Valsartan for High Blood Pressure User Reviews (Page 2)

• Anonymous
• January 21, 2012

Diovan (valsartan) "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. Have gone to just Diovan and have dropped the diuretic."

• Twinkii
• February 29, 2020

"I started taking valsartan 50 mg daily 5 months ago. I was previously on lisinopril 10 mg daily (stopped due to ACE inhibitor cough). Since taking valsartan I have had problems with pain/stiffness in my knees. My hands are swollen and I now have stiffness in my thumb. I went to see an orthopedic (bone specialist) & was diagnosed with osteoarthritis and trigger thumb. I am a 56 yr old nurse (over 30 yrs critical care/ICU experience). I know for a fact that this medication is causing my problems. I have no prior medical history other than being diagnosed with Hypertension ~1 yr ago. I’m planning to see my primary care physician to discuss & request to change medication. Most important, I need to make lifestyle changes."

• Linda...
• December 10, 2015

Diovan (valsartan) "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."

• phils...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 4, 2016

Diovan (valsartan) "I was recently switched to a BP control regimen of Diovan and Concur (bisoprolol) and for the first time in 20 yeqrs, my BP is under control. It used to run in the mid 140s to mid 150s / hi 80s to hi 90s. Now is has stabilized to mid 120s to mid 130s / mid 70s to mid 80s. I couldn't be happier and I have no side effects."

• FMB
• April 22, 2016

"I'm 51 & hav been using Diovan Hct 80-12.5 for 5months to cntrll high bp.. The medcn did wrk to regulate my bp keep'n it at 120's/ 80's. I started xperienc'n painful stiffnss in my neck & shoulders, nausea. I decided to wean myslf off the meds & to do this I knw I had to chng my diet & xercise more. First thing to go was soda! I also strtd eating raw garlic '4 cloves' daily (garlic hlps to lowr bp along with othr awesome benefits), I only drnk lemon watr, & 8 ounce of V8 low sodium Veggie Juice Daily- Plenty of fruit & veggies DAILY (avocado, bananas, oranges, blackberries, spinach, kale, sweet potatoes, almonds) I selected these to provid nutrients need'd.. 5 weeks in & BP has maintained!, I feel fabulous & I'm dwn to 1 tablet a week-"

• Bigbob
• August 3, 2017

Diovan (valsartan) "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 160mg 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!!!"

• Anonymous
• September 23, 2009

Diovan (valsartan) "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 to 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."

• Butch...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 23, 2012

Diovan (valsartan) "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."

• jim
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2017

Diovan (valsartan) "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."

• miser...
• June 24, 2009

Diovan (valsartan) "Taking Diovan for 160 mg for 3 months with no noticeable side effects, than had what the doctor refers to as an orthostatic syneopal 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 has presented itself. The worst being muscle weakness and cramping. "

• Tired...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 11, 2017

"I have been taking Valsartan 160 mg for 10 years now. It helps control my BP, but I'm tired of all the side effects it causes me. Examples of those are: tiredness, hair loss, post nasal drip, loss of libido, delayed orgasm, insomnia. I have decided to stop med and to exercise (walk) and eat better."

• Zabo
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 22, 2018

"Valsartan works so well getting my numbers down. But I’m now having really bad muscle fatigue in my legs. Especially my thighs . It’s sometimes hard to get up and down without feeling any pain in my thigh area. But I’m slowly getting used to it. Still don’t like it though, but the numbers are low and that’s what I needed in my daily life. High blood pressure will kill you ya know? lol. I’ve been walking hardcore prior to the two months I’ve been on this medication. So I know my legs/thighs aren’t hurting from the daily walking. My goal is to loose more weight (lost 15lbs already) and hopefully get off of these blood pressure meds all together. The good thing is it’s summer soon. So no excuses about the weather. That should be our goal People is to rid ourselves of these meds when we can. Good luck to all who post here."

• Anonymous
• March 16, 2011

Diovan (valsartan) "I started taking Diovan 80 mg some 15 years ago, worked great for me. After about 5 years I developed an allergy to the sun and after many skin biopsy's was diagnosed with Discoid lupus. 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, medically necessary and within 3 days I had a severe skin rash, and low and behold, I never had Discoid lupus, quit taking it. Back to enalapril and now blood pressure is crazy again. Wish I could take Diovan, but want to enjoy the beaches. Back to square one."

• Irishdc
• May 15, 2010

Diovan (valsartan) "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 xray, 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. "

• Grace...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 26, 2017

"My experience with Valsartan was terrible muscle stiffness, joint pain, chronic cough, vision changes, painful stiffness in my neck and shoulder I felt terrible every day. I will never take this medicine nor recomended to anyone. I went back to Diovan is more expense but it works."

