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A few weeks ago we shared a shocking story about an internal feud going on at the FDA around a category of blood pressure-lowering drugs called ARBs:
ARBs ON THE U.S. MARKET
- Atacand (candesartan)
- Avapro (irbesartan)
- Benicar (olmesartan)
- Cozaar (losartan)
- Diovan (valsartan)
- Edarbi (azilsartan)
- Micardis (telmisartan)
- Teveten (eprosartan)
The furor was all about a link to cancer, something we had been concerned about since an article appeared in Lancet Oncology over three years ago (online, June 14, 2010). The fuss was all about the FDA’s analysis of the risk.
The executives at the agency sounded an all-clear message on June 2, 2011. But an FDA safety reviewer, Thomas Marciniak, MD, analyzed the raw data and concluded that there was about a 24% increased risk of lung cancer linked to ARBs. Dr. Marciniak encouraged his FDA colleagues to alert doctors and patients to the possible problem.
You can read the whole sordid story at this link. The FDA doesn’t seem to know what to do about Dr. Marciniak’s analysis. His direct boss, Ellis Unger, MD, was quoted in the Wall Street Journal: “We have no reason to tell the public anything new.”
NEW ARB SCANDAL:
Now a whole new controversy has erupted over valsartan (Diovan), the best selling ARB in the U.S., if not the world. Although it has made headlines and captured national attention in Japan, the story has been pretty much ignored in the U.S. except by the financial press. The bottom line appears to be that data supporting the benefits of Diovan were “manipulated.” The Wall Street Journal (Aug. 12, 2013) tried to say it gently: “Two university-led investigations in Novartis-related research discovered data had been altered to produce inaccurate results.”
In addition to the data manipulation, there have been charges of conflict of interest. Key contributors to the results of the research were employees of Novartis, but they apparently did not disclose their relationship with the company. Six articles on the Kyoto Heart Study published in various journals including the European Heart Journal and the International Journal of Cardiology, have been retracted.
So what’s the big deal? The bottom line appears to be that the researchers suggested valsartan did more than just lower blood pressure. Although that’s often all it takes to get FDA approval for treating hypertension, the real goal is to reduce the consequences of high blood pressure. Just lowering a number is meaningless if it doesn’t help prevent the complications of hypertension. And that is where the Japanese researchers apparently fudged the data. They suggested that Diovan could reduce the risk for strokes, angina and heart failure. There is now doubt about those conclusions.
A NEW SERIOUS VALSARTAN SIDE EFFECT EMERGES
In addition to all the bad news about manipulated data, Japanese regulators have just required Novartis to warn physicians and patients that Diovan can cause five potentially life-threatening skin reactions:
- Stevens-Johnson syndrome (SJS)
- Toxic epidermal necrolysis (TENS)
- Erythema multiforme
- Pemphigus
- Pemphigoid
Anyone who develops a rash while taking valsartan should contact a physician immediately!
Here are some other side effects to be aware of:
VALSARTAN (DIOVAN) SIDE EFFECTS (and other ARBs)
- Dizziness, fatigue, low blood pressure
- Cough
- Headache
- Upper respiratory tract infections, sinusitis, stuffy nose,
- Digestive discomfort, diarrhea, stomach pain, back pain
- Joint pain, arthritis
- Swelling of the face, lips, mouth, tongue or throat (Requires immediate emergency medical treatment )
- Potassium retention and buildup (hyperkalemia)
- Kidney damage, liver damage
- Hair loss
WHAT TO DO?
No patient should EVER stop taking a medication without first checking with the prescriber. That holds for valsartan and other ARBs. That said, it is unlikely that your physician will have heard about the Japanese scandal involving Diovan and altered data. Your doctor may not be aware of the FDA dust-up regarding ARBs and cancer. You may want to print the Wall Street Journal article and show it to your physician. You may also want to read about ARBs and cough. Although most prescribers believe ARBs don’t cause coughs, some people are susceptible to this side effect.
Share your own experience with ARBs or other blood pressure medications below. If you have taken such drugs safely and achieved good results we would like to hear your story. If you have experienced side effects, please let us know. And if you would like to know more about natural approaches to controlling blood pressure, check out The People’s Pharmacy Quick & Handy Home Remedies: Q&As for Your Common Ailments.
Michele
Arlington
I just took ONE 40 mg dose of Valsartan, and it’s been five days of stomach pain and nausea/weakness. I haven’t been able to eat, went to urgent care once, and float pool dr. three times in one week! I had been on no meds, and my bp was elevated to 150’/upper 80’s. Never again! I am still sick writing this, and it has been 5 days since I took the pill…going to a Naturopath next week.
Phil
I have been on Dorvian, Valsartan for the past 5-6years. For the past two years I have been having uncomfortable with my chest. My rib feels as if there is expansion of my lungs, putting pressure on my rib. The full chest makes me to be tired. To avoid pain of my rib cage I lie on two pillows. One under my chest and the other under my head.
Amber
Elgin SC
I’ve had the same issue, but I have asthma as well so I wasn’t sure which it was connected to. It feels like my sternum and my left chest bones and muscles are “creaky” for lack of a better term. It’s like a pinch or an ache that comes and goes.
