Diovan and medication

I have been on Diovan 80 mg for 3 years and have experience a lot of symptoms listed above. 8 weeks ago I got very sick and had constant diarrhea (my stool looked like it had oil floating on the water) and lost 40 lbs. After numerous blood work, ultra sounds, ct scans, colonoscopy and many stool samples I found out thay my pancrease was not working properly. The doctor told me that diovan had caused the problem with my pancrease. I now have to take a medication not to help me digest food and they have changed my bp pills. I am hoping this will work because I have missed a lot of work in the last 8 weeks and they tell me where I got so weak it will take me months to recover from this. Anyone having stomach problems please consult your doctor to see if you are having troubles with your pancrease.

I have been on Diovan for 11 years. Most of those years, I believe the dosage was 80 mg. About 2 years ago my doctor increased my dosage to 160 and again up to 320. I am also on medication for Diabetes and High Cholesterol. I believe my doctor was over medicating me because I started to experience many different side effects. As a result, I never ended up taking the full dosage of Diovan until October 2008. He also had me on two other medications for High Blood Pressure. Within two days, I felt like I was so fatigued I couldn't move. And my blood pressure wasn't all that low either. My wife and I looked at the side effects accompanying the medications and we concluded I should stop taking one of the medications. A few months later, my doctor added another med to the list. I didn't mind this one and the dosage was low.

In any case, between the 320 mg of Diovan and 80 mg of Atenol I was feeling constantly tired. Getting up in the morning, I felt like someone had given me a heavy tranquilizer. Now I have complained about that feeling for a few years now but never thought it was medicine related until the effects worsened. Then, once I was up, I used to feel good all day long but now I was feeling drugged all day long. Driving the car, I felt tired and questioned if I should even be driving a car. But I had to drive to work. At work, I had trouble concentrating, I was so tired.

My memory was gone. It was like I had a full blown case of Autheimers which came on in a period of about 3 months. I couldn't think straight or remember anything.

Finally, the effects got really scary. My wife and I both have a tendency to snore at times. Since we are getting older, we are developing allergies which makes us snore at night. For my wife, her problems are when she wakes up in the middle of the night and I am snoring so bad she can not fall back to sleep. For me, her snoring is a problem when I first go to bed. In the past, I would try shaking the bed hoping she would stir just enough to move and stop snoring. I really didn't want to wake her up fully to get her to stop. This routine of shaking the bed would go on for about 20 minutes or so. Well, on this one particular night, after about 2 minutes, I got this urge or desire to put both of my hands on her back push with Superman strength so she would fly out of the bed and on to the floor. This bothered me because I do not normally think this way or get this violent.

The next day, I was in a meeting at work. I am not sure what happened but I could tell my mind was going some where scary. I was convinced that I was becoming psychotic! That night, I layed in bed deciding that I was going to stop the medications since I believed they were causing these psychotic thoughts. But I also made up my mind, if the thoughts continued, I was going to have myself committed rather than wait until I hurt someone. Stopping the medication meant gradually cutting back on the dosage that I was taking. I cut the Atenol in half and only took half and it worked. The next day I felt better. But gradually the fatigue would come back, just not the psychotic thoughts. To make a long story short, I kept reducing my meds until I was only taking about 80 mg of the Diovan.

There has been concern that I am heading for Kidney failure so I was sent to a Urologist. He is concerned over my high blood pressure and decided to put me on Diovan HCT 320/45 mg. I figured he didn't grasp my concern about that being too much medication. Oh, the HCT I was on then taken off and now put on because I have been experiencing significant swelling of the ankles, feet and legs.

My doctor visit was June 2, 2009 and today is July17, 2009. I have been experiencing many moments of extreme dizziness. My wife and I were in a store when I bent over to pick something up and near fell. I stood up and a few minutes later, I was conscious of myself staggering from dizziness. Last weekend, we went to a store and I didn't feel right as we head inside. We got in and the store got very bright, colors seemed to lighten and it felt like I was passing out. It was like I was standing on a cliff waiting to fall off. The brightness did not go away but I also never passed out. Also, I had been having lots of headaches since going back to this heavy amount of Diovan. Currently, the last couple of days, I am having trouble focusing. It is as if my eyes are good but my head is somehow effecting my eyesight. Yesterday, I kept having these moments where it was like I was being hit in the head. I kept seeing stars. Oh, did I mention I am only 52 years old? Too young in my opinion to be chalking this up to old age.