• Hotto
• January 31, 2016

Diovan (valsartan) "I was on Diovan five years ago for high blood pressure and had been taking it for about two years when I woke up one morning and felt so sick and weak that I could not walk. I happened to be in hospital at the time and they discovered that my potassium and blood pressure had dropped significantly. They stopped the Diovan and two days later I was back to normal. However, my blood pressure is above the recommended levels and the local doctor put me back on Diovan about six weeks ago and this week I got the weakness back plus muscle aches, severe, so I stopped Diovan two days ago and so far I still have all the bad side effects, but hoping they will go away soon. A visit to the doctor is on the cards."

• pamsl...
• April 6, 2010

Diovan (valsartan) "Controls my blood pressure but gives me stomach pain. Used to take 160 MG, had pain now I take 320/12.5 and I have terrible pains in my center and upper stomach. I am asking the doctor to try another pill. Can'tr take it any more!"

• Kacer
• March 26, 2016

"80 mg valsartan is the 1st BP med I have ever taken. After taking my second pill I developed an extremely severe headache in the front of my face. It subsided the next day but did not go away completely. After the 5th pill I experienced pain in my hips, knees, and fingers that woke me up constantly during the night. I took another pill the next morning. That evening I developed a severe rash on my face right across the areas where I had my headache. Did not take another pill after that, but still have a headache after not being on it for a week. My BP was 148/83 and never really saw much of a difference being on the pill for such a short period of time. Valsartan made me feel very unwell!"

• aronu...
• June 19, 2008

Diovan (valsartan) "I used to take 360mg a day, now I'm down to 80mg a day. I have taken this for years. I wouldn't change to anything else, it has really done wonders on my blood pressure (BP). Now my BP is well controlled."

• Sweetie
• May 15, 2017

"I started valsartan a month ago. I am experiencing, hair loss, Bodyaches, heart palpitations, my head throbs, anxiety, but that could be from My heart racing at times. (Which is something that has never happened to me until I was put on this medicine). It seems like my vision is blurry at times. My blood pressure runs about 135/85. Although some days I check it and it's all over the place. My face also is flush since starting this medication."

• Amber...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 22, 2016

"I might as well take sugar pills. This is the second generic brand of blood pressure medications I have been given since being forced to go off the name brand Diovan prescribed by my doctor. The first generic worked although not as well as the name brand. This one, Mylan, does not work at all. My blood pressure is the highest it's been since I went on blood pressure medication over 22 years ago! Not acceptable at all. Normally with the name brand it ran around 124 over 70 in the afternoon, with the first generic brand it ran about 130 over 75. With Mylan Valsartin it runs 155 to 163 over 83 to 90 in the afternoon!!!"

• Carrie...
• June 9, 2017

"Been on valsartan for over year. Had several side effects...cough, lethargic, and muscle weakness when walking for 5 minutes. Dr was unhappy with my pressure last few visits so Dr added HCTZ to valsartan. My symptoms now include higher blood sugar....30 to 50 more points average daily on my morning testing. My A1C went from 6.1 to 6.6 . When I had my 3 month blood test. All I do is cough and wheeze. chest x-ray shows clear lungs. Tired of taking more meds to relieve symptoms. Feel like I'm not crazy after reading the comments of others."

• are
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 16, 2018

"I am specifically commenting for my brother. He takes valsartan for high blood pressure. I need to tell you all that there is a voluntary recall on Valsartan. Everyone, please call your pharmacy or check on the label and see who is the company/manufacture of your medication. Go online and you will find the list of the company names that are being recalled. The FDA is suggesting you continue taking your medication until you find another medication to replace it. Please contact your doctor who is treating you and talk with him/her."

• Robin
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 12, 2018

"My side effects are debilitating burning of feet, swelling of hands, arms felt asleep. Progressive and worsening over 7 months. Spoke with both my primary and cardiologist who were not convinced my symptoms were related to the drug. Referred to Neurologist. Waiting for nerve conduction test despite all of this pain and growing fear. Took myself off Valsartin. Overnight relief. 90% improvement. No foot burning, no icing my feet. Not declaring a victory but looks very likely the drug is the cause."

• Wsand...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 11, 2022

"Been on every class of medication and out of options for BP 170/110. Trying Valsartan again as it is “least” disabling with other meds. But it causes huge electrolyte imbalances, severe muscle cramps Charlie horses, cold/flu symptoms, stuffy nose, cough, fatigue, headache, muscle and bone aches, and dehydration - even though I drink 4-5 quarts a day. So will take to stay alive - preventing hypertension crisis. But pretty miserable. Wondering if name brand would be better? I have hypothyroidism a fragile baseline condition, So do try this Med if you haven’t already! You may or may not have a similar degree of side effects. Or success. It’s worth trying, never give up. Good Luck!"