Have you found out anything new with this Phil? We just lost our insurance so I’m avoiding the doctor at the moment but I’m really concerned with this new information. Get back to me if you can.
Chrissy
Tahlequah, Oklahoma, USA
I’ve been on VALSARTAN for about 6 years, having tried everything natural for years including giving up coffee first. But when my mother had several strokes from HBP I stopped playing around. I never had any side effects that I could tell from VALSARTAN. Indeed, since I also take a calcium channel blocker (Verapamil) and a centrally-acting alpha-agonist (Clonidine), as well as two diuretics (Triam/HCTZ) I felt that certain symptoms cancelled each other out.
All I have seen is hair loss, but it was during menopause so couldn’t differentiate the symptom from cause, and sporadic syncope. Being a registered nurse I expected this. It took all these meds to finally get control of my hereditary hypertension. I lost 65 pounds last year while recovering from a broken ankle by not eating sugar or grains but did not try to reduce my medications.
As of this week I have stopped the VALSARTAN, weaning off with some old LOSARTAN, when my pharmacy called about the recent recall and inability to refill my script. I am checking my blood pressure and doubling up on clonidine before bed since it is a short acting medication and so far have been okay through the night, though my blood pressure is higher during the day than in previous years; hopefully it will settle down, though I did believe the ARB’s and ACE inhibitors were my main ally in this battle. (I read recently that outcomes are not better by driving those numbers to a perfect normal range, but who really knows?)
Damned if we do, damned if we don’t, right? But I’m not trying to live with strokes like my mother who has been bound mindlessly to her Gerry chair for 12 years after her last major stroke or like my brother who, with his second stroke, lost use of his left arm and a way to support his family. You must take medications to keep your blood pressure in check! I’ve seen too many who tried everything natural, and it simply does not work (a good friend stoked out, hemorrhagic, at age 52, after years of every natural remedy known to man—iridology, naturopathic, homeopathic, etc. ) Additionally, if your hypertension is hereditary all the weight loss in the world won’t matter. Of eight siblings with three fathers every single one of us—tall, short, fat, thin, smoker, non-smoker, drinker, non-drinker—have the same BP issues. I’ll take my chances with medication and pray for God to direct my steps.
Karen
Virginia
I’ve been on Valsartan for almost 3 years, a very low dose 6.25 mg for hypertension. The side effects started with numbness in my face after 3 months, which I wrote off as possible allergies. I slowly started to lose my energy over the first year. In the past year I’ve developed pain on my right side that doesn’t go away and muscle spasms that come and go. My joints, especially in my legs, will hurt if I try to walk for long distances (1 mile) and it’s getting worse. I also started with constipation about two months after going on Valsartan. I blamed a lot of my issues on being over 50 and menopause, but then I started to realize I wasn’t seeing other women over 50 with these issues. I see my doctor this week and will discuss all these issues. Has anyone else had these symptoms?
Harry A
Georgia
I started on Diovan fifteen years ago and had a metallic taste in my mouth and after a few weeks started losing my hair on head and all on legs along with back pain and tiredness.
Now, on the generic Valsartin for four years. Soon after I started on The generic I came down with dizzy spells and vertigo as well as nausea on occasion.
I will quit the drug as of this day and because of the latest rat cancer treatment the Chinese have all of us using, with the generic Valsartin made there. I am changing my dr also.
Janet
Fernandina Beach
I have been on Valsartan for over 15 years. I NOW realize this is about when my Psoriasis showed up which is an auto immune disorder. I refused to take anything for that other than a topical cream because I don’t trust pharmaceutical companies!!!!
They hide dangerous side effects. The fact that I’m a former smoker makes me very nervous about the lung cancer risks. I’m going to get a CT scan.
Richard
St Jérôme Québec canada
I have been taking the diovan for more than 10 years, and now I have a kidney problem. Could this be related? Can anyone confirm this?
Pierre
CT
Richard – Valsartan slightly reduces renal perfusion (through dilation of the renal arteries). Because kidneys are getting less blood supply this can show up in test results as a lower creatinine clearance rate (CCr, also sometimes called eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate).
If you had borderline renal function (eGFR between 60-90 mL/min/1.73m2), ARBs can reduce this to make it appear as if you have a lower kidney function, since technically less blood is being filtered due to lowered blood supply as that is what the test measures.
However, in most cases, this effect should be temporary, but it can show up at any time while on Diovan. In addition, if you’ve been hypertensive for over 10 years it’s also possible that the hypertension or other comorbidities (high cholesterol/atherosclerosis/diabetes/obesity/etc.) has induced chronic kidney disease.
You should see a nephrologist, who specializes in managing hypertension/hypertension drugs in people with kidney problems.
Robert
United States
HI Richard. I don’t think anyone will be able to tell conclusively, that is the worse part of the companies cutting corners and fudging data. I have also been taking this drug for 10 years and in the last couple of years have seen my GFR decline slightly.
