I have just begun taking
Diovan. I have been experiencing the following symptoms: Pain and cramping, muscle weakness, light headed, heart palpitations,tingling in hands and feet and confusion and anxiety. Diovan was prescribed as a diuretic to offset symptoms associated with my diabetes. I exercise everyday to keep my diabetes in check and for weight loss.
I have noticed since beginning Diovan that the symptoms I have described are getting progressively worse; yesterday I could not make it home from my 5 mile daily run/walk which I have routinely finished for 4 years now. My wife had to run ahead and return with our car to transport me home; we almost went to the emergency room.
When these symptoms first began occurring I, initially, suspected it was caused by dehydration so I have carried a "camel back" of water to insure I have water available. This has not helped. I'm now beginning to suspect that there is a potentially very dangerous problem with potassium depletion and, as a result, my electrolytes "tank" when exercise is undertaken. For those of you who do not appreciate the impact of depleted potassium, potassium is critical for nerve message transmission/communication in your body's muscles; every muscle including your heart. I'm contacting my physician this morning to report what happened yesterday and what I suspect is the cause. I will follow up here to report what he says. I just wanted to get this out in front of anyone taking Diovan as a caution and to see if others have had similar experiences.