Diovan side effects

After being on Diovan hct 160/25 for about two years I developed a severe stiffness in my neck, a piercing center chest pain when I coughed and so much muscle/joint pain I could barely get out of bed in the morning. Don't know if it is a result of Diovan, but this is my only med. Finally (after a year) I spent six months undergoing tests and consults with one doctor who finaly gave up. A second doctor diagnosed fibromyalgia and prescribed diclofenac, which somewhat controls the neck stiffness and pain. Now, a year after the fibromyalgia diagnosis I am learning Diovan might be at fault but don't know what to do next. Any suggestions welcome!...

Well, I've had some hair loss on Diovan 80mg. been on it since about May 08 - had some leg cramps, even some joint pain, but that seems to have reconciled itself. Not too overly dizzy, some tiredness, but ok otherwise. However, got concerned about the hair loss....long/short, Dr. prescribed Toprol XL/Beta Blocker (he's been great recognizing my sensitivity to meds. I just am),...well, my God, just reading the Toprol printout first paragraph and let me tell you it ain't gonna happen, I am not taking that stuff....plus, it causes hair loss, DUH! In fairness, how can we expect the Drs. to know fully all the side affects, they are not pharmacists - best thing, educate yourself first with websites like this, and the FDA site before you ever fill a prescription again. Anyway, I'm going to stick with Diovan for a while longer and see how things go - will post again. Hang in there, because there's even worse out there!

I have been on diovan for 2 months and have experienced terrible headaches and dizziness. I told doctor and he said to take a month off and monitor my bp.
In a.m. it is 140/80 not to bad for morning, p.m. it is 137/78
After 3 days the headaches are gone but the dizziness is terrible still.
How long before dizziness might go away.

I have been on Diovan for a couple of months. I am allergic to sulfa drugs and for the past 4 days have been experiencing tremendous itching on my upper back, face, arms and now it is spreading on to my legs. My chart at the doctors office says what I am allergic to and I have told my doctor several times but she told me Diovan did not contain sulfa and if it did it had very little and would not effect me. I am off dairy products and I don't know what is causing this terrible itching but I cant stand it any longer. I think I will discontinue this med for a while to see if my rash goes away and the itching stops. It is unbearable.

Pain in right side lower back (around waist area). Like you have gas in your back. Constipation...dizziness.
lizzy

Hi. My original post is July 29, 2008. I have read a few testimonials about elevated blood sugar levels with Diovan. I'm wondering if anyone who experienced a high resting sugar reading approaching diabetes saw that figure drop when they went off of Diovan.
My blood sugar was previously normal but has risen to a pre-diabetic state despite the fact I am losing weight.
As for the pain in my back and legs, I am controlling that with Naproxen as the alternative drug the doctor prescribed did not work. The pain is under control and I am able to work out so I can lose enough weight to be able to discontinue the Diovan. But I am now very concerned about the posts related to Diabetes. Would appreciate any input on this. Thanks.

49 years old. I took diovan 80mg for about 2 years. Never thought to associate dry eyes and throat, low back and muscle aches, and weight gain to this drug. I lost 10# by doing 1 hour of fast walking and 30 minutes of weights 3x week and my b/p went to 110/70, so I stopped the drug to see what would happen. In 2 days my head was aching and my b/p was 170/102!! Beware of rebound, which Novartis does not list in its warning section. Back on the diovan to prevent a stroke, but I will talk to my doctor about a low dose beta blocker, and will keep exercising and eating light, with the goal to get off all meds with a healthy lifestyle. Does anyone else ever feel fullness in the throat? that is another weird symptom I get sometimes.

I have been on Diovan 160 for two years. Have put on 10 - 12 lbs. Have developed low sodium levels, muscle pain and slightly elevated blood sugar levels. Is low sodium level a possible side effect of taking Diovan?

Have been taking Diovan HCT for 2 1/2 years increasing dosage to 320 mg. Good control of blood pressure, but have developed severe pain in low back and hips, with pain, numbness of feet and legs when walking. In fact unable to walk more than 3 blocks without legs and feet going completely numb, sore and stiff to the point of stumbling and falling. Told Doctor about it 3 months ago and he suspected PAD, for which I was tested. The good news is that those test results came back negative. Doctor doesn't think Diovan can be the cause of my symptoms, so I made an executive decision and stopped Diovan 2 days ago and after "withdrawal" headache first day, have noticed marked improvement in hip and low back pain. Feet no longer go numb, but am still having some discomfort in calves.