Now that they have found that the Chinese have been producing it for the generics with the contaminant nitrosodimethylamine, I think this might explain it to a degree. This is the same contaminant from some years ago that was found in dog and cat food that caused kidney failure and resulted in many pet deaths.
For you and me it seems that the cancer risk might even be more of a threat to our health. I still take two other blood pressure medications, but how do I know these aren’t tainted as well? The drug companies must answer to their shareholders – thh government is supposed to be protecting us and they are not. And reading the info on this page makes my jaw drop.
I wish you the best Richard and hope things improve.
William
Surrey, B.C., Canada
Richard, I have the same issue. My GFR blood test just dropped below 60 for the first time, and I just got the results late Friday so have not discussed with my GP yet. In the meantime, I get the news on the Valsartan recall and I start checking out side effects for Valsartan, and it says it has been known to cause kidney problems. I will have to pursue that. I also have a swollen ankle — another Valsartan side effect. And I have had diarrhea issues for a number of years that have been diagnosed as IBS because they don’t know what else to call it — strange, but that is another side effect of Valsartan.
Lola
Alberta
I have been taking Diovan, then Valsartan for at least 15 years. I was able to cut the dosage in half to 160 mg when I lost weight and stopped eating meat and dairy. I initially did this to reduce my cholesterol as I was having severe symptoms from the statin drugs. I have reduced my cholesterol to high normal.
I have experienced the racing heart rate and a sudden drop in blood pressure. Periodically I experience a feeling of weakness and tiredness, but am not sure if it is the medication, but since others on Valsartan experience these symptoms perhaps it is. The racing heart and sudden drop in blood pressure usually occurred during the night.
Twice I went to the hospital emergency because of these symptoms. No medical person ever suggested there might be a connection to Valsartan. I changed from taking the medication before bedtime to morning and these symptoms have mostly stopped.
I experience the stuffy nose at night and this is annoying. I have explored alternative natural remedies, but have not found anything that works. I just got a call from my pharmacy stating that a recent batch of Valsartan is tainted and that Health Canada will be determining if the drug is safe to take.
I will be notified within three days. My doctor will then decide what I should take. High blood pressure is a killer, but sometimes it is a toss up between the BP and the drugs.
Pierre
CT
LOLA – the symptoms you describe are classic ones associated with big drops in blood pressure. They are transient (your BP drops, so you get lightheaded and your heart races to increase it) so unless you are given a BP monitor to wear, it is difficult for doctors to detect when this happens (unless you get the racing symptom while sitting in the ER, ER won’t see it).
Make sure you monitor your BP regularly, at different times of the day (I know my BP is high at night and low in the morning so I always dose my meds in the evening). The stuffy nose thing is sometimes a give-away that you’re overloaded with fluids (i.e. your salt intake is still too high) – Valsartan expands blood vessels, which are typically constricted in many people with primary hypertension and expanding the blood vessels in your nose while in fluid overload will cause congestion since the fluid pushes against the extra width of the blood vessels in your nose, pressing on the mucous tissue. This is also why patients on Valsartan without a diuretic tend to get stuffy noses more than those on say, Valsartan/HCTZ.
Cmi
N.J.
I was doing ok on the diuretic but new doc wanted to put me on an ace. I know about the cough and Valsartan was recommended instead. I had daily diarrhea x2 mos and am only on 40 mg dose.
It was hard to leave the house on time. I am also tired and have noticed significant hair loss ( female). I am stopping it today and returning to diuretic. I will find an intervention through healthy lifestyle.
Nee
New Jersey
This drug is poison. It almost killed me. I thought I was having a heart attack twice. I had a severe attack of edema. which left me with facial scarring which will not go away. This drug has harmed me physically, mentally, as well as, emotionally. Facts regarding this drug have already been manipulated.
What else aren’t they telling us. This drug has taken the medical system to an all time low for me. I don’t trust anything they say. They will do anything for a dollar.
AG
Durham NC
I stopped taking Valsartin after three months that culminated in two trips to urgent care within two weeks. I never read about the side effects of this drug and my primary did not warn me about them, so when my extreme dizziness and fatigue led me to believe I was having a heart attack twice, it did not occur to me that it was the medicine.
My heart was racing and the room was spinning, and it became difficult to catch my breath. It was terrifying. A day after stopping I was crippled by the withdrawal symptoms of exhaustion, confusion and leg pain. Those only seem to have lasted 24 hours, as now it is two days later and I feel better than I have in months. This drug is poison.
NDJ
New Jersey
A vascular specialist changed my BP meds from amlodipine 10 mg and maxide 37.5 mg to losartan hct-50mg/12.5 because my ankles were constantly swollen, and the skin had turned purple and brown, a sign of venous insufficiency. I developed a cough which was worse during the night, but not as bad during the day. My regular cardiologist changed the medication to valsartan 160 mg and put me back on the maxide 37.5/25mg combo. This was about four weeks ago. I developed a respiratory infection with constant coughing, nasal congestion, and sinusitis after three days on the medication. It has not gone away, and is getting worse. Also experiencing some nausea from the Valsartan. The 160 mg dose made me so dizzy, I felt like the planet had tilted. After 3 days of dizziness, I started cutting the pills in half and taking the dose right before bedtime. Made an appointment with my cardiologist to discuss changing back to Losartan.
