User Reviews for valsartan oral

Been on Diovan for years with no problems. Then Fallon Health tells me have to go with Valsarten (Generic) or they won't pay. B/P can be erratic at times on Valsarten. Wish I could go back to Diovan but can't.

I was on Diovan for 14 years and did very well. Had to change to Valsartan because United Healthcare won't cover Diovan. I am experiencing daily headaches. I do not feel well on the generic.

I experienced a heaviness that felt like I had a boulder on my head and was walking around with it. Also some dizziness, and MAJOR aches and pains in arms and legs, and bad headaches. ONE DAY after getting off of Valsartin, I was back to normal, except the leg and arm shooting pains continue, but with less and less frequency. I have been on Diovan for years without issue. I believe this is a BAD DRUG and should be taken off the market. It's hard to exercise with all the pain in my limbs during and afterwards. I have been off of Valsartin for about 3 months and still having problems.Read More Read Less

Been on diovan at least 15 yrs with no problems. Started valsartan 3 MO ago. BP has been high and headaches everyday. Excused high BP for anything and everything because diovan always worked with another BP pill for me. All this started shortly after taking generic pills. Thank you for this forum. Going to Dr this a.m. to switch back. How dangerous this could be if valsartan is not the same as diovan. So ridiculous how expensive diovan was before generic came out. Wonder if price went down since generic is available now. Read More Read Less

I have taken Diovan for perhaps 10 years without any side effects. Several months ago, I changed to Valsartan 320-mg because UnitedHealthCare no longer paid for Diovan -- the difference between Diovan and Valsartan is slightly more than $200 per month. Since taken Valsartan, I have tremendous aching in legs and shoulders.

I am having lots of trouble with being dizzy on 180mg, lowered my dose to 80mg and I am still a little dizzy and blood pressure is too low.

Humana refused to fill my Diovan 160 mg prescription; said I had to take Valsartan. Have been on Diovan for 10 years without a problem and my b/p under control. Now on Valsartan 160 mg have headache, slightly blurry vision, cough, and b/p 157/95. Maybe this Valsartan is a placebo of some sort because it doesn't seem to bring my b/p down. Pharma says I have to take the Valsartan a month before allowing the Diovan back.

My doctor switched me from Lisinopril to Valsartan because of continuing orthostatic events (faintness on standing but no fainting). Took Valsartan for 14 months before taking myself off the drug. Orthostatic events continued on valsartan and worsened. I considered wearing a helmet! Two or three months after beginning Valsartan I began experiencing "many" ectopic beats, PAC's and PVC's. I'd never before experienced PVC's but did not associate with Valsartan - thought I'd strained something exercising. A Polar exercise heart monitor at one point indicated 18.5% ectopic beats immediately after a night's sleep. Within 3 days of stopping Valsartan, the ectopic beats essentially disappeared. At two months after stopping Valsartan, I can't detect PAC's or PVC's. Over the last 18 months I've been exercising and lost about 50 lbs - my blood pressure has remained low, typically 100/65. The orthostatic events are getting rare, a few days between events now. On Valsartan(and Lisinopril), if I sat in a chair more than 15 minutes, I planned on being faint after standing. After two months free of Valsartan, I'm beginning to think the drug was about to kill me. I am, perhaps incorrectly, viewing the arrhythmias as a ticket to sudden heart failure. I don't recommend that anyone stop the drug without consulting their doctor. My doctor didn't seem concerned about what I was experiencing but I perceived severe quality of life issues. I was NOT suicidal. I monitored BP closely and figured I could start taking the drug again if BP rose excessively; it did not.Read More Read Less

I've been on Diovan for 15+ years; the last 8yrs, I've been on 320-12.5mg pill. When Valsartan became available, I can say I saw a huge difference, to the negative, in my numbers. One Diovan 320-12.5mg, my blood pressure was 120/78. On Valsartan 320-12.5mg, my blood pressure is 140/90, consistently. I've talked to my doctor and will begin Edarbyclor 40-25mg. I think the Valsartan is a placebo.

