Valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide: a review of its use in the management of hypertension.

Valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide is a fixed-dose (valsartan 80, 160 or 320mg plus hydrochlorothiazide 12.5 or 25mg) angiotensin II receptor blocker/diuretic drug combination indicated for the treatment of patients with essential hypertension not adequately controlled by monotherapy.There is ample evidence that valsartan/hydrochlorothiazide is an effective fixed-dose combination antihypertensive agent. However, efficacy and tolerability data pertaining to the 320mg dose of valsartan in the combination are currently relatively few. There is also some evidence of potential benefits associated with the relatively favourable tolerability profile of the combination, the low occurrence of new-onset diabetes mellitus versus amlodipine and the valsartan-associated improvements in cardiac and endothelial function.