What is the most important information I should know about tolvaptan?
You should not use this medicine if are unable to urinate, if you are unable to tell when you are thirsty, or if you are severely dehydrated.
You will need to be in a hospital under observation any time you start or restart treatment with tolvaptan.
Tell your caregivers at once if you have any of these signs that your hyponatremia is being reversed too quickly: problems with speech or muscle control, trouble swallowing, trouble moving your arms and legs, confusion, or seizure.
While taking tolvaptan at home, call your doctor if you have signs of liver problems, such as: loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, dark urine, or jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).
What is tolvaptan?
Tolvaptan reduces the level of a hormone that regulates the balance of water and salt (sodium) in the body. High levels of this hormone can cause an imbalance that results in low sodium levels and fluid retention.
Tolvaptan is used to treat hyponatremia (low levels of sodium in your blood) in people with heart failure, and certain hormonal imbalances. Tolvaptan improves urine flow without causing the body to lose too much sodium as you urinate.
Tolvaptan may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my health care provider before taking tolvaptan?
You should not use tolvaptan if you are allergic to it, or if you:
- are unable to urinate;
- are unable to tell that you are thirsty; or
- are severely dehydrated and feel like you might pass out.
Some medicines can cause unwanted or dangerous effects when used with tolvaptan. Your doctor may need to change your treatment plan if you use any of the following drugs:
- nefazodone;
-
an antibiotic --clarithromycin, telithromycin;
-
antifungal medicine --itraconazole, ketoconazole; or
-
HIV/AIDS medication --indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir, saquinavir.
To make sure tolvaptan is safe for you, tell your doctor if:
- you have kidney disease or urination problems;
- you have liver disease (especially cirrhosis);
- you also take desmopressin (dDAVP), or a diuretic or "water pill";
- you are malnourished; or
- you have been drinking large amounts of alcohol.
It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.
It is not known whether tolvaptan passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing baby. You should not breast-feed while using this medicine.
How should I take tolvaptan?
You will receive your first few doses of tolvaptan in a hospital setting where your heart rhythm can be monitored, in case the medicine causes serious side effects.
Tolvaptan is usually given once per day. Follow all directions on your prescription label. Your doctor may occasionally change your dose. Do not take this medicine in larger or smaller amounts or for longer than recommended.
Long-term use of tolvaptan can damage your liver or cause death. You should not use tolvaptan for longer than 30 days.
You may take tolvaptan with or without food.
Take this medicine with a full glass (8 ounces) of water. Drink plenty of fluids during the first 24 hours of taking tolvaptan, but avoid alcoholic drinks. Follow your doctor's instructions about the type and amount of liquids you should drink while treating hyponatremia. In some cases, drinking too much liquid can be as unsafe as not drinking enough.
Call your doctor if you have ongoing vomiting or diarrhea, or if you are sweating more than usual. You can easily become dehydrated while taking this medication, which can lead to serious side effects.
To be sure tolvaptan is helping your condition, you may need frequent blood tests.
If you stop taking tolvaptan for any length of time, do not start taking it again at home. You will need to be in a hospital under observation any time you start or restart treatment with tolvaptan.
Store at room temperature away from moisture and heat.
What happens if I miss a dose?
Take the missed dose as soon as you remember. Skip the missed dose if it is almost time for your next scheduled dose. Do not take extra medicine to make up the missed dose.
What happens if I overdose?
Seek emergency medical attention or call the Poison Help line at 1-800-222-1222.
What should I avoid while taking tolvaptan?
Grapefruit and grapefruit juice may interact with tolvaptan and lead to unwanted side effects. Avoid the use of grapefruit products while taking tolvaptan.
What are the possible side effects of tolvaptan?
Get emergency medical help if you have signs of an allergic reaction: hives; difficult breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
Tell your caregivers at once if you have any of these signs that your hyponatremia is being reversed too quickly:
- problems with speech or muscle control;
- trouble swallowing;
- trouble moving your arms and legs;
- confusion, mood changes; or
- a seizure.
While taking tolvaptan at home, call your doctor at once if you have:
- weakness, or a light-headed feeling (like you might pass out);
-
liver problems --vomiting, loss of appetite, upper stomach pain, tiredness, itching, dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes); or
-
dehydration symptoms --feeling very thirsty or hot, being unable to urinate, heavy sweating, or hot and dry skin.
Common side effects may include:
- dry mouth;
- increased thirst or urination;
- hunger, fruity breath odor, drowsiness, blurred vision;
- constipation; or
- weakness.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What other drugs will affect tolvaptan?
Sometimes it is not safe to use certain medications at the same time. Some drugs can affect your blood levels of other drugs you take, which may increase side effects or make the medications less effective.
Many drugs can interact with tolvaptan. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal products. Not all possible interactions are listed in this medication guide. Tell your doctor about all your current medicines and any medicine you start or stop using.
Where can I get more information?
Your pharmacist can provide more information about tolvaptan.
Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use this medication only for the indication prescribed.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Cerner Multum, Inc. ('Multum') is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Multum information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Multum does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Multum's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Multum's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners. The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Multum does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Multum provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.
Copyright 1996-2018 Cerner Multum, Inc. Version: 4.01. Revision date: 8/3/2017.
