Sacubitril / valsartan and Tiredness: What Users Say

• Mks...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 13, 2020

For Heart Failure "I was given Entresto when they said my EF was 30-35. Had to fight with the insurance to get them to cover it. Was told by cardiologist it was a miracle drug and would add years to my life. The first few months were okay but my blood pressure kept getting lower and lower. Was told by cardiologist not to take morning dose if the upper number was under 100. That was all the time. I was dizzy all the time, falling constantly. Started having chest pains and episodes of confusion. Went to cardiologist, was told they didn’t know what was wrong. My husband was having to help me walk everywhere we went. Was so tired, I couldn’t do housework, laundry, or anything. Made the decision on my own to stop taking Entresto. Within a week, I was a completely different person. Energy level is up, dizziness is gone, quality of life has returned. Entresto was one of the worst experiences of my life. Changing cardiologist. Entresto was a nightmare for me."

• NUF...
• November 27, 2019

For Heart Failure "This drug Entresto had me shattered, tired beyond belief. I also suffered my left leg collapsing. I suffered this problem for approx. 6 months before I got taken off it. (It may have been a coincidence) However, this problem got worse while on this drug. I now have excruciating pains throughout my whole leg. I have seen my G.P.'s, musculoskeletal pain specialists, and orthopedic practitioner, and no one can come up with a diagnosis. The pains are so excruciating I can't walk when taking Entresto. I was so tired I would fall asleep as soon as I sat down. And that was on the low dose of 49mg. I kept being told it was a fantastic drug, which had its trials cut short because it was so good. However, this doesn't seem to be the case looking at the reviews. If anyone has similar problems to myself, I would be glad to hear it, as I am at my wits' end and I feel it is putting a strain on me trying to cope with the pain. My G.P. has just put me on Tramadol for the pain. However, I am reluctant to take it."

• Gra...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 11, 2019

For Heart Failure "I have an enlarged heart and chronic systolic heart failure due to dilated cardiomyopathy. My EF was 15-20. My condition was stable until my cardiologist retired. My new cardiologist told me the wonderful new medication, Entresto, was much better for me and he would have me feeling better in no time. After a year and a half of no improvement and terrible side effects, I am going back to my old medication. Entresto puts me in the donut hole for over half the year, forcing me to pay $400 a month for Entresto alone. I pray I can regain the ground I have lost, while trying to believe my cardiologist. I am tired, swollen, dizzy and have gained weight and am disgusted with myself for taking this horrible medication for so long. I have gone from using a cane to using a walker. My EF has not improved. Please don’t take this horrible medication."

• Hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2019

For Heart Failure "I have been on this for only 3 weeks, but haven't noticed any improvements - actually feel worse. I am more tired than before & suddenly started throwing up at night about 4 hours after eating, since day one of taking Entresto. Also, I cough all day & all night, which interferes with my sleep (maybe that's why I'm so tired - I don't know). I have no energy at all. The coughing gets to me the most - constant, dry cough & throat tickles all the time. Back pain all of a sudden, & thigh pain. I will give it another couple of weeks to see if things level out & I start to feel better. But so far, not happy with it."

• Hol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 21, 2019

For Heart Failure "I have been on this for only 3 weeks, but haven't noticed any improvements - actually feel worse. I am more tired than before & suddenly started throwing up at night about 4 hours after eating, since day one of taking Entresto. Also, I cough all day & all night, which interferes with my sleep (maybe that's why I'm so tired - I don't know). I have no energy at all. The coughing gets to me the most - constant, dry cough & throat tickles all the time. Back pain all of a sudden, & thigh pain. I will give it another couple of weeks to see if things level out & I start to feel better. But so far, not happy with it."

• Cro...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 5, 2019

For Heart Failure "My cardiologist put me on Entresto and off Ramipril approximately 6 months ago. After numerous concerns about how I felt extremely tired, back pain, irritable, tingling in my hands and feet I was told statistics show Entresto is a good drug. I was sick and tired of walking around like a zombie so I took it upon myself to stop taking it for a while. I've been off it now for a month and feel like my old self, my wife noticed a big change even in the bedroom. I work cutting grass at a golf course and get up at 4 am and go home to do things around the house after work with energy to burn. This drug isn't for me I've had 3 stents put in and I finally feel great again!"

• Rud...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 18, 2021

For Heart Failure "I'm going on 61 years old and have had heart failure since I was 42. Struggling with diabetes, also since 2019. I was put on Entresto in 2020, felt terrible. It put me back years, I asked to try it again in 2021. Felt terrible, no energy, bloating, tried it for 6 weeks. I'm glad I'm off it now, as it never worked for me."

• Ano...
• August 23, 2020

For Heart Failure "My husband was put on Entresto by a doctor who was “supposed to be the best.” I hate this stuff! His entire personality changes when he is on it. Tired, moody, sleepy, and unhappy. He fluctuates from high to low dose. I can always tell when he takes a higher dose by his mood. He has been taking it for four years and stubbornly won’t try something different because the doctor PUSHES this drug. They obviously get some sort of kickback!"

• Tof...
• July 23, 2017

For Heart Failure "After 3 weeks on this trial drug, Entresto, I started having breathing problems. I was out of breath going upstairs and short of breath most of the time. By my 4th month, I had gone from being a 51-year-old to seeming like an 81-year-old. I had no energy, and a 10-minute walk home now took over half an hour. Even though I was walking as slowly as possible, I had many stops to catch my breath and get my heart rate down. I can no longer walk anywhere and rely on a lift. I stopped taking the drug. Maybe I'm down to feeling like a 71-year-old now. Just hoping the side effects will completely disappear. I have a meeting with my consultant at the end of the week."