I am a 38 year old female, not overweight but hbp runs on my dad's side of the family unfortunately! I was prescribed Diovan by my doctor who had a list of my allergies. So, i went to get it at walgreens and luckily they have my allergies also because this drug is a sulfa drug and I am highly allergic and they caught it before i took any. You would think my doctor would have done a better job as I could have gotten really sick. YOU NEED TO BE YOUR OWN ADVOCATE WITH THESE DRUGS DOCTORS ARE PRESCRIBING, YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT! At that time my doctor then called in LISINOPRIL. I just got off of being on it for 10 months with horrible, horrible side effects.
If your doctor has prescribed LISINOPRIL for you, please look the drug up on this site before taking - WARNING! There are 1,800 entries from people who have/had debilitating symptoms. I have now chosen to be off of HBP meds for a while and monitor it 3 times a day and see if i still need to be on it. After what i have been through, i would rather run around the block 10 x's a night and change everything I eat and drink and lose weight before I would consider another pill!

Depression, foot pain, joint pain, bloating, feeling like I have to have a bowel movement all the time which led to severe hemorrhoids and severe rectal bleeding. Thought I had colon cancer till I underwent colonoscopy and Dr. ruled that out. Severe fatigue, insomnia, blurred vision. I guess you could say if there is a side effect I have it, even my teeth feel sensitive and I have been to the Dentist several times this year and have very good teeth. I'll be getting off this and calling Medwatch to report my side effects, I recommend that everyone else with side effects do the same. They can be reached at www.fda.gov/medwatch

I just started taking Diovan (one dose) after taking another blood pressure medication which had horrible side effects. I feel fine, except for extremely painful soles of my feet. In fact it's so painful, I can't stand or walk on them. I couldn't figure out what was going on, but after reading all of the posts, I now know. It was my first and last dosage of Diovan, Thank you.

have been on diovan for about 3 years. taking 80 mg. twice a day. have gained weight. then in oct. 2007, my doctor upped my dose to an extra 40 mg. i had noticed side effects when i first started the diovan, such as back pain, dizziness, weight gain, diarrhea. then when my dose was increased, i now have knee pain, muscle pain all over, weakness in legs, more fatigue, no energy. i have to force myself to do what i need to do, because my body is so tired. the thing that scares me the most is the weakness. not just feeling tired, but muscle weakness. has anyone experienced muscle weakness while on diovan?
thanks for any response.

I'm a 57-year-old male. I have been on Divovan 160 for about 3 years now. Several months ago I started to have back pain and it has been increasing. The doctor took x-rays and cat scan and the reports said that while I have some disc degeneration in my lower spine, the films are virtually unchanged since they were taken 5 years ago. In other words, I should not have back pain - but I do!
Lately, the pain has gotten worse - so bad that I can hardly get out of bed in the morning. It is located on the left side of my lower back. I also have incredible gas and despite diet and exercise, which is now impossible due to the pain, I could not lose weight no matter how hard I tried.
In the last 6 months I have slowly transformed from feeling pretty good for my age and capable of an hour a day on the treadmill to feeling like a 90-year old man. Today the pain was so bad I had to book off sick from work.
I went to the doctor and told him about all the negative stories on the Internet about Diovan. He looked up in his medical journal and decided to take me off the drug. Instead he prescribed a new drug, Rasilez (aliskiren fumarate).
Last month I tried stopping Diovan for 4 days and experienced a significant reduction in pain. I had to go back on because my pressure shot up again. I hope this new drug works without side effects.
Would appreciate responses from any of you who have had success with drugs alternative to Diovan and also success with natural remedies.
Best wishes to you all.

Is anyone having severe coughing and anxiety?

I have been on Diovan for a year. The worst part for me has been the weight gain. I went to my doctor last week. He denied that the medicine could cause it and did a thyroid test. Those results were normal. I can barely eat a meal and I am exercising 5 times a week. I know how to lose weight-- I've had three babies. This is impossible. I am so upset.

OK guys, I have been reading all your side effects for a couple of weeks now, and finally decided to jump into this pot! You will not believe this, but I have been on Diovan 80 mg twice a day along with a couple of other blood pressure medications. It's been about 2 years, maybe a little less, and for the past 10-12 months, I have complained to my doctor that my joints and muscles ache so much that I feel like a 100 year old person. I also have has every side effect mentioned on the 9 pages listed here with all of you. I have had every test imaginable for artery's/veins/muscles/joints/sleeplessness/hair loss/weight gain/swollen ankles...you name it, I've been tested for it. They can find nothing wrong with me at all. NOTHING! I'm sure they feel that it's all in my head, since I've been quite sensitive to a lot of meds. in the past!

