Generic Name: Diovan for High Blood Pressure (valsartan)
Diovan for High Blood Pressure Reviews
"Have been taking Diovan 160mg twice daily along with hydrochlorothiazide 25mg for 2 years. Developed shortness of breath, which they told me was an asthma problem that I never had before. I insisted it was the medication and was told it wasn't because it worked great for my blood pressure. Had 2 near-death experiences from 'asthma attacks'. They stopped the Diovan and hydrochlorothiazide, and I haven't had any problems with breathing. I can be very active without losing my breath now. Now trying to find something else that works as well on my blood pressure."
"I have been on this medication for about six years. At first, it lowered my blood pressure, but lately, I am still in the 140s over 90s, and recently started having ringing in my ears. During the time I was taking this, I would become tired during the day and could not walk up one flight of stairs without being out of breath. I started on a workout regime for 9 months now to get into shape and still had fatigue and shortness of breath. I also started to have slight heart palpitations, so I decided to quit all medicines, keep track of my blood pressure, and went to the doctor and told him my symptoms and plans. I changed my lifestyle to be much healthier than it had been with diet and exercise. No more fatigue and pressure is even better."
"I just experienced sudden onset high blood pressure. I'm almost 50. Never had problems before. My normal BP is about 115/70. 2 weeks ago, for unknown reasons, it spiked up to 210/125. Stayed in that range for a full 2 weeks. Dr. Put me on amlodipine for 10 days. It did absolutely nothing. Just changed the med to Diovan HCT. After 1 pill, BP came down to 125/80. After the next pill, it's down to 112/69. Crazy how fast it worked. I'm almost afraid to take pill #3 because I'm hoping it won't go too low. Is this normal?"
"Diovan HCT 160/12.5 - took for over 8 years. Blood pressure was controlled...however, did not realize that daily headaches, hair thinning, up and down blood sugar, weight gain, muscle aches, etc. were side effects. Stopped taking and all symptoms started to go away."
"Been on Diovan for at least three years, suffering many side effects: muscle pain, sudden hair loss and thinning, as well as intermittent tingling on the back of my head. I have also had weight gain, problems with blood sugar, and loss of erections. I still have sexual desire but my erections aren't adequate. I have pain in my stomach which is increasing with time, sometimes kind of burning like an ulcer, and coldness in my feet. I have also started developing small lumps of fat under my skin and marks on my skin resembling age spots but are not. The pills are not having as good an effect on my blood pressure anymore. It went way up. I just don't know what medicine to switch to."
"I used several medications before my cardiologist prescribed Diovan. I have had wonderful results, no side effects of any type and would suggest Diovan to anyone needing their blood pressure controlled. I consider this medication a miracle! It has been for me! I'm 66 years old and have used it for 7 years."
"Diovan effectively controlled my high blood pressure for 2 years. Then suddenly I developed low potassium levels; fluctuating blood pressure, rapid pulse, ringing in the ears, nausea and deep tissue pain with chronic inflammation. The dose was dropped by 1/2. Sleep apnea began. It took three months- many-ER visits, two hospitalizations and cardiac monitoring to figure out what my blood pressure was actually doing. Eventually it took only 1/4 of the dose of the medication to 'control' my pressure without causing side effects. The onset of these symptoms without doctors recognizing them created concern for me about this medication. I recommend regular monitoring of your own blood pressure."
"One side effect not listed here but is listed elsewhere falls under the category of dermatological side effects - alopecia. So, if your scalp becomes pink and irritable and you start developing thinning or actual bald patches, ask your doctor to switch you to another medication."
"I recently started taking this medication for about 1 month, 80mg/day, and I have experienced shortness of breath going up one flight of stairs, muscle weakness during light housework, and heart palpitations for no reason, dizziness, and fatigue. I went on vacation to Palm Desert and wasn't watching my sodium intake and not keeping hydrated. I paid dearly by watching my blood pressure go from 140/90 to 180/105 and ended up at urgent care. Doc gave me Diazide to flush out the sodium, and now my blood pressure is 110/70. The cardiologist decreased Diazide to 40mg. Some of Diovan's side effects are dissipating with this reduction. I am not happy taking any medication unless necessary, especially at the age of 46. Hope to be off all medicines soon."
"I used to use lisinopril for two months, and my blood pressure would be controlled for a couple of days, then uncontrolled and terribly high, ranging 170/110 or 180/100 at times. It took about a month to get my blood pressure to range between 142/90 to 124/86. Then my medicines got changed to Diovan because of the severe side effects, and I felt 100 times better. The first day I took the Diovan, it felt like an internal massage feeling my blood vessels dilate. It works really well, my blood pressure averages around 115/70, and I take it daily... BUT when I get to the doctor's office, I become so worried (white coat syndrome), my blood pressure is sky high. So my doctor just added a diuretic also."
