash
- decreased appetite
- vomiting and mild nausea
- dizziness, dizziness when standing up
- impotence
Rare
- swelling and blisters on the skin (due to increased sensitivity to the sun)
- constipation, stomach or intestinal discomfort, liver alterations (yellowing of the skin or eyes)
- irregular heartbeat
- headache
- sleep disturbances
- sadness (depression)
- low platelet count (sometimes with bleeding or bruising under the skin)
Very rare
- inflammation of the blood vessels with symptoms such as skin rash, red-purple spots, fever
- itching or redness of the skin
- blisters on the lips, eyes, or mouth
- skin peeling
- fever
- facial rash associated with joint pain
- muscle disorders
- fever (cutaneous lupus erythematosus)
- severe pain in the upper abdomen; absence or low levels of different types of blood cells
- severe allergic reactions
- difficulty breathing
- pulmonary infection; shortness of breath
- acute respiratory distress (signs include severe difficulty breathing, fever, weakness, and confusion)
Frequency not known
- Skin and lip cancer (non-melanoma skin cancer).
- Decreased vision or eye pain due to high pressure [possible signs of fluid accumulation in the vascular layer of the eye (choroidal effusion) or acute angle-closure glaucoma]
Reporting of Adverse Effects
If you experience any type of adverse effect, consult your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse, even if it is a possible adverse effect that is not listed in this prospectus. You can also report them directly through the Spanish Pharmacovigilance System for Human Use Medicines. Website: www.notificaRAM.es.
By reporting adverse effects, you can contribute to providing more information on the safety of this medicine.
5. Storage of Valsartán/Hidroclorotiazida TecniGen
- Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
- Do not use Valsartán/Hidroclorotiazida TecniGen after the expiration date that appears on the packaging (CAD:). The expiration date is the last day of the month indicated.
- Do not store at a temperature above 30°C. Store in the original packaging to protect from moisture.
- Do not use Valsartán/Hidroclorotiazida TecniGen if you observe that the packaging is damaged or shows signs of deterioration.
- Medicines should not be thrown down the drain or into the trash. Deposit the packaging and medicines you no longer need at the SIGRE point in the pharmacy. In case of doubt, ask your pharmacist how to dispose of the packaging and medicines you no longer need. This way, you will help protect the environment.
6. Package Contents and Additional Information.
Composition of Valsartán/Hidroclorotiazida TecniGen
- The active ingredients are valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide. Each tablet contains 320 mg of valsartan and 25 mg of hydrochlorothiazide.
- The other components (excipients) are: The other components (excipients) are in the core: microcrystalline cellulose, crospovidone, and magnesium stearate. The tablet coating contains hypromellose, titanium dioxide (E171), talc, macrogol PGE 8000, and yellow iron oxide (E172).
Appearance of the Product and Package Contents
- The film-coated tablets of Valsartán/Hidroclorotiazida TecniGen 320 mg/25 mg are film-coated, oblong, convex, and light yellow in color.
- The tablets are presented in blister packs with 28 tablets.
Marketing Authorization Holder and Manufacturer
Marketing Authorization Holder:
Tecnimede España Industria farmacéutica, S.A.
Avda. de Bruselas, 13, 3º D. Edificio América. Polígono Arroyo de la Vega,
28108 Alcobendas (Madrid) ESPAÑA
Manufacturer:
Atlantic Pharma – Produções Farmacêuticas SA
Rua da Tapada Grande, 2, Abrunheira, 2710 – 089 Sintra
Portugal
Date of the Last Revision of this Prospectus: February 2025
Detailed and updated information on this medicine is available on the website of the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) http://www.aemps.gob.es/