Tina
France
I was taking valsartan for over 10 years along with statins for high cholesterol. After reading reports of issues with long term stating use and the unproven benefits for women, I switched the statin for a plant sterol supplement. At my next blood test my cholesterol levels were in the normal range. I then started reading about hbp, natural remedies and functional medicine. I discovered research about heart and vascular health using vitamin and other supplements. I started on the supplement regime and after 2weeks my blood pressure had dropped so low I stopped the valsartan altogether. My BP is now in the normal range every day with no pharmaceuticals, the first time in over 20 years. One of the key ingredients in my regime is vitamin C. Apprently Linus Pauling won a Nobel prize years ago on the health benefits of vitamin C, but his research and that of others who followed him is often villified.
Nina
USA
Hi Tina,
would you share the name of the book you use as a guide? I am a long time consumer of HBP medications, and just have been dreaming to get rid of them. I would try some nature alternatives.
Thank you.
Michael
Illinois
Could you send me the combination of supplements you use to keep your blood pressure in check.
Deborah
IL
Did Tina ever share with anyone what supplements she uses??? Thank you
Mona
Texas
Please share info. Thank you.
Marie
Would appreciate any information you would like to share on naturally reducing HBP. Meds make me exhausted, unable to function.
Jo W
Would you please share what you read and what your taking? I would love to get off my meds. Thanks
tony
syracuyse ny
constant headache stinks.. blood pressure ok now, but the headache comes and goes.
taking 40mg valsartan
Kathy
Maryland
I have been on Diovan for over 16 years. I have the 80mg and now on the 160mg. I see now that I’m 61 my hair has thinned some probably from this med. I also notice each morning there seems to be a frog in my throat. As of May 17 I went cold turkey off this med and on to organic beet juice about a 1/4 each morning and 1/4 afternoon, and 1/4 in the evening.
Additionally, I drink some water with lemon juice and 1/4 tsp of apple cider vinegar. I will be going for a well check up at some point this year and I know what my doctor will say however, I’m believing the healing power of Jesus and food. The brand of beet juice is Biotta,it tastes good and I monitor my pressure and it does go down after I drink it. Additionally, I have cut down on salt intake.
Mona
Baton Rouge, LA.
Hello Kathy….I just read your post. I am wondering how you are doing.
I just started on Diovan. God Bless and good luck on your natural path.
Barbara
Quincy,Ky
Just wondering if this is now working. I was on 80 m.g. and raised to 160 m.g. 5 years ago. I am now thinking of trying the lemon juice and apple cider. Also my brother said to drink beet juice, but you said to use this. I am going to try it, Kathy. Thank You, Barbara
Janet
Nova Scotia (NS)
Took Valsartan for a number of months. I honestly thought I was going to die with a heart attack. I was given the spray and aspirins and underwent not 1 but 2 stress tests. The attending doctor at the 2nd one dismissed me so I stopped taking them when I got smart and went online to see the side effects. I had over 85% of them and had no doubt I’d be dead by now if I had not stopped them. I take nothing for my BP but try to control it with diet. I do believe that that drug has left me with permanent side effects including weight gain and tiredness. If anyone else can offer further info on this please reply to this post. They have ruined my otherwise nearly perfect health! :/
Karen
California
I had been taking diovan for years then went to valspartan recently I keep having low blood pressure dizziness where I could not drive I recently stopped taking and am waiting for my doctor my blood pressure has been normal.
Joanne F
CA
Valsartan prescribed 6 months ago. 20mg. Fatigue. I could feel these drugs pulling on my kidneys. I lost a lot of energy. and nausea x 2 weeks. Breakthroughs up to 175 sys (all readings are p.m), and headaches. changed to 40mg. after 2 months. sys. went low then crept up to average 141. went to 60mg after 3 more months. crept up a little more. went back to 40mg plus hydrochlorothiazide 12.5mg. sys went to 137.
After 3 days of the 40/12.5, I added 2 heaping tablespoons to my breakfast, either in oatmeal or in a smoothie. sys is 130 average now.
Morning average 110. It’s the flax.
I also have been stepping up the personal care – more good food, fresh air, exercise, activism, work – and maybe most of all, stress reduction. concrete steps like resigning from some networks or deeply metaphysical ones like introspective analysis. My goal is to get off these drugs, but if i can’t, i’m glad they’re here for rescue care.
Reggie
Atlant
Been on Diovan for over three yeaars and insurance wouldn’t pay for it. Very expensive. Switched by doctor to Valsartan. Been taking it for four weeks but my diastolic pressure is up about 20 points but ny systolic is much lower.. Also have Wonder if it is ing some dizziness and vertigo. Need to see my doctor about this problem
geoff
sussex UK
Everyone with an ounce of common sense knows that all medication is a blunt instrument when the sharpest steel is required. We take multiple medications, which interact in unpredictable ways and to our disadvantage. Nothing new here but the worrying aspect is the apparent blindness of the various professionals involved. What happened to the principle of “Do no harm” ?
elizabeth
glenside, pa.
