Valsartan User Reviews & Ratings

• Uns...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 1, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I went on Valsartan hydrochlorothiazide 80/12.5 mg once per day approximately a year and a half ago. On several occasions, I mentioned to my PCP and cardiologist that I was having a great deal of problems with my shoulders and stiffness in my hips. I was repeatedly told it was not the drug. I want to emphatically say it was the drug - The Valsartan hydrochlorothiazide caused the stiffness and mobility issues. After only three days of removing the drug and replacing it with a drug in a different class, my mobility completely came back. Not only did I have the stiffness and immobility of my shoulders, but I had a great deal of stomach discomfort, low libido, as well as fatigue. It was a shame it took a year and a half of my life to discover. I am a 63-year-old female who is very active, and that activity level was reduced considerably during that time period. Doctors need to listen to their patients."

• RN ...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 7, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "As a healthcare professional, I urge readers to bear in mind that valsartan is a generic drug produced by several manufacturers. NOT ALL GENERIC DRUGS ARE CREATED EQUAL! A good experience with one manufacturer's drug does not mean you'll have the same experience with a different manufacturer's product. If you have had an unpleasant experience with a generic drug, discuss with your care provider (MD, NP) whether it would be worth it to try a different manufacturer's version of the same drug. If you have been taking a generic drug for a good while and then notice that you're not doing so well, talk to your care provider, but also bring that up with the pharmacy and find out whether they have changed vendors!"

• 246...
• August 13, 2013

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "Have been taking Diovan 160mg twice daily along with hydrochlorothiazide 25mg for 2 years. Developed shortness of breath, which they told me was an asthma problem that I never had before. I insisted it was the medication and was told it wasn't because it worked great for my blood pressure. Had 2 near-death experiences from 'asthma attacks'. They stopped the Diovan and hydrochlorothiazide, and I haven't had any problems with breathing. I can be very active without losing my breath now. Now trying to find something else that works as well on my blood pressure."

• Anonymous
• April 23, 2010

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "I have been on this medication for about six years. At first, it lowered my blood pressure, but lately, I am still in the 140s over 90s, and recently started having ringing in my ears. During the time I was taking this, I would become tired during the day and could not walk up one flight of stairs without being out of breath. I started on a workout regime for 9 months now to get into shape and still had fatigue and shortness of breath. I also started to have slight heart palpitations, so I decided to quit all medicines, keep track of my blood pressure, and went to the doctor and told him my symptoms and plans. I changed my lifestyle to be much healthier than it had been with diet and exercise. No more fatigue and pressure is even better."

• Chu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 1, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "I have tried several different blood pressure meds. Valsartan gave me the worst side effects: dizziness, shakiness, nausea, headaches, sore muscles, and extreme fatigue! I would not recommend this drug to anyone. Actually raised my blood pressure."

• JFE...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "After reading the reviews of this drug, I was horrified when my doctor put me on it. I'm on 160mg once daily. For the first week or so, I had some raunchy symptoms (dizziness, general tiredness, and stomach cramping), however, it has been almost two weeks and I feel so good now. My BP is getting lower, I'm waking up rested, I have less anxiety, no more migraines (so far), and typical body aches are less. This is an all-around fix if you have my blood pressure problems."

• Jew...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2018

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "I just experienced sudden onset high blood pressure. I'm almost 50. Never had problems before. My normal BP is about 115/70. 2 weeks ago, for unknown reasons, it spiked up to 210/125. Stayed in that range for a full 2 weeks. Dr. Put me on amlodipine for 10 days. It did absolutely nothing. Just changed the med to Diovan HCT. After 1 pill, BP came down to 125/80. After the next pill, it's down to 112/69. Crazy how fast it worked. I'm almost afraid to take pill #3 because I'm hoping it won't go too low. Is this normal?"

• Anonymous
• July 22, 2009

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "Diovan HCT 160/12.5 - took for over 8 years. Blood pressure was controlled...however, did not realize that daily headaches, hair thinning, up and down blood sugar, weight gain, muscle aches, etc. were side effects. Stopped taking and all symptoms started to go away."

