Drug Authorities Publish Equivalence Tables for Medication Substitution

The Drug Commission (AMK) has published comparison tables to support physicians in switching patients from valsartan-containing medications to alternatives, following the detection of impurities in the active ingredient.

The tables provide guidance for estimating equivalent doses of alternative sartans and ACE inhibitors. The initial impetus for the tables was the extensive recall of valsartan-containing drugs due to contaminants in the active substance supplied by Chinese manufacturer Zhejiang Huahai Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.

AMK has expanded the scope to include ACE inhibitors (ACEi) as well, anticipating potential supply shortages for other sartans. The commission emphasizes that these tables serve as a guideline, and substance-specific and patient-individual factors should be considered.

The comparisons cover various sartans and ACE inhibitors, detailing their equivalent doses and recommended dosages for both hypertension and heart failure treatment. The data has been compiled from multiple sources, including official product information and medical literature.