Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg Tablets 28s

Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg Tablets 28s is a prescription combination medicine containing valsartan 160mg and hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg in each film-coated tablet.

It is used to treat hypertension, commonly known as high blood pressure, in selected adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled by valsartan or hydrochlorothiazide alone.

Co-Diovan combines an angiotensin II receptor blocker with a thiazide diuretic. The two active ingredients lower blood pressure through complementary mechanisms and should only be used according to a doctor’s prescription and the approved product information.

Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg Product Information

What Is Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg Used For?

Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg is used for the treatment of hypertension in adults aged 18 years and above. This fixed-dose combination may be prescribed when blood pressure is not adequately controlled by treatment with valsartan or hydrochlorothiazide alone.

Persistent high blood pressure increases the workload on the heart and blood vessels. Appropriate blood-pressure management can help reduce the risk of complications associated with uncontrolled hypertension.

Co-Diovan should not be selected or started without an individual medical assessment. The prescribing doctor should consider the patient’s blood pressure, kidney function, liver function, electrolyte levels, existing conditions and concurrent medicines.

How Co-Diovan Works

Valsartan

Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker, commonly abbreviated as an ARB. Angiotensin II is a natural substance that can cause blood vessels to tighten.

Valsartan blocks the effects of angiotensin II at its receptors. This helps blood vessels relax and supports a reduction in blood pressure.

Hydrochlorothiazide

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic. It increases the removal of sodium and water through the urine, helping reduce fluid volume and lower blood pressure.

The two active ingredients work through different but complementary mechanisms to provide additional blood-pressure control.

How to Take Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg

• Take Co-Diovan exactly as prescribed by the treating doctor.
• The medicine is generally administered once daily when this strength is clinically appropriate.
• Swallow the tablet with water.
• It may be taken with or without food.
• Take it at approximately the same time each day unless instructed otherwise.
• Do not increase, reduce or stop the medicine without medical advice.
• Do not take a double dose to replace a missed dose.
• Continue any diet, exercise and blood-pressure monitoring plan recommended by the healthcare professional.

The maximum blood-pressure-lowering effect may take several weeks to develop. Continue treatment according to the prescribed schedule even when there are no noticeable symptoms.

Monitoring During Treatment

A doctor may periodically monitor:

• Blood pressure
• Kidney function
• Blood potassium and sodium levels
• Other electrolyte levels
• Uric acid levels
• Blood glucose in patients with diabetes or increased diabetes risk

Attend scheduled medical reviews and laboratory tests. Monitoring is particularly important in older adults, patients with kidney impairment and those taking other medicines that affect kidney function, blood pressure or electrolyte levels.

Important Safety Information

• Co-Diovan is a prescription medicine and should not be shared with another person.
• Do not use the medicine during pregnancy.
• Inform the doctor immediately if pregnancy occurs or is suspected during treatment.
• Tell the prescriber about kidney disease, liver disease, gout, diabetes, lupus or electrolyte abnormalities.
• Dehydration caused by vomiting, diarrhoea, heavy sweating or inadequate fluid intake may increase the risk of low blood pressure or kidney problems.
• Rise slowly from sitting or lying positions if dizziness occurs.
• Do not drive or operate machinery when dizziness, weakness or reduced alertness is present.
• Do not use potassium supplements or potassium-containing salt substitutes unless advised by a healthcare professional.
• Protect the skin from excessive sunlight and report new or changing skin lesions.

Who Should Not Take Co-Diovan?

Co-Diovan may be unsuitable or contraindicated in patients with certain medical conditions. These include:

• Allergy to valsartan, hydrochlorothiazide, sulphonamide-derived medicines or another ingredient in the tablet
• Pregnancy
• Anuria or inability to produce urine
• Severe kidney impairment
• Severe liver impairment
• Biliary cirrhosis or cholestasis
• Persistent low potassium that does not respond to treatment
• Persistent low sodium levels
• High calcium levels
• Symptomatic high uric acid levels

Co-Diovan should not be combined with an aliskiren-containing medicine in certain patients with diabetes or impaired kidney function. The complete medicine regimen should be reviewed by the prescribing doctor or pharmacist.

Possible Side Effects

Not everyone experiences side effects. Possible effects associated with valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide include:

• Dizziness or light-headedness
• Low blood pressure
• Tiredness or weakness
• Increased urination
• Dehydration
• Changes in potassium, sodium, magnesium or calcium levels
• Muscle cramps or muscle discomfort
• Headache
• Nausea or digestive discomfort
• Blurred vision
• Increased blood uric acid
• Changes in kidney-function test results

Contact a doctor or pharmacist if side effects continue, become troublesome or interfere with normal activities.

Serious Symptoms Requiring Medical Attention

Seek prompt or urgent medical attention for symptoms including:

• Swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing
• Fainting or severe dizziness
• Very low urine output
• Severe weakness, confusion or an irregular heartbeat
• Severe or persistent vomiting or diarrhoea
• Sudden eye pain or a sudden change in vision
• A severe or widespread skin reaction
• Unusual skin lesions that do not heal or continue to change

Dehydration and Low Blood Pressure

The hydrochlorothiazide component increases urine production. The risk of dehydration and symptomatic low blood pressure may be greater during hot weather, severe illness, vomiting, diarrhoea or reduced fluid intake.

Contact a healthcare professional if significant fluid loss occurs. Do not independently stop or restart the medicine unless instructed, except when urgent medical care is required.

Electrolyte Changes

Co-Diovan may affect potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium levels. Symptoms of an electrolyte imbalance may include unusual weakness, muscle cramps, confusion, excessive thirst, irregular heartbeat or severe fatigue.