• Unh...
• December 31, 2016

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "Been on Diovan for at least three years, suffering many side effects: muscle pain, sudden hair loss and thinning, as well as intermittent tingling on the back of my head. I have also had weight gain, problems with blood sugar, and loss of erections. I still have sexual desire but my erections aren't adequate. I have pain in my stomach which is increasing with time, sometimes kind of burning like an ulcer, and coldness in my feet. I have also started developing small lumps of fat under my skin and marks on my skin resembling age spots but are not. The pills are not having as good an effect on my blood pressure anymore. It went way up. I just don't know what medicine to switch to."

• CGa...
• June 26, 2020

For High Blood Pressure "I was on valsartan 160 mg for about a year. I kept having left side pains from my heart racing and left arm pains down to tingling in my left hand and fingers for 6 months. I went to 2 doctors who both ran tests and found nothing wrong. One referred me for physical therapy because I also had lower back pains. I went to the ER twice within a week because I thought I was having a heart attack. My lungs were clear and a CT scan showed no abnormalities. I saw a cardiologist as well who ran various tests and it was all normal. It was time for me to renew my prescription recently, and there were backlogs at 3 different pharmacies, so my doctor wrote me another blood pressure prescription so I wouldn’t go without any. And guess what... I have only been on the new blood pressure meds for 2 weeks now, and ALL of the symptoms stopped! Valsartan was causing all these symptoms all along, and no one figured it out. I also take amlodipine in conjunction, and my blood pressure has been stable!"

• Sus...
• June 3, 2010

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "I used several medications before my cardiologist prescribed Diovan. I have had wonderful results, no side effects of any type and would suggest Diovan to anyone needing their blood pressure controlled. I consider this medication a miracle! It has been for me! I'm 66 years old and have used it for 7 years."

• rkm...
• May 11, 2009

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "Diovan effectively controlled my high blood pressure for 2 years. Then suddenly I developed low potassium levels; fluctuating blood pressure, rapid pulse, ringing in the ears, nausea and deep tissue pain with chronic inflammation. The dose was dropped by 1/2. Sleep apnea began. It took three months- many-ER visits, two hospitalizations and cardiac monitoring to figure out what my blood pressure was actually doing. Eventually it took only 1/4 of the dose of the medication to 'control' my pressure without causing side effects. The onset of these symptoms without doctors recognizing them created concern for me about this medication. I recommend regular monitoring of your own blood pressure."

• aro...
• November 7, 2008

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "One side effect not listed here but is listed elsewhere falls under the category of dermatological side effects - alopecia. So, if your scalp becomes pink and irritable and you start developing thinning or actual bald patches, ask your doctor to switch you to another medication."

• Nan...
• March 28, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I had taken Diovan for several years to control my blood pressure with no issues. About 6 months ago, the drug store substituted Valsartan for the Diovan. I have had a severe chronic cough since January. A pharmacist friend of mine had mentioned that she has had 3 patients this past winter who were taking Valsartan complain of the onset of a chronic cough. I am asking my doctor for a new prescription tomorrow for Diovan ONLY. One case I would say is coincidence, but I am the fourth case. I have been debilitated by this nagging cough. I would be interested to know if others suffer this same side effect."

• dds...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 2, 2014

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "I recently started taking this medication for about 1 month, 80mg/day, and I have experienced shortness of breath going up one flight of stairs, muscle weakness during light housework, and heart palpitations for no reason, dizziness, and fatigue. I went on vacation to Palm Desert and wasn't watching my sodium intake and not keeping hydrated. I paid dearly by watching my blood pressure go from 140/90 to 180/105 and ended up at urgent care. Doc gave me Diazide to flush out the sodium, and now my blood pressure is 110/70. The cardiologist decreased Diazide to 40mg. Some of Diovan's side effects are dissipating with this reduction. I am not happy taking any medication unless necessary, especially at the age of 46. Hope to be off all medicines soon."

