Valsartan for High Blood Pressure User Reviews (Page 4)

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 2, 2020

"Had high B/P since my 20's now late 30's. Was but on Valsartan back in February low dose was doing fine. Doctor switch me to a higher dose. After 2 days woke up with a racing heart beat and saw stars. Asking to be but on a lower dose or a different drug with no side effects."

• Deana
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• February 24, 2022

"I have been on this medication for some time now, and I have shortness of breath, palpitation, was put on a heart monitor for a month. Results show no heart problems. I am plagued with shortness of breath, fatigue, swelling of my feet and hands and this is worst in the summer. Dry mouth, sometimes my throat hurts from talking. I don't like taking meds because of all that is hidden from us by the drug companies. PS> accepting the terms and policy is not true,"

• Kathy
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 2, 2020

"Started Valsartan after needing to be taken off Lisinopril for the coughing side effect. Medication needed increased to twice dose and never touched my BP regardless of healthy life choices. Reached out to cardiologist Crazy Med"

• RBG
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 19, 2023

Diovan (valsartan) "Over a several year trial and error period to try to manage my familial hypertension, I now take 3 drugs to manage it. Diovan, Doxazosin, and Lercanidipine. I take all 3 at bedtime. I don't have any side effects I'm aware of, and my BP is now very well managed. Just be mindful that you need a blood test each year, and I understand they can affect liver function. After about 6 or 7 years, I've had no problems identified."

• Anonymous
• December 10, 2010

Diovan (valsartan) "I take Diovan along with amlodipine and benazepril. My blood pressure is typically about 120-130/70-84. I don't know how much is due to the Diovan vs Lotrel, but I do know that Lotrel taken by itself was unable to get these results. As for side effects, I do seem to have dry cough(varying amounts), some dehydration, darker urine, and substantially less-frequent ejaculations. However, I am not sure if it is the medication that causes such things even though such things are recognized as side-effects."

• bp user
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 3, 2015

"My doctor gave me valsartan to take. I am 58, female taking atenolol for 18 years 50 mg. I took my bp this morning before meds, it was 150 over 86. I then took the valsartan started to feel naseaus and my throat tightening. My bp then shot up to 190 over 123 and was frightened. Clearly not a medicine for me. Going back to lisinopril, which has some side effects but bp is great with it."

• Gubba
• February 23, 2018

"Have been on this medicine for about 6 years. Recently I've been getting a lot of tinnitus in the doctor said through my blood work my potassium was a little high. This is been going on for about 4 months still didn't want me to change in my life medicine I was taking. But I decided to cut it in half because the tinnitus was getting horrible. I have also changed my diet because he told me my blood sugar was a little high as was my cholesterol a little high. So I changed my diet it's only been 3 weeks I've lost 11 pounds. Now my blood pressure is too low in my tinnitus is just as bad."

• William...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 21, 2015

"When I took Diovan with HCTZ, it took a couple of weeks to get my blood pressure down to 125/80. I am an active 61 year old male that plays tennis and walks 40 minutes a day. Then my health plan would only cover the generic valsartan with HCTZ. It was fine. Lately, my valsartan was made by a generic manufacturer McLeod's. All of a sudden my blood pressure shot up to 180/100. I now have to take 5 mg. amlodipine to get my blood pressure normal."

• Runners...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 26, 2013

"7 years ago my Blood pressure skyrocketed 110/100. I was going through some personnel issues at home and Dr. put me on Toprol(Beta-Blocker) didn't work, having heart palpitations. I started running and also changed my Meds to Diovan 160mg. BP went down to 110/70. "

• JaxJM
• March 22, 2009

Diovan (valsartan) "I took Diovan for two months to reduce blood pressure. It appears to be working, with no apparent side effects, other than COST. It is not available as a generic and even with a good prescription benefit it was costing me $60/month."

• Rooh
• August 22, 2008

Diovan (valsartan) "I have been taking this medicine for several months now, and I am very pleased with the results. I had been taking another medication that wasn't able to reduce my blood pressure as well as Diovan has, and it had more side effects."

• rimsh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 9, 2021

"Took valsartan for 1 + month. BP under control at about 125/80. Noticed tinnitus off and on. Became more prevalent over time. Cut down the dose from 160 mg to 80 mg and added olmesartan 20 mg. BP now 130-135/70. Hoping the tinnitus reduces. BTW olmesartan is available in generic. Be sure to procure the original, olmesartan medoxomil."

• Liile...
• November 27, 2016

"I've been in valsartan a couple years. After gallbladder surgery my blood pressure went high 190/ 90. Since then I have been having ups and downs. I lost 10 lbs, I had two near syncopal episodes back to back. Was monitored in ER for 12 hrs was told vasovagal episode, heart BP fine. Second time admitted all tests fineBP was ok except prior to stress test got to 200/70. 200/100. Since then had another episiode took 160mg in am by evening climbed higher and higher to 190/87. Saw PCP doesn't think it's valsartan. Yesterday took 1/2 valsartan because day before BP fine at 120/70s went shopping, by 4pm could feel it going up, took 1/4 tab waited 2?hrs took another 1/4 it kept up 16070. Took another 1/2 tab and tried to go to sleep heart beating."

• Indiana
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 8, 2021

Diovan (valsartan) "Have been taking Diovan HCT 160/12.5 for nearly 20 years with absolutely no issues. Recently, have noticed more fatigue and dizziness. Began checking and recording my blood pressure multiple times a day and found out that it is too low. I'm in the process of coordinating next steps with my doctor. Suspect that a slight dosage adjustment should do the job and have me back on track shortly."

