Amlodipine is a calcium channel blocker. Amlodipine relaxes (widens) blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Hydrochlorothiazide is a thiazide diuretic (water pill) that helps prevent your body from absorbing too much salt, which can cause fluid retention.

Valsartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonists. Valsartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow.

The combination of amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension).

This medication is usually given after other blood pressure medications have been tried without successful treatment of symptoms.

Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Your chest pain may become worse when you first start taking this medication or when your dose is increased. Call your doctor if your chest pain is severe or ongoing.

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Vaseretic, Zestoretic and others), valsartan (Diovan), or sulfa drugs, or if you are unable to urinate.

Before taking amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan, tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver disease, congestive heart failure, glaucoma, asthma or allergies, low or high blood levels of potassium, gout, lupus, diabetes, or a penicillin allergy.

Do not use this medication without telling your doctor if you are pregnant. Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan may cause injury and even death to the unborn baby if you take it during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Use an effective form of birth control. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant during treatment.

Drinking alcohol can further lower your blood pressure and may increase certain side effects of amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan.

Do not use potassium supplements or salt substitutes while you are taking amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan, unless your doctor has told you to.

You should not take this medication if you are allergic to amlodipine (Norvasc), hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ, HydroDiuril, Hyzaar, Vaseretic, Zestoretic and others), valsartan (Diovan), or sulfa drugs, or if you are unable to urinate.

To make sure you can safely take amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan, tell your doctor if you have any of these other conditions:

• kidney disease;

• liver disease;

• congestive heart failure;

• glaucoma;

• asthma or allergies;

• low or high levels of magnesium or potassium in your blood;

• gout;

• lupus;

• diabetes; or

• a penicillin allergy.

FDA pregnancy category D. Do not use this medication if you are pregnant. Stop using this medication and tell your doctor right away if you become pregnant. Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan can cause injury or death to the unborn baby if you take the medicine during your second or third trimester. Use effective birth control while taking amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan.

Amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan can pass into breast milk and may harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while you are using amlodipine, hydrochlorothiazide, and valsartan.