3-methyl-2- [pentanoyl-[ [4-[2-(2H-tetrazol-5-yl) phenyl] phenyl] methyl]amino] -butanoic acid

Absorption
T max is 2 to 4 h after dosing. Bioavailability is about 10% to 35%. Food decreases AUC about 40% and decreases C max about 50%.

Distribution
Vd is about 17 L. Highly bound to albumin (about 95%).

Metabolism
The major metabolite, valeryl 4-hydroxy valsartan, accounts for about 9% of the dose.

Elimination
Half-life is about 6 h. Valsartan is primarily recovered in the feces (about 83%) and urine (about 13%). Recovery is mainly unchanged drug, with only about 20% of the dose recovered as metabolite. The plasma Cl is about 2 L/h.

Special Populations
Renal Function Impairment
No correlation between renal function and exposure to the drug.

Hepatic Function Impairment
Patients with mild to moderate chronic liver disease have about twice the AUC value.

Elderly
AUC is about 70% higher and t ½ is about 35% longer in elderly patients.

Inhibitors of uptake transporters, such as organic anion-transporting polypeptide 1B1 (eg, cyclosporine, rifampin), and efflux transporters, such as multidrug resistant-associated protein (eg, ritonavir)
May increase valsartan plasma concentrations.

Lithium
Plasma concentrations may be increased by valsartan, resulting in an increase in the pharmacologic and adverse reactions of lithium.

Potassium-sparing diuretics (eg, spironolactone), potassium supplements
Coadministration may cause elevated serum potassium concentrations in certain high-risk patients.