Laboratory monitoring may be required, particularly in patients taking diuretics, potassium supplements, potassium-sparing medicines or other treatments that affect electrolyte levels.

Kidney and Liver Considerations

Kidney function should be assessed when clinically appropriate. Co-Diovan is contraindicated in severe kidney impairment and in patients who cannot produce urine.

Patients with liver or biliary disease should inform their doctor before treatment. Co-Diovan is contraindicated in severe liver impairment, biliary cirrhosis and cholestasis.

Gout, Diabetes and Metabolic Effects

Hydrochlorothiazide may increase blood uric acid and may trigger or worsen gout in susceptible patients. Patients with a history of gout should inform the prescribing doctor.

Thiazide diuretics may also affect blood glucose and certain blood lipid measurements. Patients with diabetes may require closer monitoring or adjustment of their treatment plan.

Skin and Sunlight Precautions

Long-term cumulative exposure to hydrochlorothiazide has been associated with an increased risk of certain non-melanoma skin cancers. Patients should practise appropriate sun protection and regularly check their skin.

Report any new, changing, unusual or non-healing skin lesion to a doctor. Patients with a previous history of skin cancer should discuss ongoing hydrochlorothiazide treatment with their healthcare professional.

Medicine Interactions

Tell the doctor and pharmacist about all prescription medicines, non-prescription products, traditional medicines and supplements being used. Products requiring particular consideration include:

• Other blood-pressure medicines: combined effects may cause excessive blood-pressure reduction.
• ACE inhibitors, other ARBs or aliskiren: combined renin-angiotensin system blockade may increase the risk of low blood pressure, high potassium and impaired kidney function.
• Potassium supplements and potassium-containing salt substitutes: potassium levels may become abnormal.
• Potassium-sparing diuretics: additional monitoring may be necessary.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs: medicines such as ibuprofen or diclofenac may reduce the blood-pressure-lowering effect and increase kidney risk in susceptible patients.
• Lithium: lithium levels and toxicity risk may increase.
• Diabetes medicines: blood-glucose treatment may need review.
• Medicines that affect uric acid: treatment for gout may require adjustment.

Do not start, stop or adjust another medicine without checking with a healthcare professional.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

Co-Diovan must not be used during pregnancy. Medicines that act on the renin-angiotensin system, including valsartan, may cause serious harm to a developing baby.

If pregnancy is detected or suspected during treatment, contact the prescribing doctor immediately so that Co-Diovan can be discontinued and replaced with a suitable alternative.

Co-Diovan is not advisable during breastfeeding because hydrochlorothiazide passes into human milk and information about valsartan exposure through human milk is limited. A doctor should recommend an appropriate alternative treatment.

Use in Children

The safety and effectiveness of Co-Diovan have not been established in patients below 18 years old. It should not be supplied to a child unless specifically prescribed by an appropriate medical specialist.

Storage Instructions

• Store according to the conditions printed on the carton and package insert.
• Keep the tablets in their original blister packaging until required.
• Protect from excessive heat and moisture.
• Keep out of reach of children.
• Do not use tablets that appear damaged or deteriorated.
• Do not use after the expiry date printed on the supplied packaging.
• Product packaging, batch number and expiry date may vary between supplied batches.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the active ingredients in Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg?

Each film-coated tablet contains valsartan 160mg and hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg.

What is Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg used for?

It is used to treat high blood pressure in selected adults whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled with valsartan or hydrochlorothiazide alone.

Is Co-Diovan an ARB?

Co-Diovan contains valsartan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker. It also contains hydrochlorothiazide, a thiazide diuretic.

Is Co-Diovan a water tablet?

One of its active ingredients, hydrochlorothiazide, is a diuretic or water tablet. It increases the removal of sodium and water through the urine.

Is Co-Diovan a prescription medicine in Malaysia?

Yes. Co-Diovan should only be supplied and used according to a valid prescription and applicable Malaysian medicine requirements.

What is the Malaysian registration number for Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg?

The Malaysian product registration number is MAL09062165ARZ.

Who manufactures Co-Diovan?

Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg is manufactured by Novartis Farma S.P.A., Italy. The Malaysian product registration holder is Novartis Corporation (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd.

How many tablets are supplied in one pack?

The P-Hub listing contains 28 tablets, supplied as two blister strips of 14 tablets.

Can Co-Diovan be taken with food?

Co-Diovan may be taken with or without food and should be swallowed with water. Follow the timing and dosage prescribed by the treating doctor.

Can Co-Diovan be used during pregnancy?

No. Co-Diovan must not be used during pregnancy because valsartan can cause serious harm to a developing baby.

Can a patient stop Co-Diovan when blood pressure improves?

No. High blood pressure frequently causes no noticeable symptoms. Do not stop treatment unless instructed by the prescribing doctor, as blood pressure may rise again.

Can pharmacies request Co-Diovan through P-Hub?

Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg Tablets 28s is listed in the P-Hub B2B catalogue for approved pharmacy members. Quotation, ordering eligibility and supply are subject to P-Hub membership requirements, prescription medicine controls and current stock availability.

Prescription Medicine Notice

Co-Diovan 160mg/12.5mg is a prescription medicine. It should only be supplied, dispensed and used according to applicable Malaysian requirements and the directions of a registered doctor or pharmacist.

The information on this page is provided for pharmacy catalogue and professional product-reference purposes. It does not replace an individual medical assessment, prescription, approved Malaysian package insert or advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

Product appearance, packaging, batch number, availability and expiry date may vary. Verify all information on the physical product packaging and approved insert before dispensing or use.

Product Information Sources

• Novartis – Co-Diovan Professional Product Information
  
• National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency Malaysia – Co-Diovan Registration Record
  

Product information last reviewed: 11 July 2026.