Entresto 50 mg 28 tablets

Sacubitril/Valsartan 24 mg/26 mg Coated Tablets

What is sacubitril/valsartan and what is it used for?

• This medication contains the angiotensin receptor blocker neprilysin. It contains two active ingredients, sacubitril and valsartan.
• It is used to treat a type of long-term heart failure in adults.
• This type of heart failure occurs when the heart is weak and cannot pump enough blood to the lungs and the rest of the body.
• The most common symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath, fatigue, tiredness, and ankle swelling.
• If you have any questions about how sacubitril/valsartan works or why this medicine has been prescribed for you, ask your doctor.

Do not take sacubitril/valsartan:

• If you are allergic to sacubitril, valsartan or any of the other ingredients of this medicine
• If you are taking another type of medication called an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (for example, enalapril, lisinopril, or ramipril).
• Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are used to treat high blood pressure or heart failure.
• If you are taking an ACE inhibitor, wait 36 hours after taking your last dose before you start taking this medication.
• If you or a member of your family has experienced a reaction called angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat, breathing difficulties) when taking ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) (such as valsartan, telmisartan or irbesartan).
• If you have diabetes or impaired kidney function and are being treated with a blood pressure-lowering drug containing aliskiren (see "Other drugs and sacubitril/valsartan").
• If you have acute liver disease.
• If you are more than 3 months pregnant (it is also best to avoid this medicine at the beginning of pregnancy)

Warnings and precautions:

• Speak to your doctor or pharmacist before taking sacubitril/valsartan:
• If you are being treated with angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) or aliskiren.
• If you have suffered in the past from angioedema (swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat, which may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing).
• If you have low blood pressure or are taking any other medications that lower blood pressure (for example, a diuretic), or if you are experiencing vomiting or diarrhea, especially if you are 65 years of age or older, or if you have kidney disease and low blood pressure.
• If you have severe kidney disease.
• If you are suffering from dehydration.
• If your kidney artery narrows.
• If you have liver disease.

Other medications and sacubitril/valsartan:

• Tell your doctor or pharmacist if you are taking, have recently taken, or might take any other medicines.
• It is especially important to mention which of the following medicines contain any of the following active ingredients, as your doctor may need to adjust your sacubitril/valsartan dose.
• ACE inhibitors. Do not take sacubitril/valsartan with ACE inhibitors. If you are taking an ACE inhibitor, wait 36 hours after your last dose of the ACE inhibitor before starting to take sacubitril/valsartan.
• If you stop taking sacubitril/valsartan, wait 36 hours after taking your last dose of sacubitril/valsartan before starting an ACE inhibitor.
• Other medications used to treat heart failure or lower blood pressure, such as angiotensin receptor blockers or aliskiren.
• Some drugs known as statins are used to lower high cholesterol levels (for example, atorvastatin).
• Sildenafil is a drug used to treat erectile dysfunction or pulmonary hypertension.
• Medications that increase the amount of potassium in the blood include potassium supplements, potassium-containing salt substitutes, potassium-sparing medications, and heparin.
• Painkillers of the type called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors.
• If you are taking one of these medications, your doctor may want to check your kidney function when you start or adjust your treatment.
• Lithium is a drug used to treat certain types of mental illness.
• Furosemide is a drug of the type known as a diuretic, which is used to increase the amount of urine excreted.
• Nitroglycerin is a drug used to treat angina.
• Some types of antibiotics (rifamycin group), cyclosporine (used to prevent rejection of transplanted organs) or antivirals such as ritonavir (used to treat HIV/AIDS).
• Metformin, a drug used to treat diabetes.

How to take sacubitril/valsartan:

• You will usually start by taking 24 mg/26 mg or 49 mg/51 mg twice a day (one tablet in the morning and one tablet in the evening).
• Your doctor will decide on the exact starting dose based on the medications you have been taking previously.
• Your doctor will then adjust the dose according to how you respond to the treatment until the best dose is found for you.
• The usual recommended dose is 97 mg/103 mg twice a day (one tablet in the morning and one tablet in the evening).
• Patients taking sacubitril/valsartan may experience low blood pressure (dizziness, lightheadedness), high blood potassium levels (which can be detected when your doctor performs a blood test), or decreased kidney function.
• If this happens, your doctor may reduce the dose of any other medication you are taking, temporarily reduce your sacubitril/valsartan dose, or stop sacubitril/valsartan treatment altogether.
• Swallow the tablets with a glass of water. You can take sacubitril/valsartan with or without food.

Possible side effects of sacubitril/valsartan:

• Stop taking sacubitril/valsartan and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any swelling of the face, lips, tongue, and/or throat, which may cause difficulty breathing or swallowing. These could be signs of angioedema.

How to store Sacubitril/Valsartank:

• Keep this medicine out of the sight and reach of children.
• Do not use this medicine after the expiry date printed on the carton and wrap after EXP.
• The expiry date refers to the last day of the same month.
• This medicine does not require any special temperature storage conditions.
• It should be stored in the original box to protect it from moisture.