Been on this almost one year, blood pressure is sometimes fine, sometimes high. A month ago I got very dizzy and my pressure got low. Ear pressure, head pressure, severe fatigue, brain fog, more hair loss than usual and the list goes on. Went to the doctor, she added another blood pressure med and set me up for a Vestibular test. I almost convinced myself this was Mal de Debarquement from my cruise in June because many of the symptoms match. But after reading the side effects of Valsartan more closely, I'm thinking it is the cause. I'll be stopping it and letting my doctor know. I really hope I start to improve as the more severe symptoms have kept me from driving. I will post another review if my symptoms do not go away after stopping this but I really think this drug is the cause of all these issues. Read More Read Less

I too was on Diovan, and was swtiched to Valsartan. Honestly my BP stays the same. I've been on Valsartan for over a year, and I only take roughly 85mg. I am usually within 117/79 even with or without 3 cups a coffee a day. It does have side affects but so did Diovan. Somethings you just give up and eat more Ice Cream Instead :)

Like most other reviews I have read, Diovan was working fine until the switch to Valsartan. My b/p has never been more out of control, 161/100 etc. I believe Valsartan is just a placebo! I was taking Diovan 160, not Valsartan 320 and have even taken extra when I thought it would help. B/P doesn't budge! There should be a class action lawsuit against this drug!

Been taking the generic now since it came out and it isn't lowering my BP at all. Prior to this had good results with the brand name for at least 10 years 145/75, now I'm lucky if I can get to 154/95. now trying with doxazosin and diltiazem.

Converted fron Diovan to the generic Valsartan. It's not lowering my BP at all. I am taking 160 twice daily. But it just does not effect my BP. Sitting in Dr. Office right now. Waiting for her to see what else we can do, Diovan is much to costly for me, need to make Valsartan work.

This medication is dangerous. The first day, my BP spiked higher and heart rate went into the basement. After that I experienced 24 hour dizziness, severe fatigue, heart pounding, head buzzing, headache and left arm pain. One night recently I fainted and fell on the hard floor giving me a concussion. I have been off this medicine for over a week now but it still feels like it's in my system. I still have some dizziness and occasional heart pounding. This medicine almost cost me my life.

I have taken Diovan for about five years, worked well, kept my BP within the normal range. Insurance switched to Valsartan less than a month ago and my BP is 160s/90s and 100s. I was only taking 80 mg of Diovan once a day. With Valsartan I doubled that when my BP was getting out of hand. My doctor now wants me to go to 320 mg of the Valsartan. I started that yesterday and have not seen a decrease in my BP yet. Just woke up with my heart POUNDING. Dangerous drug especially for someone who does not monitor their BP at home regularly. foot and hand discomfort is new since starting this. Tingling in my left arm and hand like there is no circulation. Headaches every day. Itchy all over but especially hands and feet. Definitely needs to be looked at again by the Feds. This will cost people their lives.Read More Read Less

I have taken Diovan for 10 years. My insurance changed it to Valsartan. I have been coughing for two months, lost my voice for a week, my asthma got worse, I am dizzy all the time. this drug is dangerous!!!!

After 30 days on meds saw a continued increase in BP (top number) till almost 195) Returned to Diovan brand name and with 3 days numbers were back to 128/72

I was switched from Diovan to Valsartan. Since the switch I have noticed two episodes of dizziness after getting up from a sitting position. This has occurred at least five hours after taking. I am concerned that the time release of the medication is defective in some way. The generic manufacturer has had problems in their India manufacturing plant. This unexpected dizziness causing me to stumble is just not ok with me. I never encountered this with Diovan and after a discussion with the pharmacist am switching back. The pharmacist denys knowing of any problems but will report it to the FDA. Read More Read Less

Had been taking Diovan 80mg 2x a day, sometimes 1x a day, control my blood pressure very well for years with no side effects. Pharmacy changed to generic when it became available because of cost. Took it for a couple of weeks was getting sicker by the day. Blood pressure was higher, lower it a little for a few hours, heart rate stayed low regards of what I did, stayed tired dizzy, weak, chest pain, shortness of breath, leg & arms ached, cough, blurred vision, intermittent vertigo. Decided to switch back to brand name of Diovan, started to feel better in a couple of days. Went to see my doctor, finally. I had tried a number of blood pressure meds before nothing worked for me without a lot of side effects until I tried Diovan. Read More Read Less