DIOVAN Reviews (VALSARTAN)

Average Rating: 2.0 (776 Ratings)

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 Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers (ARBs)

 Type: Rx Drug

  

DIOVAN  (VALSARTAN):  Valsartan is used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure. It is also used to improve the chance of living longer after a heart attack. In people with heart failure, it may also lower the chance of having to go to the hospital for heart failure. Valsartan belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs). It works by relaxing blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily. Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems.   FDA Approval Date: 1996-12-23 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR DIOVANCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 2  high blood pressure itching all over body. stomach cramps M 44 45 days
1/20/2009
 2  HBP Ringing ears, fatigue, dry mouth, low back pain - spasms. If it were just ringing ears, and dry mouth I could stand it, but the back pain is just to much. After getting a clean x-ray, and a clean MRI, and trying everything from drugs, inversion, chiropractor, accupuncture, and on and on and on - you reach a point where you've exhausted the idea that its something physical. I never put two and two together till just recently, I had an injured back when I began using this drug, so if my back improved, I had no way of knowing - the effects of the drug would have masked any natural improvement. I just accepted it as a fact of getting older - my Doc would give me muscle relaxant to help my muscle pains, but it would never go away. Then I found this site, and realized that the only common denominator during all these years was my daily dose of diovan - its only been about a week since I've been diovan free, and am feeling some muscle improvements already - though I still feel some muscle fatigue (probably from not being to exercise for 3.5 year M 43 3.5 years
1/22/2009
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 2  HBP Head pressure feels like I have pressure in the top of my head. Feel loopy and can not think. Sore muscles and hate this stuff. I am the same guy that wrote a week ago it was okay. i was wrong this is really bad. M 45 12 days
12/17/2008
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 2  high blood pressure dizziness, almost passed out on one ocassion, backache, excessive tiredness,some impotence, diarrhea then constipation, swollen foot. I have been taking it for two years and want to find an alternative without side effects. Some days my life is miserable. I lie on the bed with backache and total lack of energy. I am quite fit and exercise, my weight 75 kilos, height 5feet11" I am going to see my doctor to see about either trying to achieve blood pressure control through dieting and exercise or something that has less side effects.. M 75 2 years
12/22/2008
 2  To lower my bloodpressure I am currently taking Diovan 160 and have noticed only a small drop in the bp numbers. I bought the arm-cuff bp machine and have noticed quite a variety of readings, some good, some bad. However, upon finding this site I have seen quite a few similar side-effects (listed below). My major problem after starting it was that I now how cracking/popping of my knees/ankles/wrists and elbows. Has anyone else experienced this??? Before I started Diovan earlier last year, I worked out the gym 2-3 nights a week and had no cracking/popping in any joints. It was only after I started Diovan! My kness are puffy and are more than often stiff. I am still able to work out. My doctor doesn't think it's the Diovan, but I certainly do! I will be asking my Doctor to change my med tomorrow. Perhaps I can get her to prescribe Avapro this go-around. I have been on Diovan 320 and also Lotrel and none seem to work that well. The stronger doses have not been good for me. Side-effects as follows: 1. Knee, elbow, Anyone have any ideas as to why the cracking/popping of the joints has occurred, please advise. I have taken MSM Glucosamine for years and thought I'd try "Osteo Bi-Flex with Glucosamine Chondroitin MSM" to see if it would help the cracking/popping. Nothing yet after three weeks! M 59 9 months
2/24/2008
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 2  High BP Intensity and occurance vary day to day, but seem to coincide with starting Diovan. I did not associate several side effects until I began to read comments in this formum. Side Effect (which I never experienced prior to using Diovan) include: Headache, Dizziness, Fatigue, Anxiety, Palpatations, and Joint Pain (the joint pain got progressively worse over time - it became very problematic about 2 yrs ago and I was recently diagnosed with mild psoriatic arthritis. Wonder if my joint pain is directly related to Diovan? I'm going off of it for a few weeks to see if my joint pain and other symptoms subside). Effectively controlled my BP: 115-130/70-85 M 41 7 years