I am usually very active and run around like a crazy woman most of the time, but I was absolutely walking like I'd been hit by a truck. I went to my doctor with all of the complaints listed under Diovan printed out, and believe me, she took notice. We stopped Diovan that night and I started on a couple of new meds. that have absolutely no side effects. It will be two weeks this coming Wednesday (June 4) and I am almost a new person. I'd say, about 98% pain free. I actually felt relief after being off for about 5 days. It's getting better day by day. I actually feel that this stuff was killing me slowly. Get off asap!
By the way, I tried to look up the new meds, and they are so new that I can't find anything. For me, they are an answer to prayer.

I was put on Diovan and was okay in the beginning. But then I noticed when I would just get up and walk around my heart would race. The other night I took my blood pressure which was fine, but I knew my heart was racing, it was 105 beats per minute, I felt exhausted, and worn out and plain tired. I need to be on a Beta Blocker so I went back on my Atenolol. I also would be out, if I turned to quickly, my head would take a spin and I would have to grab something to keep from falling down. I'm one of those people out there if there is a side effect to have it will be me. D.S.S.

FOR THE LAST 2 YRS OFF & ON I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE KILLER DRUG DIOVAN 160/12.5 MG AND, YES IT'S BEEN TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!! WHERE DO I START ....... CHEST PAIN,HAIR LOSS, LEG CRAMPS, SORE FEET, BACK PAIN, ARM PAIN, KNEE PAIN , SHORTNESS OF BREATH . LAST YR MY LEGS HURT SO BAD MY DOCTOR STARTED TO PUT ME ON MEDICATION FOR RLS ( RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME) ......PLEASE IF YOU JUST STARTED THIS MED STOP RIGHT NOW !! GET YOU SOME APPLE CIDER VINEGAR W/ MOTHER(MOTHER) TAKE 2 TEASPOON W/ 8OZ GLASS OF WATER OR JUICE 3 TIMES A DAY AND, WATCH YOUR BP DROP AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS YOUR BP SHOULD BE NORMAL THEN START TAKING IT ONLY IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT

Has anyone had extreme dizziness? Last Thursday I had an episode of feeling like I was on an amusement ride-the room was spinning crazy. I have been on Diovan for three years, and some of the side effect listed I have experienced. I just thought it was me getting older.

UPDATE to recent post on May 05 by adashjr:
I haven't taken my Diovan since horrible pain in my feet occurred on May 03. It is now May 18. My feet and knee feel AWESOME!!! the knee is back to it's pre-Diovan state of sporadic soreness but overall my lower joints haven't felt this good in a LONG LONG time. will admit I have no idea what my BP is having not taken DIOVAN for two+ weeks, but
will get back to gym and lose weight and lower my BP the old fashioned way. DIOVAN - GOOD RIDDANCE!!!!!

I take 80 mg daily of Diovan.
I seemed to be dealing with dry throat sensation daily not realizing that it could be medication related. I was concerned that it was a symptom for some disease (don't ask) so I decided to look "dry throat" up on the web. I feel more at ease knowing it may be a side effect of Diovan.

40 year old male, 305lbs, 5'10". Active adult, very healthy. Prescribed Diovan when my pressure was 140/85. Not sure about dosage but its definitely 120 or 160 with 25 of diuretic. A friend of mine takes the 160 as well. WE ARE BOTH BEING CRIPPLED BY SEVERE AND EXCRUCIATING JOINT PAIN!! For me, this past Saturday 05/03/2008, was the worst. Crippling soreness in both my feet that left me all but unable to walk, and this during a party I threw for 50 guests. Pain in my right knee that wakes me during sleep. Also dry mouth but I guess that is to be expected when taking a diuretic. And a very interesting sidenote, I hadn't taken my Diovan for close to ten days, then the morning of the party I took one. 10hrs later I was incapacitated by excruciating pain in both feet. What does that tell you?!?!?!?

I´m 55 years old, and been taking Diovan 80 gr for more than three years now. Never had any problem, and my blood pressure is really under control. But lately I´ve been experiencing dizziness.Decided to reduce the doses to half a pill per day, and felt better. Did several tests with a cardiologist, and all seems OK, except that my blood pressure was again a bit high, and he recommended me to continue with the 80 gr doses. The Doctor attributed the dizziness to low mineral water intake. So I am now drinking 2.5 ltr of mineral water a day, but besides going very often to the loo, the dizziness did not disappear. Is it possible the Diovan is the cause.

I started taking diovan about three months ago. First, I had upper back pain, then started gaining weight-I wake up in the night with my stomach growling(but I don't eat), and still the weight is going up. Have shooting pains in my arms. Whenever I put my arms in the air, they ache. Also while walking, my feet started to hurt. I don't feel like doing anything, and that is not the way I was before diovan.