My next appointment is August 24th. I am hoping I can make it to that appointment. I think this is too much medication and I am afraid if I don't get it cut back soon, it will kill me.

I am not against Diovan but I do think there is a point where one can be prescribed too high a dosage. And I am at that point. Oh and my blood pressure in my opinion isn't that great for all of this medication. I am concerned that something is causing the high blood pressure and rather than OD'ing me on medications, the doctors should be helping me determine why my blood pressure is so high. Also, I am now on this kick to see whether I can lower my blood pressure through certain foods and diet. Where is doctor Oz when you need him?

I have been on Diovan HCT 160 for several years. The other day I woke up with joint pain in my hands. The next day it was in both ankles and arches of my feet, also both elbows and my right knee felt swollen and painful. I am a physical therapist and am
In tune with my body. I know this is atypical joint pain and not from physical activity. I was afraid of rheumatoid arthritis so I am shocked and a bit relieved to read others with same effects. I am going to my MD for full blood work and a new BP med for sure. I will post any new info if it might help others.......

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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..

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 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 on Diovan, 80 mg. for almost 3 weeks now. I was taken off of lisinopril due to a terrible cough which was getting worse by the day. My cough is almost gone now, but I have been having a real problem with flatulence since I started the Diovan. I also take Lipitor, and I think the combination of the two drugs may be the issue. Back to the doctor, I guess. I would like to be able to go out in public. I've tried Beano to no avail. But on the positive side, my blood pressure is fine now!

About a year ago, I was prescrived Diovan and the dosage was increased until about a month ago increased from 160mg to 320mg. I started experiencing a body rash to the point of not being able to sleep, I stop taking the med. and now on the 2nd week the itch continues, after few visits to the dermatologist and my general physician he switched the medication to Avapro, and for 3 days I can't sleep, the itch continues and last night I experienced itch around my lips palm of hands and bottom of my feet, fatigue and could not sleep at all, anybody have these same effects?

I just started Diovan for just a couple of days but am dizzy quite a bit. I thought maybe this would pass in a couple of weeks. But now reading other side effects I am afraid to continue. The hair loss and weight gain, that really scares me.

Please, does anyone have something good to say about this medication. I think I will stop until Monday and call my doctor about these side effects.

I have been on Doivan for a little over 2 weeks now. Sudden drops in BP, fever, sore throat, gas and bloating increased heart rate, back pain....severe muscle spasms in my feet and legs. I even went to the emergengy room thinking I was having a heart attack because of the back pain and excessive gas which caused me to feel like I had a boa constrictor wrapped around my mid section. This is a nasty little drug which I will discontinue tomorrow....back to my cozar which had few side effects, but does not control my BP completely, but this medication made me feel like I was dying!! Anyone else experience these symptoms??

I have been taking Diovan for 9 Months and have experienced several side effects that i was not aware of that were caused from Diovan. Number one weight gain 25lbs in 9 months,Lower back pain, dry eyes and some hair loss. I have contacted my doctor today and had blood tests for possible liver damage. I will get the results in two days. I am changing medications. I am looking for a natural way to lower my blood pressure maybe through diet and exercise. I exercise 3 to 4 days a week and i eat healthy but continue to gain 2to3 lbs a month. Who knows the souluion? I just want to be free of medication!!

Diovan lowered my blood-pressure,but rapid weight gain,can't sleep at night and hair loss forced me to discontinue the medication.

About six months ago I was perscibed 80mg of Diovan for high blood presure. It did not bring my blood presure down, so the medication was increased to 160mg a day. Soon after I took the higher dose, I had heart palputations,a racing heart beat,severe headaches,ringing in my ears. And still, my blood presure was high. This medicine went in the trash. After two week of not taking Dovan, my ears are still ringing.