Sacubitril / valsartan and Dizziness: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Rgr...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 15, 2025

For Heart Failure "In 2022, at age 62, diagnosed with LVEF of 15. (Per Dr. most likely virus-related) Started on Entresto, metoprolol, spironolactone, and Farxiga. No improvement for 12 months. 13 months/2023 my EF increased to 47 and then 12 months later to 50. I was on the above regimen for 2.5 years. Had slight dizziness when I stood up and fatigue, very low blood pressure 80/60 and maybe brain fog. Old Dr., MD retired. New Dr., DO changed me to Valsartan/2024. After 2 months, my EF is 30. Dr. wants to stay the course and increase Valsartan and have Echo after 2 months. To be continued."

• Kam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 29, 2021

For Heart Failure "Nearly 3 years ago, I had a heart attack and a triple bypass soon after. Ejection fraction (EF) was 30 after surgery. After 1 year, my EF was 35, and my cardiologist put me on Entresto (24 mg). I had some side effects: dizziness, lightheadedness, confusion, but I’d had those symptoms only milder because of the many HF meds I’m on. After 1 year, EF was 40, the cardiologist upped the prescription to 49-52 mg. My EF is now 55, the low side of normal, but 55 is huge! Still issues with side effects, but I am stronger, and I feel better overall. I think this drug is a miracle drug! I’ve another echo next month, and I’m looking forward to it!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 19, 2022

For Heart Failure "Like all meds, it’s taking some time to adjust, and I have had some dizziness. I was on lisinopril, then had the eternal cough, so we tried losartan, which was okay, but symptoms started to return. Decided to go to Entresto because I am a good fit for the heart failure profile that Entresto seems to be most effective in treating. My EF was 22% in the left and 25% in the right ventricles. I am 51 with no risk factors and no family history. I am at the middle dose, and I think we will titrate up soon. I do find that my spironolactone/furosemide combo seems to be working better. Oh, and go to the manufacturer's website and get the $10 card. While my insurance covered this, it was still $50 a month. A 10-minute phone call is saving me $40 a month."

• Ste...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 13, 2022

For Heart Failure "Started on the lowest dose twice a day on 2nd Nov. Getting a pain in both sides of my neck and tinnitus. Dizzy if I get up too quickly. Sticking with it for now. Seeing the cardiac team on 23 Nov to increase meds if bloods bp are OK and bubble contrast echo 14 Dec."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 6, 2023

"Long story short, Entresto (and high doses of Lisinopril) do NOT do well with patients who have cardiomyopathy caused by chemotherapy (CHOP). After two years of complaining about Entresto side effects (dizziness, nausea, crazy heartbeat, orthostatic intolerance), I insisted that I be put on another medication. The cardiologist switched me to 20 mg Lisinopril. Side effects were still bad. A year later, I changed doctors. Fortunately, this cardiologist knew that such medications do not do well with chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy. He simply lowered the Lisinopril dose to 5 mg, and all side effects are gone. All of them."

• Jsn...
• June 19, 2021

For Heart Failure "I was told my heart strength had increased by 10%. And was only 5-10% less than normal. So what does the cardiologist assistant do? She prescribed me Entresto and tells me it’s completely safe. But when you look for side effects online, it says everywhere that if you stop taking this medication, your condition may get worse. And then I read all these stories that mention serious side effects. Now I have a cough, back pain, constant chest pressure, dizziness at times, and a sensation of my throat closing at times (a feeling of it being hard to swallow). And it has only been 4 days max of taking Entresto. Anyway, I haven’t taken it this morning, waiting for an on-call cardiologist to call and advise me if it’s safe to stop. But for those of you with serious heart failure or otherwise, I would seriously monitor your body’s reaction to this drug in the first several days."

• Ste...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 28, 2023

For Heart Failure "Started taking the highest dose of Entresto near 5 years ago. EF 10 and was on the heart transplant recommendation. Plenty of dizziness and feeling weird at the start, way better than dying though, lol. Have a small lawn mowing business now. If advised, take it. Miracle drug."

• Wil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 2, 2023

For Heart Failure "I have been on the maximum dose of Entresto for about a year and a half and have had nothing but good results. I feel better and have more energy and have been able to be more active than I have been in years. I tell my doctor I love this medication because before I went on it, I felt so bad that I thought I didn't have much time left and feel that it is going to add years to my life. I have some occasional dizziness, but not severe, and I am on several medications that can cause this and don't feel like it is from the Entresto. I am very lucky that I have good insurance and had no trouble getting the medication covered and I don't even have a co-pay and pay $0 for my medicine."

• Ale...
• August 8, 2021

For Heart Failure "Entresto is an excellent medicine! HOWEVER, if you are on an ACE inhibitor (lisinopril), you MUST stop it for several days before starting Entresto. Also, start on the lowest dose. If you need to cut it in half and take half in the morning and half in the evening, then gradually and slowly increase the dose. You also may need to reduce your diuretic dose if your blood pressure is too low, and you feel tired, dizzy, etc. Yes, it does cost more, but it has been shown to add up to three MORE years to heart failure patients' lives than any other ACE or ARB medicine. Might have to give up premium cable or buying the newest iPhone, but this is your life! You only have one life."

• Stu...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 6, 2021

For Heart Failure "I found out in May 2021 I had a LBBB and HF, and my heart (left ventricle) was only working 25%. After having an echo, the heart failure team suggested Entresto. I was very skeptical because of the poor reviews, however, I decided to give it a go. I started on the lowest dose of 24/26 mg twice daily. I personally didn't get any side effects. A few weeks later, this was increased to 49/51 mg. I've been on this dose for over a month, it can't be increased anymore as I'm at my maximum tolerated dose. The only side effects with this dosage were occasional dizziness and tiredness, other than that, I was fine. After another echo, I found out it has only increased EF by 8%, so I'm now at 33%. It works better for others, I'm glad I tried it. I will always have to take it now. My next option is a CRT-D pacemaker. If you're offered Entresto, try it, it may be the best medication for you. Listen to your HF team."

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 27, 2017

For Heart Failure "I don't see any improvement with Entresto. I actually think I'm worse, with weakness and dizziness in addition to arrhythmias. Also, I have more joint pain and have had more frequent angina."