Avsar Side Effects

Avsar is often prescribed to manage high blood pressure (hypertension). Like any medication, Avsar can cause side effects in some individuals. Here are some common and less common side effects associated with Avsar.

Common Side Effects

• Dizziness or lightheadedness:  Avsar can cause a drop in blood pressure, leading to feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness.
• Swelling in ankles or feet:  Avsar might cause peripheral edema, resulting in swelling in the lower extremities.
• Flushing: Some individuals may experience flushing, which is a sudden reddening of the skin, often in the face.
• Headache: Headaches can occur as a result of changes in blood pressure or as a reaction to Avsar itself.
• Fatigue: Feeling tired or fatigued can be a common side effect.
• Nausea or abdominal pain: Some people may experience gastrointestinal discomfort, such as nausea or abdominal pain.
• Palpitations:  Avsar can sometimes cause irregular heartbeat sensations or palpitations.
• Drowsiness: Feeling excessively sleepy or drowsy can occur, particularly when starting Avsar or with dose adjustments.
• Cough:  Avsar might cause a dry, persistent cough in some individuals.
• Changes in urination:  Avsar can sometimes cause changes in urination frequency or volume.

Less Common Side Effects

• Irregular heartbeat: In rare cases, some individuals may experience changes in heart rhythm or palpitations.
• Liver problems: Elevated liver enzymes or liver function abnormalities can occur in a small percentage of people taking Avsar.
• Allergic reactions: Severe allergic reactions associated with Avsar, such as swelling of the face, throat, or tongue, difficulty breathing, or severe skin reactions like Stevens-Johnson syndrome can occur, although these are rare.
• Low blood pressure: While Avsar is intended to lower blood pressure, in some cases, it might drop too low, leading to symptoms such as fainting, especially when standing up quickly.
• Increased potassium levels:  Avsar can sometimes cause an increase in potassium levels in the blood, which might result in symptoms like weakness, irregular heartbeat, or muscle paralysis (very rare).
• Pancreatitis: In rare instances, inflammation of the pancreas or pancreatitis has been reported as a side effect of Avsar.
• Changes in blood cell count: A decrease in white blood cells or platelets can occur in very rare cases, leading to an increased risk of infections or bleeding.
• Vision problems: While uncommon, some individuals might experience changes in vision or eye discomfort.
• Tremors: Some individuals may experience tremors or shaking as a result of the medication.
• Gout:  Avsar can rarely contribute to gout, a type of arthritis caused by the buildup of uric acid crystals in the joints.

Avsar is one of the leading brands with a combination of Amlodipine and valsartan, manufactured and marketed by Pharmevo Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd.

Presently, Avsar is available in Tablet Form with the following strengths.

Avsar Tablet 10/160: Amlodipine 10mg + Valsartan 160mg strengths
Avsar Tablet 5/80: Amlodipine 5mg + Valsartan 80mg strengths
Avsar Tablet 5/160: Amlodipine 5mg + Valsartan 160mg strengths

1. Potassium supplements or potassium-sparing diuretics: Avsar with potassium supplements or medications that spare potassium (e.g., certain diuretics like spironolactone) can increase potassium levels in the blood, potentially leading to hyperkalemia (high blood potassium levels) which can be dangerous.
2. Other blood pressure medications: Using Avsar alongside other antihypertensive medications might lead to additive blood pressure-lowering effects. It’s important to monitor blood pressure regularly when combining different blood pressure medications to avoid excessively low blood pressure.
3. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs like ibuprofen or naproxen, when taken with Avsar, may reduce the blood pressure-lowering effects of these medications and increase the risk of kidney problems.
4. Certain antibiotics: Some antibiotics, such as erythromycin or clarithromycin, might increase the levels of Avsar in the blood, potentially leading to an increased risk of side effects.
5. Grapefruit juice: Grapefruit juice can inhibit the breakdown of Avsar in the body, leading to increased levels of the medication and a higher risk of side effects.
6. Lithium:  Avsar may increase lithium levels in the blood, potentially leading to lithium toxicity. Regular monitoring of lithium levels is crucial if taken concurrently.
7. Certain antifungal medications: Azole antifungals (e.g., ketoconazole, itraconazole) can increase the levels of Avsar in the blood, potentially leading to an increased risk of side effects.
8. Simvastatin: Combining Avsar with simvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering medication, may increase the risk of muscle-related side effects of simvastatin.