Have been on 160 valsartan in the am and 80 in the pm. My blood pressure (diastolic) remains high and the systolic is normal as always. Heart rate normal.
I have become allergic to other drugs for PB but this one doesn’t seem to work at all. I have been on it for 4 weeks now.
Terry
Ohio
I’d been taking Valsartan for six months or so, and though it kept my systolic pressure in a good range, it did nothing for my diastolic, which keeps slowly increasing. The doctor decided to double my dose (to the maximum) to see if it helped. The new dose had no effect on either systolic or diastolic pressure, but it made me very nauseous. Since doubling the dose had no effect but to make me want to vomit, I decided to go back to my original dose, and my blood pressure remained the same as it had been on the double dose. Unfortunately, now, even the original dosage makes me nauseous, so tomorrow I’ll call my doctor and see what else he prescribes. I had to quit enalapril after years of use because it started making me dizzy. It makes me wonder if these antihypertensives are even worth taking.
Alice
NH
I was in Diovan for years. I would, periodically, have to take deep breaths and yawned more than normal. I never connected that two until recently. About a year ago, I was switched to the generic, valsartan. I’ve had mild tingly lips but didn’t make that connection, though I did notice better breathing and less yawning. Now, the pharmacy has bee giving me whichever one they have in stock. Aha! Now it all makes sense. This month has been a lot of yawning and deep gulps of air, but the tingles are gone. My new pickup is valsartin. I’m seeing my doc next month, so will be interesting to see what the side effects are this month.
Judy
Bradenton, Fl
I havae been taking diovan for many years. I have extreme pressure on my bladder. I have painful and constant urination which is maddening. I also take amiodipine. I went off diovan and my bladder and urination cleared up. I haven’t told my physician yet what happened to me. I am afraid to take the diovan.
Verlane
Connecticut
Yes I’ve been taking Diovan for several years now and have developed a cough, joint pain, headaches and feeling very tired.
Don
Stuart fl
Been using Valsartan for approx 10 days. Have had several bouts of diarrhea, severe dizziness and bad back pain. BP has gone down. Is it worth the risks? DJ G, Stuart Fl.
Doris R.
WI
Severe side pain, muscle pain, leg, and back pain. Been on it for several years. Didn’t know side effects.
Amy
IN
I also have been taking Diovan for about 5 yrs & experiancing paunful jou t paun, light headed, fatigue & weakness & headaches.
John
Ga
I been taking Diovan since 2001 and just the past few weeks my Blood Pressure shot up to 150 / 100
I been trying to get it down to no avail. It has been staying between 138 / 87 to near the 150 mark.
I am also on a anti sesure med.
I have a Doctors appointment and we will go over all drugs.
Let you know what happens at a later time
Sheri
Mansfield, TX
You may have just saved me thousands of dollars in testing and fourth opinions! I have been on Diovan 320mg for about three years. For the past year I’ve been seeking answers to a sloughing of tissue in my mouth that I’ve most recently come to recognize as starting as blisters. I had just self diagnosed this as Pemphigoid and have an appointment for a biopsy. My PCP, ENT and DDS had all missed this. In this article I saw the link between Diovan and Pemphigoid and nearly cried with relief. I spoke with my cardiologist and I’m stopping Diovan immediately. Now I just hope the mouth symptoms go away! Does anyone have any information on the reversal of Pemphigoid after stopping Diovan?
yomamabird
SC
I took my last dose of Diovan last night. 1/8th of the 160 mg pill I have been on (and off due to Insurance companies wanting me to fail 3 of their preferred drugs before renewing my Diovan Rx. Which kept me from another stroke after 2007. having to fail 3 preferred drugs..twice..due to employer changing insurance carriers…sent me to the ER each time..and the insurance company said they cover the hospital but not the ER. Destroying our nest egg for older age. Already in our 60’s.
I have been coughing violently since being on it. Ruptured 2 lumbar disks..bruised kidneys and cartilage separated from ribcage. MRI showed Pulmonary Fibrosis. Okay. That was 7 years ago. They gave me 5 years to live. I went off the food and water system of the US going organic…raw…Ayurvedic to replace allopathic protocol. Last drugs to go…prozac…11 days off now…weaned from 80 mgs a day to 10 mgs 4 days a week…then quit.
Was told I could take morphine for the rest of my life for the severe pain in back and legs..(hit by drunk in ’94) 3 and a half years ago. Now the game has changed and because I do not take the high dose prescribed…along with another horrible drug called Oxycontin…the new Federal Pain Management clinics just told me…because I do not show the drug level in my blood work to be what I was prescribed…(much less) and none of the second drug…they can not help me.
Pretty much kicked me to the side of the curb to die. Well…I had been weaning off the high dose and never took the second drug. Felt guilty to flush it…so added water to it in a baggie and buried it. Which made me feel terrible about possible ground contamination. so..wow. Here I am… withdrawals from an SSRI (brain zaps all the time…crying everyday..but I am determined to never go back on these poisons ever again. I would rather go to Heaven than live with these side effects and end up like my still living parents-in-law who are like blobs staring at an idiot box all day and evening…having their diapers changed by a son caregiver who has no life now. They trusted in Allopathy. All their savings are gone. Even the VA will not help my Purple Heart Bronze Star father in law.