Has anyone noticed a metal like taste in their mouth after taking Diovan 160mg.? Thought I would see if anyone else has experienced this. Thanks

I am a 65 year old male. I have been taking Diovan HCT 160/12.5 for about two weeks. I am experiencing severe soreness & tenderness of the feet. My soles hurt & sting when walking even in padded shoes.

Since I've been on diovan160mg/12.5 twice a day,for 4 yrs.Now I'm borderline diabetic,hypothyroid,low sodium.this wasn't so before Diovan.Plus I gained weight.

Hello Everyone:
I've been on this stuff for about 2 weeks and I'm already experiencing all the side effects you people are. I am an avid exercise person and I've noticed my legs are aching and hurt and my lower back (on left side) hurts like heck. I'm thinking I'm done with this stuff. It's a new drug and someone else can be the guinea pigs. Pris

Two weeks on another BP medicine, Tekturna, a new renin blocker. I guess I was being impatient but my BP had not come down one iota from 170/100. I started Diovan (Valsartan) 80 mg and my BP came down significantly to 145/85. Werther it was the combination or the Diovan, I'm not sure, but I'm definitely impressed. No side effects were noted and I felt 100% better!

I am 53 year old male and began taking Diovan 160 dose in JULY 2002. I have dizziness, nausea, fatigue, some weight gain but changed diet and lost the extra 20 lbs. Of course, I realize the fatigue is due to the insomnia. I can be feeling OK and all of a sudden feel nausea, chills, sweats and have to lay down sometimes it last for days; other times just a few hours. I have a thumping in my throat with every heartbeat, which causes a headache. Am always complaining of lower back and joint pain. My eyesight is ever changing for the worst, has is my impotence. Open to natural ways to lower BP.

Sometimes, I can feel and hear a growling noise in my left side at the base of my ribs. Has anyone else experienced this?....Thanks

I gained 30 lbs. in 9 months. Is this common, or could it be that I am just turning 30?? Feedback please.

My blood pressure has not dropped!!!! I am wondering if the fact that I had Roux-en-Y Surgery could be the cause. I know I do not absorb many things and I wonder if this is one of them.

I have been taking Diovan HCT 160 for the past 4 years and did not realize the side effects I am experiencing is from this medication. After reading comments from this site I now realize why I am having hair loss, lower back pains, fatigue, sleepless nights, weight gain, palpitations, anxiety, excessive gas, depression, daily joint and body pains. Just about everything on this page is what I have been going through. Has it maintained my BP, Yes! I have gone from 150/100 to 120/80.
I am so glad I came across this site. I will be speaking with my PCP, ASAP.

I am an asthmatic and with Diovan, my asthma is worse. I was well controlled on Singulair but now I have to constantly use my rescue inhaler of Albuterol which raises the blood pressure that Diovan supposedly drops. I was a runner but I can not longer run. I can't walk more that one flight of stairs without shortness of breath.

I have been taking Diovan for about 6 months now. My BP is normal, Diabetes in check.. Gained 30 lbs. NOT GOOD! I also have a rare Kidney disease. I experience dizziness at times. I have had the same PCP for the past 20 years. You'd think that he would know what drugs to prescribe! Now what?

Took Diovan 80mg for several days and my blood pressure did come down, however, the side effects were horrible. When I bent down to pick something up from the floor..I couldn't get back up. Then the intense muscle pains started in my left arm to where I couldn't bend my arm to scratch my back or to remove a sweatshirt. Mind you...I'm only 56 and otherwise a healthy woman...workout and walk every day. Then the pain started in the leg joints to where I had trouble walking or even getting out of a chair. Night sweats kept me awake all night along with the body aches/pains. Needless to say...I quit that drug and will look for alternative healthy ways to treat my inherited high blood pressure. This drug is dangerous! I felt like I was in my 90's..

It is now day 8....unfortunately the blood pressure has rocketed up to 150/100 had to go back on the full meds ...........being tired isn't fun but 150/100 isn't safe to walk around with....very hard to sleep with a pressure pounding that high...hopefully the exercise 30 min a day will combat the tired and depression effects...then in a few months ill try again or a different med if necessary.....not looking forward to itching again either !