• Kan...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 23, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Diovan/valsartan for a great number of years. It never did control my blood pressure, but I took it anyhow in hopes that one day it might bring my BP down. It never did, and to my surprise, I woke up one morning with full-blown peripheral neuropathy. I am 60 years old and never knew that PN was one of the side effects of the medicine, and there is no cure. I am very disappointed."

• sha...
• January 25, 2011

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "I used to use lisinopril for two months, and my blood pressure would be controlled for a couple of days, then uncontrolled and terribly high, ranging 170/110 or 180/100 at times. It took about a month to get my blood pressure to range between 142/90 to 124/86. Then my medicines got changed to Diovan because of the severe side effects, and I felt 100 times better. The first day I took the Diovan, it felt like an internal massage feeling my blood vessels dilate. It works really well, my blood pressure averages around 115/70, and I take it daily... BUT when I get to the doctor's office, I become so worried (white coat syndrome), my blood pressure is sky high. So my doctor just added a diuretic also."

• Fai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 26, 2016

For High Blood Pressure "I was prescribed Valsartan (generic of Diovan) 80 mg, plus Metoprolol ER 25 mg. I've been taking these for about 6 months, during which time I've had muscle stiffness, joint pain, decreased urine flow, cough, vision changes, and some of the other listed side effects. I stopped Valsartan a week ago, and stopped Metoprolol 3 days ago. The past two days, I've never felt better and my blood pressure is about the same as it was on the drugs. Not ideal yet but not in the danger zone. Both of these drugs have many of the same side effects and both generic. C-Span televised a hearing not long about about generic drugs, and I learned that most of them are now made in China and India."

• Ken...
• March 31, 2015

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "Taking for 15 years. I'm 67. Controls my blood pressure well. I take 160mg. I'm normal weight and very active (triathlons and marathons). If I train very hard and drop weight, I get dizzy sometimes so I cut the pill in half and that does the trick. I occasionally get heart palpitations, but I had that before the drug. I used to get terrible migraines before Diovan, when I started taking Diovan, it was like a miracle drug for the migraines - essentially eliminated them. I still get them now infrequently and not as severe. I have ringing in the ears, but I don't know if it's from the Diovan or not, but it's not a problem for me."

• Anonymous
• April 4, 2010

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "Taking drug for about 5 years and blood pressure stays around 140/93. All of a sudden started having ringing in ears and decided to go off Diovan after reading this was a side effect. Also noticed shortness of breath, weight gain, and tiredness. Now blood pressure is about the same without Diovan or any other medication except still have the ringing in the ears."

• Run...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 24, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "Losartan and Valsartan both caused my hair to come out in clumps. I googled the problem, and several sites said that this is a common side effect with BP meds. Apparently, they deplete the CoQ10, a vitamin. They advise taking 30 mg of CoQ10 a day to prevent the hair loss. I started to do that, and it works. I'm still on Valsartan, and my hair loss is back to normal... a couple strands a day."

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2009

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "After using Diovan for only a few days, I developed shortness of breath and my blood pressure skyrocketed. I was also very lethargic. Within 2 days of stopping and going back to my old blood pressure medication, my pressure dropped significantly. This drug did NOT work for me for what it was prescribed for."

• Tam...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 28, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on valsartan for 3 1/2 months. I was always tired, a sharp headache on the left side of my head, muscle pain. As of 7/26/2019, I decided not to take this medication, the side effects are horrible, and I wouldn't recommend this drug to a lab rat. I'm now waiting on my next dr. appointment to see what other options he has."

• mic...
• July 26, 2010

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "I went through a mountain of different blood pressure medications, until I tried Diovan. Most of the other medicines either didn't work, or the side effects were severe. It may be expensive, but it works. Recently, my Medicare provider wanted me to try Cozaar because they don't cover Diovan (cost). I will stay with Diovan even if I have to pay for it myself."

• Anonymous
• October 8, 2012

Diovan (valsartan) for High Blood Pressure "Diovan does the trick as far as the blood pressure goes. I have been an athlete my whole life, so high blood pressure was just never dreamed of. The only problem is my erectile dysfunction, which was never a problem before this. Guess I will have to take the bad with the good."