It’s horrible…the drugging of America. They believe everything they hear on TV. They trust the government not to hurt us with the food supply and water supply. They were wrong and I sit here as proof. I got off went organic and raw 5.5 years ago after a TBI. I had nothing to lose.
So my experiment was…to change consumption life style….and start weaning myself off the dozen drugs they were killing me slowly with. I have my mental faculties back now. I still cry every day…have extreme pain now that I am down to 15 mgs of morphine a day…compared to 90 before. They told me…it’s over. I have no access to what they got me addicted to. So I am in withdrawal…slow as I can do it. And I can not drop under 15 in the pm and 15 in the am. Because the severe coughing starts up.
Now I realize…cutting my dose of Diovan…caused the coughing to lighten up. An MRI showed IPF in my lungs. 2 years after being prescribed Diovan. Why did they even prescribe such a drug for a severe asthmatic when the literature says not to?
What a mess our country is in now. I want to live….not like a mind numbed drugged up invalid…but as a real person. I am getting my life back. I have been learning how to replace dangerous drugs with God’s Natural pharmacy growing all around us. I am still suffering but I have hope to be free soon. And to be able to leave my house again and really spend time with our grandchildren.
I once fought to take that Diovan. Fought the insurance companies that would not let me keep taking it. I got my way. At a huge financial cost..and now have learned that the drug Diovan…is most likely at the root of all my physical and emotional suffering. What a revelation. I hope I can live thru the rest of this…so I can help other people get off these drugs that may offer short term benefits…along with long term disastrous time-bomb side effects.
Prozac I replaced with all the natural remedies for keeping serotonin balanced. Insurance no longer covers specialists for us now. They want our family doctor to do it all..all except pain management. That’s Federal now and mean with no compassion and a one size fits all mentality…for prescribing hard drugs. I am a tiny little thing and they prescribed me the same amount as they would a 200 pound man. And they punish me because they tagged me as *Non-Compliant*.
I have one more chance to find a doctor to help me the rest of the way. But it is at another Federal pain management clinic….under the same rules. My previous doctor said it is up to the doctor how stringent they use the program. And perhaps this next one…will understand…that contrary to drug seeking behavior (which was why they gave me anti-depressants after having a broken neck and ruptured spine…5 surgeries to fuse…pin and plate me with titanium…instead of old fashioned morphine which is hard to wean off..but not near as hard and mean as weaning off the anti-depressents….they said…*you have drug seeking behavior we can’t give you pain meds* now???? 21 years later? They can’t help me because I have drug-avoidance behavior. So I am doing it myself with help I can find over the Internet. This is my Diovan story…along with some of the other bad drug stories. It kept my BP regulated…but it did a lot of other terrible things to me that I am dealing with now. It’s up to God now whether I make it thru this crazy time or not. Thank you for your website. It is very helpful.
Elle
Euclid, Ohio
My new insurance didn’t want to cover Diovan either, I was without medication for over a month, when I started getting horrible headaches, and was getting really sick. I had begged the insurance company and they were taking their sweet old time to decide to give me the Diovan that I had been on for 2 years. The insurance company advised me to have my doctor call them and submit records of why I couldn’t take anything else but diovan. I had tried over 8 medications within a months period and all of which caused me such side effects(all generic) that no human should go through God forbid, I’m only 37, I’m 5’8 and 140 lbs, female.I spoke to an acquaintance that said there is no logical reason why I should be having hp, and suggested blood work because I was in no bracket of being a candidate of hp which is normally over 60 hrs old, overweight, etc. Meantime while I was waiting an approval for Diovan I went into what the NYSE called was ” medical shock” I can’t remember the actual term but what happened is that I had been with out medication for so long that I couldn’t get out of bed, My head was pun ding It felt as if it was going to burst, I was having triple vision and virtigo, vomiting etc. I called the insurance co what was taking so long told them of my condition and they advised me to go straight to the hospital, I told them what the point, when the doctor asks whats wrong I would tell him ” I’ve been without my hp Diovan medicine and my insurance won’t cover it” . I told the insurance company ” would you like me to make a $11,000.00 or wouldn’t it be smarter to give me the prescription and save your company $11,000.00 !!! I was on the phone for 3 hrs going back and forth barely able to keep my eyes open and in critical condition. The insurance co gave me a 3 day dose, that’s all they could do until it would get approved. When I got the approval it took the damn pharmacy (marcs in south Euclid) 2 1/2 hrs to fill a 3 pill RX, as if. I took the pill immediately and by the 2nd day I felt I was save and by the 3rd day I felt How close your life and health can be so effected over all the red tape bs. Insurance need to employ intelligent people that have moral compasses and not financial ones and take care of people that need the right care and med. Bottom line I saved them $11,000.00!!! By the way, later that I called to see what was going to happen with the review of me getting the Diovan, the rep apologised and said that it would be approved. It’s horrible that I had gone through such an ordeal and so much stress and sadness, and crisis.