2/28/2008
 2  HBP Bloating, gas, slight weight gain and shoulder cramps every morning after taking 1600-12.5MG for about a month. BP is not controlled and heart rate is UP. Don't know if its related, but have the sense of pressure in my ears as if congested. EENT says he sees nothing wrong. Could it be the Diavan? Docs generally pay no attention to reports of side affects and will kill you rather than admit a drug they prescribed is making you sick. I told a doc of a bad reaction to another med so she doubled the dose but a pharmacist told me to stop taking it immediately because there were many complaints about that drug. What's wrong with the doctors, anyway? Are they making too much money on prescriptions and don't want to give it up, or what? As for Diovan, what works in place of it? M 57 28 days
4/19/2008
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 2  border line high blood pressure Blurred Vision, aching feet. My husband was given Diovan after his stroke one month ago. He was also given Lipitor and Aggrenox and has been taking Metformin for type 2 diabeties. After a month of taking these pills I had to rush him to emergency because he was week and his speech was slurred. I thought he was having another stroke. When we got to the hospital and finally spoke to the doctor 4 hours later, I was told that my husband's potassium level was extremely low. I did some research on the internet and found that if Metformin is taken with a diuretic that it would lower the potassium levels. I mentioned this to the doctor and said that that would not have had anything to do with what happened. While he was talking with the doctor, his speech starting to get slurred again and he became week. I also checked the side effects of Aggrenox and found that some of the side effects were changes in mood, unusual weakness, slurred speech, vision problems and a change in the amount of urine. These symptoms seem t M 56 4 weeks
11/18/2007
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 2  High Blood Pressure Was taking Toprol XL with a diuretic - did not like at all - things slowed down and I stopped responding to the med after 18 months on it. Doctor tried Diovan 160mg and it definitely dropped my pressure - from 150/100 to 120/60. Saw a dramatic decline in sex drive - 50% drop. No other noticable side effects. Doctor now having me try Cardizem CD and Maxide (a diuretic). No decline in drive with Cardizem at all although it doesn't drop my pressures as much as Diovan. Perhaps the Maxide will drop it more. M 36 6 months
11/21/2007
 2  moderately high blood pressure Within 8 hours of taking Diovan, I always experience a type of depression - - - I seem to have lost the mental "energy" to begin tasks - - - I just feel like life is worthless and want to quit living. This is, of course, quite frightening, and I immediately stopped taking this drug. The half-dozen or so times I've talked myself into trying it again, the same thing happened. No more. What's the matter with some doctors? They don't believe you when you describe a side effect. I probably need to find a new doctor. M 59 2 months
1/11/2008
 2  High Blood Pressure I have been a relatively healthy individual throughout my life with no major illnesses or surgeries. I was diagnosed with HBP in the 1980's and went through a battery of trials with available blood pressure medications. All had significant side effects. In 1998, Diovan was prescribed as having minimal side effects and was prescribed a daily dosage of 320mg. Without the drug I could reach elevated blood pressure levels of 210/110. I was unaware of any initial side effects, however, in the past few years I experienced constant insomnia, "tennis elbow" syndrome, pronounced anxiety , loss of motivation--almost depression. Initially, I presumed it was age yet I could not understand the recent rapid decline of my health. I stopped taking the drug for 7 days. All of the above symptoms were no longer exhibited, however, the blood pressure sky rocketed. I am currently back on the drug and receiving alternate health care treatment to remove the Diovan dependency. One has to seriously evaluate the consequences of presription drugs. I personally do not accept prescription drugs as the "cure all". I believe that Diovan produces immediate results as intended. The general public is vulnerable and at the mercy of prescription drugs! M 63 8 years
3/23/2007