• Mom...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 12, 2018

For Heart Failure "I’ve only been on Entresto for 3 months, and after reading a lot of negative reviews, I was very leery about this medication. However, after adjusting to the med (it does take time, it will make you tired, it did make me feel like I lost my spark), I started to feel increasingly better. My fatigue lessened and my energy increased. I started to feel more normal for the first time since being diagnosed with left ventricular noncompaction cardiomyopathy (LVNC) 2 years ago. My EF (ejection fraction) went from 12% to 32%, and I’ve only been on it a few months! I cannot express how thankful I am for Entresto! I know it’s not for everyone, but I have tolerated it so well. Every weekly blood draw has been great, and most importantly, I continue to feel a little better each week. As a mother of 5 children ranging from age 2 to 13, I’ll take all the energy I can get!"

• Pai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2022

For Heart Failure "I started taking this about 2 months ago and was told to give this a shot in hopes of raising my EF. It was at 29 or close to it, and if it worked, it could raise it back to 40-50%. That if it didn't work, I would need a pacemaker. Over the weekend, I started getting chest pains, but they would come and go, so I chalked them up to indigestion. It was really bad last night, though, but has been fine today until just a few minutes ago. I'm on 24-26 mg twice a day and will not be taking this evening's pill and calling the cardiologist in the morning. I have felt exhausted no matter if I had a great night's sleep or hardly any, and doing simple tasks gives that chest pressure pain too."

• emi...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2020

For Heart Failure "Wanted to try Entresto due to the information I read about it helping heart patients avoid hospitalizations and generally suffer fewer cardiac events. I began on the lowest dose and the first day, I felt some improvement. Then, after a short period of taking it, I stepped up to the middle dose and felt terrible. Stopped the middle dose and went back to the lowest dose. Felt better but still felt something was wrong. Chest pain, no energy, just knew this was not good. I also have normally very low blood pressure and didn't need anything lowering it even more. My cardiologist took me off it, and now I am back taking Altace instead and feeling almost back to normal. Glad it helps some people. I found it to be a drug to avoid, especially if you already have low blood pressure."

• Bir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 8, 2022

For Heart Failure "I took it a few days, then got so tired and dizzy. Blood pressure was getting so low that I feel lucky that I didn't go into shock! Maybe this works for people with very high blood pressure, but mine is only slightly elevated, so this med was too strong. I was on the lowest dosage."

• For...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 19, 2022

For Heart Failure "I was placed on Entresto (lowest dose) in 2019. After a month, I developed a very 'productive' cough -- so bad I would wake up with phlegm and gasping in the middle of the night. I brought this up with the PA... and nothing. I took it for a year and a half, even started using an inhaler to control the congestion. Finally, after becoming disgusted with the mask games, I stopped taking it. And like magic, the coughing and most of the phlegm went away. During the time I took it, I noticed a low morning BP, a slight tiredness. I'm very active with a normal 120/80 BP and no other problems, just a low EF around 30."

• Blu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 15, 2021

For Heart Failure "I tried Entresto for 10 months. The initial 6 months, I saw a definite improvement. My BNP level came down from 2,000 plus to just 847. I then started to feel off color, lethargic, achy, blurred vision, and cough, but the worst thing to happen was my serum urate (uric acid) levels elevated on every blood test. No medication gets it down either. So beware of Entresto or get gout along with all the other nasty things that it provides you with."

• Mic...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2021

For Heart Failure "Been on Entresto 24/26 for about a month now, so will know how it’s affected my heart function in two weeks when I see my consultant. Feeling tired some of the time but don’t know what is causing it, as I am also on Bisoprolol and Digoxin for high heart rate. So, a bit early to give a good review. Any helpful comments would be appreciated."

• Mim...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 21, 2021

For Heart Failure "I was on Diovan for 8 years, doing okay. In the past year, I was having more symptoms of heart failure, tired, rapid weight gain, swollen ankles, out of breath. My neighbor said his wife was put on Entresto during the COVID pandemic because she was always in the hospital. Anyway, my cardiologist prescribed the lowest dose 24/26. At first, I felt really tired! Then my cardiologist said to make sure to cut down on my diuretics to half of what I was taking. That helped a lot! I feel so much better, have more energy, and my ejection fraction is normal now! Very glad I got my cardiologist to let me try Entresto."

• 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."

• Jul...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 12, 2024

For Heart Failure "I was diagnosed with viral cardiomyopathy 9 years ago. Prescribed Lisinopril & Metoprolol. In March 2024, they found out I have LVHF, then prescribed Entresto. The first 3 months, I felt exhausted & confused, like stopping at a green light confused. When I explained symptoms to my doctor, he said he wants me to try to up the dose because this is a miracle drug that saves lives, so I did. I upped the dose and actually I'm feeling less exhausted & confused. My BP stays at 94/63. I hope it was just an adjustment period & now my EF will improve."

• Cor...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 11, 2017

For Heart Failure "Common side effect: tiredness. Only on this med for about 1 month due to low ejection factor. My doctors are highly encouraged by the studies of this drug."

• Wil...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 29, 2021

For Heart Failure "For me, I have gotten worse, retaining water, tired all the time. And the cost is off the charts, I hit the donut hole in my insurance by mid-May."

• Tim...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 28, 2018

For Heart Failure "Don’t really notice a difference taking Entresto, on it over a year now, ejection fraction of 30%, no energy."