Dilart HCT (Valsartan And Hydrochlorothiazide)
Complete patient guide for uses, dosage, side effects, and safety information
Prescription RequiredQuick Facts
What Is Dilart HCT Used For?
Dilart HCT is a combination medication that contains two active ingredients that work together to lower blood pressure effectively.
Primary Uses
Dilart HCT is used to control high blood pressure, also called hypertension. High blood pressure increases the workload of the heart and blood vessels, and if it continues for a long time, it can damage blood vessels in the brain, heart and kidneys, leading to stroke, heart failure or kidney failure.
How It Works
This medication reduces blood pressure in two different ways. Valsartan blocks the effect of angiotensin II, a substance that tightens blood vessels and raises blood pressure. When this effect is blocked, blood vessels relax and blood pressure goes down. Hydrochlorothiazide helps reduce excess fluid in the body by increasing urine production, which also helps lower blood pressure.
Good to know: Dilart HCT is not addictive
How to Take Dilart HCT
Take Dilart HCT exactly as prescribed by your doctor. The medication comes in a calendar pack with days of the week marked to help you remember your daily dose.
Dosage Instructions
The usual dose is 80/12.5 mg, 160/12.5 mg or 320/12.5 mg once a day. If your blood pressure is still too high after 4 weeks, your doctor may increase the dose to 160/25 mg or 320/25 mg once a day. Swallow the tablet with a full glass of water. Always take it the same way in relation to food – either always with food or always on an empty stomach. If your stomach gets upset, always take it after a meal like breakfast. Take it at the same time each day to help you remember.
What If You Miss a Dose?
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one when you’re meant to. Otherwise, take the dose as soon as you remember, then go back to taking it as you normally would. If you have trouble remembering, ask your pharmacist for hints.
Important: Do not take a double dose to make up for the dose you missed. This may increase the chance of side effects.
Available Tablet Strengths
Side Effects
Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.
Common Side Effects
These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:
- Headache
- Dizziness, spinning sensation, blurred vision
- Sleepiness, tiredness or weakness
- Pain in the back or joints
- Runny or bleeding nose or congested sinuses
- Dry cough, sore throat or hoarse voice
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea, constipation or wind
- Nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, stomach upset or indigestion
- Back pain, muscle pain, muscle tenderness or weakness, cramps or joint pain
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
- Blistering skin
- Symptoms of sunburn which happens more quickly than normal
- Difficulty sleeping
- Feeling anxious or sad
- Dizziness on standing up, especially when getting up from sitting or lying position
- Problems with sexual function
- Pain when passing urine, frequent urge to urinate
- Hair loss
- Facial pain
Seek immediate medical attention if you experience:
- Signs of allergy such as rash, itching, hives, swelling of face, lips, tongue or other body parts, shortness of breath, wheezing or troubled breathing
- Feeling of fast or irregular heartbeat (pounding, racing, skipping beats)
- Chest pain
- Tiredness or lack of energy, being short of breath when exercising, dizziness and looking pale
- Constant flu-like symptoms such as chills, fever, sore throat, aching joints, sores in mouth, swollen glands
- Pain in the stomach, often accompanied by nausea and vomiting
- Signs of serious skin reaction such as painful red areas, large blisters, peeling of skin layers, bleeding in lips, eyes, mouth, nose or genitals, possibly with fever and chills
- Unusual bleeding or bruising under the skin
- Severe dizziness or fainting
- Passing less urine than normal
- Liver disease with nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, feeling generally unwell, fever, itching, yellowing of skin and eyes, dark colored urine
- Decrease in vision or pain in your eyes
- Signs of acute respiratory distress such as severe shortness of breath, fever, weakness and confusion
Important Warnings
There are several important conditions and situations where Dilart HCT should not be used or requires special caution.
Who Should Not Take Dilart HCT
Do not take if you have ever had an allergic reaction to valsartan, hydrochlorothiazide, or sulfonamide derived medicines. Do not take if you have severe kidney or liver disease including biliary cirrhosis, cholestasis (reduced or stopped bile flow), anuria (unable to urinate), high uric acid levels causing gout, low potassium or sodium levels, or high calcium levels in blood. Do not take if you’re also taking blood pressure medicines containing aliskiren and have type 2 diabetes.
Medical Conditions to Discuss
Check with your doctor if you have kidney problems, liver problems, systemic lupus erythematosus, heart problems including obstructed blood flow, high cholesterol, diabetes, swelling of face and throat while taking other medicines, primary hyperaldosteronism, passing less urine than normal, recent excessive vomiting or diarrhea, salt restricted diet, or if you experienced breathing or lung problems following hydrochlorothiazide intake in the past.
