Valsartan-Hydrochlorothiazide Coupons & Prices

Looking for a valsartan-hydrochlorothiazide coupon? Rx.com compares cash prices at more than 60,000 pharmacies so you can see what this blood pressure combination costs near you today. Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide is the generic version of Diovan HCT, and FDA-approved generics of this combination are on the market. What surprises most people is how much the cash price can differ from one pharmacy to the next, even across the street. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price and print or show the free coupon at the counter.

What is valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide, and how does it work?

Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide is a single tablet that combines two blood pressure medicines. Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (an ARB), which relaxes blood vessels so blood flows more easily. Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic, or "water pill," which helps your kidneys remove extra salt and fluid. Together they lower blood pressure more than either one alone. The brand name version is Diovan HCT, made by Novartis.

It is FDA-approved to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), to lower blood pressure. Lowering blood pressure reduces the risk of fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events, mainly strokes and heart attacks. According to the label, it may be used in people whose blood pressure is not adequately controlled on a single medicine, and it may also be used as initial therapy in people who are likely to need more than one drug to reach their blood pressure goal. It is also prescribed as a replacement for people already taking valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide as separate pills. The label does note one narrow exception: it is not recommended as initial therapy in people with intravascular volume depletion. Note that valsartan by itself has additional approvals for heart failure and for left ventricular problems after a heart attack. This combination tablet is not approved for those uses.

What valsartan-hydrochlorothiazide costs without insurance

An FDA-approved generic of this exact combination is on the market, so most people fill the generic. Whether your pharmacy can swap the generic for a brand prescription depends on the generic's rating and on your state's substitution law, so ask your pharmacist. Cash prices are also not standardized. Pharmacies set their own retail prices, and the same prescription can cost noticeably different amounts at two stores in the same town. That is exactly why comparing before you fill is worth the minute it takes.

Rx.com's free coupon works at more than 60,000 pharmacies nationwide and requires no membership or sign-up. Enter your ZIP above to see today's price near you. If you are prescribed the brand Diovan or Diovan HCT specifically, check the manufacturer's official site for any current copay or patient-support program. Programs like these change or end without notice, and they typically exclude people with government insurance such as Medicare or Medicaid. A coupon cannot be combined with insurance, so compare the cash price against your copay and use whichever is lower.

Alternatives and similar combination blood pressure pills

If this combination is not the right fit, or if the price at your pharmacy is high, several other ARB or ACE inhibitor plus diuretic combinations are available as generics. Your prescriber decides which is appropriate. Common ones to ask about include:

• losartan-hydrochlorothiazide
• olmesartan-hydrochlorothiazide
• irbesartan-hydrochlorothiazide
• telmisartan-hydrochlorothiazide
• lisinopril-hydrochlorothiazide (an ACE inhibitor combination)
• amlodipine-valsartan, which pairs valsartan with a calcium channel blocker instead of a diuretic

You can also price the two ingredients separately, since valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide are each sold as standalone generics. Sometimes two prescriptions cost less than one combination tablet, and sometimes the reverse is true. Never switch on your own. Ask your prescriber first, because dosing has to match.

Safety information you should know

Valsartan and hydrochlorothiazide carries an FDA boxed warning for fetal toxicity. Medicines that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus. When pregnancy is detected, the medicine should be discontinued as soon as possible, so tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant or think you might be. It is also not for use while breastfeeding.

Other things to discuss with your provider: low blood pressure can occur if you are dehydrated or low on salt, so that should be corrected first, and this is also why the medicine is not recommended as a starting treatment in people who are volume depleted; kidney function can worsen, particularly with narrowed kidney arteries or heart failure; valsartan can raise potassium, so be careful with potassium supplements, potassium-sparing diuretics, and salt substitutes; hydrochlorothiazide can lower potassium, sodium, and magnesium, and can raise calcium and uric acid, which may trigger gout. Hydrochlorothiazide has also been linked to sudden blurred or nearsighted vision and acute angle-closure glaucoma, usually within hours to weeks of starting, which needs prompt medical attention, and to a higher risk of non-melanoma skin cancer with long-term use, so use sun protection and get skin checks. It may worsen lupus. Avoid combining with aliskiren if you have diabetes, and avoid pairing with an ACE inhibitor. NSAIDs such as ibuprofen can blunt the blood pressure benefit and stress the kidneys. This page is information only, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about your own situation.