Daniel F.
California
I’m so pleased that I researched this article on Valsartan HCT. A few months ago, my doctor switched me to one tablet of this drug at 320/25mg. Before I was taking half the dosages at two tablets one in the morning and one in the evening. About a month or so after being switched to the full dosage, I started having severe neck pain to my left side where it caused much pain when I tried to turn to the left. My doctor is also an Osteopath, and he manipulated my neck to align my spine and neck back in January when I had undergone a full physical. When he tried to snap my neck to the left, he was unable to crack it to that side. So we decided to wait until the next visit to see if there was any improvement.
After two months, it’s improved somewhat, but it still causes pain when I try to turn completely to the left side. Then, a few weeks ago, I started to experience pain on my left shoulder. It got worse as time went on and recently, I’ve been taking Aleve for pain as well as Indomicin which I used to use when I was going to have a gout attack. But, the pain became very severe especially with my shoulder. It was like a toothache that would not go away. I had difficulty sleeping at night.
I had suspected the full dosage of Valsartan HCT might be the cause. It’s manufactured by Lupin Pharmaceutical. This was the first time I had used a drug made by them. A few days ago, I decided to stop taking this drug. Sure enough, I started to improve after the last full dosage went past 24 hours.
In addition to the above conditions, I had developed sinus post nasal drip. I had been sneezing quite a bit, and each morning, I would have to use about a half-dozen tissues to blow my nose. It would take all morning before it stopped. But the cycle would begin each evening and every morning I was experiencing the same conditions. Since I stopped the Valsartan, my sinus problem has improved.
When I was taking two tablets instead of one, the only problem that I had experienced was a slight rash behind my left ear. Then all hell broke loose after I started the generic Valsartan HCT made by Lupin. Since I stopped taking this drug, I still have some problems with both my neck and shoulder problems,, but not as severe as before. Each day brings some improvement. I hope that these problems will continue to diminish as time goes by.
Today, I called my doctor and left a message that I needed to see him because I stopped taking Valsartan HCT. I don’t want this pill any longer, and I really don’t have much trust in drugs made by the Indian firms. Lupin and Ranbaxy have had scandals, and I’m very suspicious about both of them.
I appreciate this website which alerts the public about dubious drug products on the market. I used to have a lot of faith in our FDA, but no longer. They have been complicit with the pharmaceutical industry to approve drugs before they are truly worthy of being approved for use by the public.
I may write more about my case after I’ve seen my doctor.
Rudy A.
imperial,ca.
After reading this article, its making me wonder if this drug has been toxic to my body. I’m definitely talking to my Doctor about a new medication. Any good suggestions as to which ones are better and with less side effects and is anybody aware of any lawsuits on diovan/valsartan??
Rudy A.
imperial,ca.
I have been taking Diovan for over 13 years. During this time I have had stomache/intestinal problems, flu/cold symptoms 2 times a year average, have bald spots, which does not run in my family and elevated liver enzymes. My insurance stopped covering diovan and went generic. These past few weeks, I have experienced headaches, fever, shoulder and collar bone pain, and extreme fatigue.
Ann
PA
I have been taking brand Diovan 160mg since 2008 when I was diagnosed with HTN. It has worked wonderfully for me to control my blood pressure and with no side effects. Three weeks ago I had to change to the generic, Valsartan, because my new health plan would not allow the brand medication. After taking the generic for almost 3 weeks I experienced high blood pressure as if I was not even taking my meds. I’ve been back on the brand for 3 days now and my bp has gone back to normal. Just wondering if others have experienced problems switching from brand to generic?
Daphne
Tennessee
Yes Ann! I am researching this for a friend. Since he changed to the generic his blood pressure has been sky high. He has attempted to get the name brand Diovan HCT 320/12.5, but Novaris sends the GENERIC THEY MAKE. Why would they need to make a generic if the pills are the same?!?!?
How were you able to get the name brand? The pharmacy ordered it, it says it’s Diovan, but the pill is identical to the generic he has been taking.
rick
48192
I been taking diovan for about 5 years, sense then I had a heart attack with stent
implant, keep taking diovan 320mg then I started getting sore feet that got so bad like
neuropathy followed by sciatica in my left leg up to my spleen but sense I been on it
I sweat a lot and have post nasal drip swelling cant seem to eliminate fluids and gained
weight at first ,now I recently lost 35 pounds in 2 months ,without trying and still have
neuropathy and sciatica bad and have to take strong opiates to control the pain
my left side seems swollen and my back hurts and my spine feels like it has no fluid
in it. My doctor is well aware of my problems but doesn’t want to switch me off of
the diovan. He thinks Im doing good on it. Had an mri done of my lower spine and they found a annular tear , doc says therapy. Had a cat scan of my abdominal area, haven’t heard the results of that yet, could have cancer or some kind of colon problem. Can’t gain any weight now. Since I’ve been reading these reviews I can believe that diovan is
doing it but it may be to late, who knows, I also have ongoing tinnitus muscle aches
and weakness. Before I got on it my blood was high and it did seem to help at first, I cant take beta blockers and I had an allergic reaction to lisinaprol, Im ok on catapress but
just a little because it makes me fatigued and sleepy if I get to much. What to do next.