• helps
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2024

"4/2024: The dizziness side effect diminished over two to three days of use. 40mg once a day has helped lower my blood pressure somewhat, maybe enough. Only been on it for a week or so now. I take it after dinner, and I believe it helps me sleep better. High blood pressure at night can cause nosebleeds. They are lessening, I think. I feel high blood pressure makes my tinnitus stronger and louder in my ears/head. It sounds less loud when my blood pressure drops back to more normal levels. Good luck. Thanks to all who take the time to share their progress."

• watcher
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 5, 2018

"64 years old, started at 40mg, as with all medication like this I bleed out the backside for the first few weeks, I have persistent cough, constant ringing in ears, hearing diminished, feels like I have cotton batten in my ears, depth perception loss, green to whiteish thick phlegm, intense lower back pain, straight out of bed I need to sit with hot water bottle for 1/2 to 1 hour just so I can walk, blood pressure still 190/203---over 80/100"

• Kjd
• June 22, 2017

"I started on lisinprol and was sick all the time. Awful cough, nausea and agitated took for a month. New Dr. switched me to Valsartan and I feel fantastic. The lisinprol cough seems to be almost gone and I haven't felt nauseous one time. Very happy "

• cinsu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 16, 2022

"I took valsartan for 10 days. First couple days were ok. then I developed jitteriness, uncontrolled shaking, chest pain, palpitations, headache, burning in stomach, nausea, heavy crawley feeling in my legs, severe muscle weakness, dizziness and cold sweats. My blood pressure got really low 90/69 pulse 105. I called my doctor and he said those weren't side effects. I looked on the insert and they were all there. I quit taking it two days ago and am starting to feel better."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2017

"Since April 2017 I have been taking valsartan for HBP...the doctor started me of first with 320mg for about, I think, 2 months, then changed to 160mg, because I it was giving me lower back pain when I mentioned it to him, also pain on my left side. My pressure continues to be high (170 to sometimes 190, plus three other medication as well for HBP. I feel like a guinea pig having to use so many BP pills. I know that salt is not the only cause for sometimes suffering from HBP, I believe it could be other things that causing HBP that Primary Care doctors not willing to tell patients . I used to take hydroclorizide...depleted me without no signs, lisinopril which had swell up my face, and others."

• Oilpa...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• August 26, 2018

"I have been taking Valsartin for a long time and not had any side effects but recently my supply has tasted and smelled of cellulose. The tablets are manufactured in Hungary. I've asked the Chemist to give me a supply from a different manufacturer but they say they get what they are given from their supplier. Does anyone have any suggestions."

• Rocky
• September 28, 2017

"Took a 160 mg tablet 2 nights in a row. After the 1st dose, within minutes I had pain down my spine. Thought maybe I'd pulled some muscles. The pain stayed around 20 hrs. Took my 2nd dose, and pain started again, only worse, up & down spine and radiated around. Felt like I'd been in a car accident. If I hadn't looked up the drug's side effects, I would have gone to the ER thinking I'd had a heart attack. It's 18 hours later, and I still hurt. (Clearly not helping my blood pressure.) My doc says he's never heard of anyone having this reaction, although a friend of mine, who is Ashkenazi Jewish female as I am, said it's common. Genetics maybe? B.P. not greatly lowered. Beta blocker works better but has side effects also."

• Renee
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 26, 2021

Diovan (valsartan) "Works better than Cozaar or Losartan at keeping my systolic blood pressure more even or stable throughout the day and in normal range. Losartan causes erratic pressures daily failing to lower systolic readings for me."

• steve
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 21, 2023

Diovan (valsartan) "Just changed from Enalapril to Valsartan, due to a cough, and then to Diovan due to a weird sensation that's like tripping. I can only describe it as almost an out-of-body experience. It just happens randomly but only lasts for a few minutes. Diovan is less spacy. I haven't seen anyone else report this so l guess they are LSD flashbacks from a misspent youth. Blood pressure is very good though."

• Cinde...
• November 21, 2020

"I have been on Valstartan 160mg 1x a day for 1 year. Prior to that I was on the same med but 80mg. Again for 1 year (did not lower bp on 80mg) Also, I take Metoprolol 50mg 1 x a day for High BP which I have been taking for several years to substitute for Lisinopril because of that dreadful cough. Ever since my doc upped my dose to 160mg what I noticed is approx. 1 1/2 hours after I take it, my energy levels drop for the rest of the day to a very sluggish feeling and duhhh brain. I must admit I toyed with this---by taking it 1 day then not the next. Let me tell you on days I did not take it I felt my normal self. Even while taking the Metoprolol -Great energy when NOT adding Valsartan 160mg. Additionally, it is not making a big enough dent in dropping my numbers--- Doc suggested a switch from Valstartan to another med. But keeping Metoprolol as part of my BP cocktail. IF this does not work, I believe I will have to switch back to Lisinoprill and deal with the cough."

• BPdru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 8, 2020

"Been on Valsartan 80mg for about a month. Blood pressure still in hypertensive range (145/93 or so) Gave me stiff leg joints at first, especially after exercise- but seems to be improving. Was hoping to improve ED issues I had on Bisoprolol- but Valsartan has made it worse! Also I have a rather high pulse on it- typically in high 80s to 90s, which is concerning me. Bisoprolol gave me pulse in 60s and 70s. Will continue but hope for ED and high pulse side effects to improve soon."