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Do not take Dilart HCT if you are pregnant or intend to become pregnant. Like other similar medicines, it could affect your unborn baby. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking this medication. Dilart HCT is not recommended if you are breastfeeding as hydrochlorothiazide passes into breast milk.
Pregnancy Warning: You should not take this medicine while you are pregnant. Tell your doctor immediately if you become pregnant while taking Dilart HCT.
Drug Interactions
Many medications can interfere with Dilart HCT and affect how it works. Always tell your doctor about all medicines you’re taking.
Tell your healthcare providers: Remind any doctor, dentist or pharmacist you visit that you are taking Dilart HCT
- Other blood pressure medicines including diuretics, ACE-inhibitors, aliskiren and beta blockers
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for pain and inflammation
- Potassium tablets, preparations or supplements
- Antibiotics (rifamycins), anti-rejection drugs (ciclosporin), antiretrovirals (ritonavir)
- Calcium medicines or supplements
- Vitamin D
- Medicines that raise blood pressure
- Muscle relaxants used before or during surgery
- Steroid medicines such as cortisone, prednisone and ACTH
- Lithium, antidepressants, antipsychotics, mood swing medicines
- Heart problem medicines
- Cyclophosphamide monohydrate or methotrexate
- Penicillin
- Amphotericin B (fungal infection medicine)
- Insulin and diabetes tablets
- Gout medicines
- Carbamazepine (epilepsy, bipolar disorders, neuralgia medicine)
- Cholesterol lowering medicines (e.g. colestyramine)
- Amantadine (Parkinson’s disease or influenza prevention)
- Anticholinergic medicines (Parkinson’s, stomach cramps, travel sickness)
- Carbenoxolone (stomach ulcer medicine)
- Antiarrhythmics and digitalis glycosides (irregular heartbeat medicines)
- Tetracycline (infection medicine)
- Sleeping tablets
- Radioactive iodine
- Trimethoprim containing medicines
Alcohol & Driving
Dilart HCT can affect your ability to drive and may interact with alcohol. Take precautions to ensure your safety.
Alcohol
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol may increase the effects of this medication.
Driving and Operating Machinery
Be careful before you drive or use any machines or tools until you know how Dilart HCT affects you. This medicine can cause tiredness, sleepiness or dizziness in some people. If you have these symptoms, do not drive or do anything else that could be dangerous.
Sun Sensitivity
When you are outdoors, wear protective clothing and use at least a 15+ sunscreen. Do not use a sunlamp. This medicine may cause your skin to be much more sensitive to sunlight than it normally is. Exposure to sunlight may cause a skin rash, itching, redness or severe sunburn.
Storage
Keep Dilart HCT in the original container until it is time to take it. Store it below 25°C (room temperature). Store it in a cool dry place away from moisture, heat or sunlight. Do not store it in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car or on window sills. Keep it where young children cannot reach it – a locked cupboard at least one-and-a-half metres above the ground is a good place to store medicines.
Overdose Information
If you think that you or anyone else has taken too much Dilart HCT, urgent medical attention may be needed. You should immediately phone the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26) for advice, contact your doctor, or go to the Emergency Department at your nearest hospital. Do this even if there are no signs of discomfort or poisoning. Too much Dilart HCT may make you feel dizzy, light-headed or faint. You may experience rapid, shallow breathing or cold, clammy skin. Your heartbeat may be faster than usual because your blood pressure is too low.
Frequently Asked Questions
It will take at least 4 weeks for this medicine to have its full effect on your blood pressure. After that, it can be continued for as long as needed to control your blood pressure.
It does not matter if you take Dilart HCT after food or on an empty stomach, as long as you take it the same way each day. If your stomach is upset after taking it, always take it after a meal like breakfast.
No, Dilart HCT is not addictive.
Take this medicine until your doctor tells you to stop, even if you feel quite well. People with high blood pressure often feel well and do not notice any signs of this problem. Always speak to your doctor before deciding to stop taking this medicine.
Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Alcohol may affect how this medication works and could increase certain side effects.
If it’s almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take the next one when you’re meant to. Otherwise, take the dose as soon as you remember, then go back to taking it normally. Do not take a double dose to make up for the missed dose.
Your doctor will want to check your blood pressure regularly to make sure the medicine is working. Your doctor will also check your kidney and liver function from time to time to prevent unwanted side effects.
Important Disclaimer
This information is intended for general educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider or pharmacist before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or emergency services immediately.