At the age of 36 this genetic blood pressure problem has become very frustrating ..all tests came back normal ekg, heart scans, kidney scans mri s blood tests so whats left they say Sleep Apnea could be the issue need a sleep test though to see ........have a good one all

Well day 5 off the meds......the Withdrawl the first few days wasn't easy a lot of sweating...errability etc but it seems to have leveled off and all side effects have lessened the reason why they haven't completely gone is because I am still taking have a pill a day which is 80mg instead of the full 160mg.....really scary part is pressure was actually lower with the lower dose.......its about 140 over 90 which for me is good and that was in the morning when pressure is usually the highest in people....for all I know I could be even lower later in the day
I am also starting day 1 of exercise I am hoping this will bring the pressure into normal ranges especially the bottom number 90 is too high still ..overall though I feel better today.......we will see :) hopefully I will not have to go back on these scary hypertension meds !

You are all completely 100 % right
I have a book here called the high blood pressure hoax
the lady that wrote it is 100 % right in her findings we are all living it !!!!
the list of side effects is overwhelming too many too list
I quit all hypertensive meds yes my blood pressure shot up rebound etc

but I can actually sleep and don't feel depressed and tired anymore

it may not be a good thing but id rather live with no side effects my skin is actually clearing up in 2 days from the itching, the nausea is still coming and going brain fog is clearing up as well as a ton of other horrible side effects for the first time i actually feel good .....in 2 years of taking these horrible drugs ,,,,,yes they are keeping us alive but in the long run they will kill us just as fast as the hypertension !!!!!!!!!! good luck with diet and exercise everyone I am starting it myself this weekend

I have had like spasms and acheness in my left right arm--i am right handed. i also have had hair loss, fatigue, chills. my dose was uped to 320, my bp used to be near 140/89--I now have 106/49!!! hoping the dr wi;; try to wean mw off of it. i take fish oil, and lately, i/ve taken the cloves of garlic--and a go0od breath freshner!! the garlic is also good if you have hugh cholesterol!

I have been on Diovan for about two years now . The side effects are cramps in legs, restless, tired all the time, dizzness, weakness, sweating and the last thing I've been experiencing is low blood sugar. None of the doctors or endocrinologist can tell me why I have low blood sugar and when I ask can it be the Diovan, they said no but I have read otherwise. If anyone else has had symptoms such as these especially the low blood sugar please reply
Thank you

I just started taking Diovan 160mg 7 days ago and feel like crap. After doing research on the drug found that your PCP should test your kidney function prior to putting you on the medication, which mine didn't. Disturbing isn't it. We go to the doctors to get better and we get worse. I guess that goes to show only you can control your health. Ask questions make sure doctor is following protocol prior to starting and medication.

I've been on Diovan for about 9 months and I have all of the side effects everyone else here has mentioned! Weight gain, bloating, fatigue, mood swings, extreme muscle aches- especially in my lower back and legs, hunger, and more! These Drs. are sooo stupid!!!! They tell us to lose weight and then give all of us medications that cause weight gain. I am also diabetic and my Dr. also has me take Humalog insulin- which also causes weight gain! I would enjoy hearing from everyone who has had side effects from Diovan, and I would like to hear about alternative remedies for hypertension. Good luck and Best Wishes to all of you....Kim Q.

I have been taking diovan for about 18 months. I have been mostly satisfied with the result, ie loweed my BP. However I have recently noticed that i have developed a cronic cough, which will not go away. My ears,nose, and throat Dr can not find a cause and has suggested the diovan. After reading all these posting I am beginning to think he may be right.

Have been on Diovan for only afew week.Things are already bad can't get up all I want to do is sleep.Taking a shower has become a chore.My blood pressure has dropped but I'm missing out on life .Headaches,dizzy,fatigue,bloating and depressing has taken it over.

since taking diovan, 2 weeks 80 mg Bp has dropped, but delveloped swollen sore nipples, and dry eyes, this is not a good thing. will definately stop taking it.

Fatigue, insomnia, weight gain and have had two teeth break off. The worst thing is that I am so tired all the time. All I can do is make myself get off of the couch to do normal house work. Was told by Dr. that I was so tired because I am anemic. Decided to search Diovan and was completely surprised to find out how many people have the same side effects. Now I am pretty sure that Diovan is my problem. I have a call into the Dr. and he is suppose to call me back tomorrow.

I have been on Diovan (320 mgms) for two years. It has reduced my blood pressure moderately but not nearly enough. Then I heard about the benefits of garlic in controling blood pressure. For the past year I have been taking Kyolic garlic powder in capsule form (use the cardiovascular formulation), two capsules with each meal every day. No odor from this formulation and garlic is good for your overall health with no side effects I am aware of. Got my blood pressure down to 111/ 50. Doctors will not recommend garlic because it has not been cleared by the FDA. Also, how can the pharmaceutical companies continue to get rich if we all take garlic?? I bought my Kyolic at Vitamin Cottage but I suppose it is available in other vitamin stores too.