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 2  high blood pressure None After some initial effect for about 3 months it had failed to control my high blood pressure at all. Also took it with HCT, the dose was 160mg. M 53 365 days
3/6/2005
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 2  High blood pressure Fatigue, overall achy feeling, loss of sex drive but not performance, dulled sense of taste. It did lower my blood pressure but quality of life not worth it. Doctor switched me to Cozaar and side effects from Diovan have gone. So far blood pressure is staying down. Seems worthwhile to work with Dr. to find medication that works for you. M 45 3 months
4/29/2005
 2  High Blood Pressure Lethargic. Zero ambition. Had to take the the big one (160mg)to bring down BP at all. Take AFTER I get in bed. 30-40 minutes later I'm dead to the world. M 56 6 months
10/5/2008
 2  HBP After about 10 months of taking Diovan once daily, I began to have severe intestinal bloating, gas and diarrhea. I have also experienced lightheadedness and extreme fatigue. I noticed that my legs are very heavy and have cramping especially in the calf muscles. I now have joint pain in my wrists and ankles as well. Initially I thought I may have picked up some sort of bug, but apparenty it's the medication as it's the only medication I am taking. I will be seeing my doctor to get to the bottom of this as this has been going on for the past 2 months. Initially, Diovan did lower my blood pressure to a normal level, 120/70, after I was diagnosed and hospitalized for HBP which was 230/110. I am athletic and have a very good diet. At 46 years of age and 6 feet tall, my weight has been a constant 190lbs. I did inherit HBP from my Father's side who had developed this condition around 45 years of age. My younger sister also developed this condition. I've come to realize that exercise and a good diet is not enough, and I do need some sort of medication to control this condition. M 46 1 years
9/10/2007
 2  High Blood Pressure I took Diovan for 2 days. I started having chest pain and my heart was pounding, even when I was resting. It just didn't feel right. I quit taking the medicine and I've decided to try a different route. I'm going to change my diet and exercise more. I've decided that I'm not ready to give in to medication! I may look into natural supplements also. M 45 2 days
5/19/2007
 2   M 120 days
9/22/2007
 2  Difficult High BP My biggest problem right now seems to be palpitations and I am ready to quit taking Diovan. I take 160 mg with 12.5 of HCTZ but I have already discontinued that. My doctor already told me 7 weeks ago that my Potassium was low and wanted me to start a K-Chlor prescription. All these meds are messing with my mind. First I worry about getting Hyperkalemic but then I get Hypokalemic. Sometimes I wished I 'd never let anyone put me on any medicine. I also take 100mg of Toprol a day and some Hydralazine. If I am hearing people right about the Potassium and ending up in the ER which I have before I think I need to quit eventhough My BP will likely rise. There has got to be something out there that will lower it without the side effects. M 44 8 days
8/21/2007
 2  borderline high blood pressure I toke it for a while 3 months my sex drive went down I would have short sex periods, headaches, tingling in hands, ringing in ears. Then stop everything fine but had headaches. After 2 months tried again same side effects M 31 7 months
12/3/2006
 2  High Blood Pressure Severe headaches, severe muscle pains from middle of my back to top of my head, blurred vision, light-headedness, dizziness, flu-like symptoms and my eyes were sometimes very sensitive to light or to bright computer screens. At first, I had no side-effects at all and blood pressure dropped--consistently below 120/80. After 6 months, however, I had very bad muscle pains from the middle of my back to the top of my head. Really bad pain and no pain meds worked. That lasted about 3-4 weeks before it just went away. Never crossed my mind to link it to Diovan at that time, I just thought I had slept wrong and pinched something. ABout 3 weeks ago, I started having the same pain again, this time much worse, and it was accompanied by the list of symptoms I listed above. Since I am on no other medication and knew that dizziness/light headedness was a known side-effect of Diovan, I decided to stop taking it and see what happens. Within a few days, I started feeling noticeably better. I then started it again and side-effects came back. I have no other explanation. Doc doesn't believe me, but switched me to Norvasc which I haven't started yet. M 38 10 months
10/9/2007

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