"Taking for 15 years. I'm 67. Controls my blood pressure well. I take 160mg. I'm normal weight and very active (triathlons and marathons). If I train very hard and drop weight, I get dizzy sometimes so I cut the pill in half and that does the trick. I occasionally get heart palpitations, but I had that before the drug. I used to get terrible migraines before Diovan, when I started taking Diovan, it was like a miracle drug for the migraines - essentially eliminated them. I still get them now infrequently and not as severe. I have ringing in the ears, but I don't know if it's from the Diovan or not, but it's not a problem for me."
"Taking drug for about 5 years and blood pressure stays around 140/93. All of a sudden started having ringing in ears and decided to go off Diovan after reading this was a side effect. Also noticed shortness of breath, weight gain, and tiredness. Now blood pressure is about the same without Diovan or any other medication except still have the ringing in the ears."
"After using Diovan for only a few days, I developed shortness of breath and my blood pressure skyrocketed. I was also very lethargic. Within 2 days of stopping and going back to my old blood pressure medication, my pressure dropped significantly. This drug did NOT work for me for what it was prescribed for."
"Diovan does the trick as far as the blood pressure goes. I have been an athlete my whole life, so high blood pressure was just never dreamed of. The only problem is my erectile dysfunction, which was never a problem before this. Guess I will have to take the bad with the good."
"I went through a mountain of different blood pressure medications, until I tried Diovan. Most of the other medicines either didn't work, or the side effects were severe. It may be expensive, but it works. Recently, my Medicare provider wanted me to try Cozaar because they don't cover Diovan (cost). I will stay with Diovan even if I have to pay for it myself."
"Diovan HCT has controlled my blood pressure for over 10 years. Recently, though my potassium has dropped, I've experienced atrial fibrillation, and have noticed ringing in my ears. I have gone to just Diovan and have dropped the diuretic."
"This medicine is a lifesaver. My doctor put me on blood pressure medicine when I turned 40. It made me feel tired and just bad, and in about 8 months after I started taking it, I started having chest pains. She swapped me to Diovan, and I've been on it for 3 years now. I have no side effects, I don't feel bad anymore, and it controls my blood pressure."
"I was recently switched to a BP control regimen of Diovan and Concur (bisoprolol), and for the first time in 20 years, my BP is under control. It used to run in the mid 140s to mid 150s / hi 80s to hi 90s. Now it has stabilized to mid 120s to mid 130s / mid 70s to mid 80s. I couldn't be happier, and I have no side effects."
"After about six weeks of starting Diovan 80 mg, my blood pressure began to go higher. My dosage was increased to 160 mg. My blood pressure would go up and down, reaching over 200/100 several times. After a trip to the ER twice and the hospital once, I decided to take myself off Diovan and go back to my old medicine. Problem solved."
"I took Lisinopril for about a year and a half. I coughed so bad all the time I could not stand it any longer. Stopped up head and hard to breathe. My doctor changed me to Diovan 160 mg, and I have been on it for 2 months now, and my head has cleared, and my cough is completely gone. My blood pressure has been in the 110's over 60's. So far, I am very happy with Diovan!!!"
"I've been taking Diovan HCT (80/12.5) for a little over one year. It has done the trick on my blood pressure but leaves me with a slight headache and afternoon lethargy. After about 8:00 PM, I usually start to feel better. My doctor and I tried 3 other medicines before Diovan HCT with no results. I don't know if the side effects are something I will just have to live with or not. I will discuss this on my next Dr.'s visit."
"Taking Diovan 160 mg for 3 months with no noticeable side effects, then had what the doctor refers to as an orthostatic syncope episode. I passed out. Was out of work for 4 weeks. Doctor increased dose to 320 and nearly all of the side effects listed for this medication have presented themselves. The worst being muscle weakness and cramping."
"Took for 2 weeks, OK, then suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks. Tingling sensation all over body, night leg cramps. I was on the generic, then had the pharmacy switch to the name brand ($274). The name brand seems stronger, as when I take it, 3 hours later, I get a tingling all over my body. I will stop taking this until the effects go away and try again."
"I started taking Diovan 80 mg some 15 years ago, it worked great for me. After about 5 years, I developed an allergy to the sun, and after many skin biopsies, I was diagnosed with discoid lupus. I had to stay out of the sun, almost like a vampire. My insurance (drug coverage) would no longer cover this medicine, so my doctor prescribed enalapril, which worked for a while, then blood pressure became erratic, and trying several other medicines made me so sluggish. My doctor wrote for Diovan again, stating it was medically necessary, and within 3 days, I had a severe skin rash. Lo and behold, I never had discoid lupus, so I quit taking it. Back to enalapril, and now my blood pressure is crazy again. I wish I could take Diovan, but I want to enjoy the beaches. Back to square one."
"Yes, it lowered my blood pressure. I had, and still do, a persistent lingering dry cough, which led to many visits to the doctor's office: spirometry, chest x-ray, antibiotics, and more, to rule out any other reason for the cough. And I did hear from one of my co-workers later that her father had a similar experience, cough after taking Diovan."
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