How should you take Diovan medication?

Diovan dosage and Diovan HCT dosage can be taken with or without food. Try to get in the habit of taking the Diovan medicine at the same time each day--for example, before or after breakfast. You'll be less likely to forget your Diovan doses.

If you miss a Diovan doses: Take it as soon as possible. If it is almost time for your next Diovan doses, skip the one you missed and go back to your regular schedule. Never take 2 Diovan doses at the same time.

The usual starting dose of Diovan is 80 or 160 milligrams or more once a day. If your blood pressure does not go down, your doctor may increase the dose or add a diuretic to your regimen. The maximum recommended dose is 320 milligrams a day.

Possible food and drug interactions when taking Diovan medication

Check with your doctor before combining Diovan with salt substitutes that contain potassium, or with diuretics that leave potassium in the body, including the following: Amiloride (Midamor), Spironolactone (Aldactone), Triamterene (Dyrenium). The hydrochlorothiazide in Diovan HCT may interact with a variety of drugs.

Be sure to check with your doctor before combining Diovan HCT with the following: Alcohol, Cholestyramine (Questran), Colestipol (Colestid), Corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone and prednisone, Glipizide (Glucotrol), Glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase), Insulin, Lithium (Lithobid, Lithonate), Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil, Aleve, Motin, and Naprosyn, Other blood pressure medications such as Cardi­zem, Lopressor, and Procardia, Phenobarbital, Narcotic drugs such as morphine or codeine products.