Im trying some homeopathic stuff to see if I can get my body to heel it self instead of
just treating the symptoms. Theres a lot out there to consider, check it out on youtube a lot of people getting healed, worth a try from where I stand and don’t forget to pray,
that has saved me time and time again. The best to all of you and may God heal us all.
Mona
Baton Rouge, LA.
Hello Rick….I just read your post. I am praying for you. It’s 2018 now and I was just reading some of the blogs on here about Diovan to gain knowledge. God Bless. If you can incorporate natural foods then that would be great and exercise and plenty of rest. Good luck. Debra
jim
United States
My mom was on Diovan for years the out of the blue she woke up one day and face was swollen and acting a bit strangely, took her the hospital where we found out her kidneys were not functioning. The kidney specialist told us it was the Diovan that made her kidneys stop functioning, but ok now. As soon as she stopped taking it her kidney functions returned to normal but the Dr said if it were much longer she would have been on dialysis for the rest of her life.
Noor (male, 75 yrs)
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
I have been using Micardis (80 mg) with and without HCT on cardiac specialist prescription for almost 10 years and, so far no problem, except 2 -3 times urinating at night; may it be because I am old ? Whatever it is, I don’t bother on the new findings on ARB.
Susan
Oconee
I am having problems with skin infections and taking Diovan for high blood pressure. Never connected the two until I read this article. Is anyone else having this problem?
EK
what can I take for high bp that is safe?
Bfg
I have been given Diovan HCT for several years. So glad I saw the article, because I have been having joint pains in my knees hips and shoulders. Had 4 shot of steroids in my shoulders this year, was told it was rotator cuffs, pain is back, now Dr talking about looking at surgery… Now I see it may be from the Diovan. Making appt to see Dr. to change. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!
Bob G
United States
Statins such as Zocor are Notorious for causing muscle ache in legs and back. Google it. If you are having joint and knee pains Statins most likely the cause, not Diovan. But heck, everyone reacts to medications differently. If you will read the warnings on your medications I doubt if you will find one that doesn’t say it causes possible swelling of the lips, face And tongue and throat and if you get these symptoms contact your Doctor or ER immediately. Problem is drugs are good and drugs are bad. So you just have to try them and pray you aren’t in the bad group.
Bobbi
Cucamonga,Ca
I was doing great on diovan hct until my doctor changed me to valsartan hctz, now I have severe tinnitus in my left EAR.
LD
I’ve been taking Diovan HCT for over 10 years. I’m 68 years old and cough, nasal congestion, lots of itching especially on ears, skin rash, and hip pain and fatigue. I’ve been diabetic for 20 years and take several other meds, including metoprolol, levothyroxine and Crestor. It’s difficult to determine which med may be causing symptoms. I will discuss with primary care doc. Thanks for the heads up!!
Shirley
I have been taking Diovan (now generic) for many years with no side effects.
T.D.
I was switched to Micardis about 5 years ago because the Atenolol I was taking had to switched after I was diagnosed with COPD. I have been experiencing fatigue for a long time. I thought it was the statin I was taking.
I stopped the statin several months ago, but I am still tired all the time. Now I wonder – can it be the Micardis??
Peoples Pharmacy response: There are so many potential causes for fatigue that it may take you some time to sort through all of them. It would be worth the effort, however.
You may want to listen to our radio show on August 17 about finding the root causes of illness:https://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2013/08/17/-914-finding-the-root-causes-of-illness/
HB
My doctor switched me to Cozaar because of my sensitivity to other varities of medications for high blood pressure. It was first one that didn’t give me immediate headaches, or leave me with feeling of no energy, or slow pulse enough to cause concern, or just make me feel sick (I have difficulties tolerating most drugs–drives my doctors crazy!) Final doseage selected was 100 mg. Cozaar taken with 12.5 mg. hydrochlorothiazide, once daily, for a number of years, now. My health plan pharmacy began to substitute a generic a couple of years ago, and that seems OK. It may be coincidense, but of the list of symptoms of possible problems to look for, I have a couple: my lifelong migraine headaches have increased in number and persistance; I have started to have back pains and problems; and I believe lab work indicates “weakness” in kidney function, although at age 79, are these par for the course of aging??
HB
Jan
Diovan has been the only med that I thought did not have side effects for me. Now that is in question. Yes I have arthritic symptoms and constant back pain. How does a patient sort this out? It is almost a case of pick your poison. Very discouraging.
Ruth C.
When I developed a sudden rise in blood pressure following an episode of intractable headache, neck and shoulder pain, I was placed on Vasotec. After a couple of weeks, I developed a severe cough and was changed to Diovan. After about 1 1/2 years, my blood pressure started going very low like 90/60 and lower with a rise in my heart rate. My dosage was cut from 80 mgs to 40 mgs. and then to 20 mgs. without improvement in symptoms and it was discontinued. We later found that the headaches were due to cervical degeneration and bulging discs in my left, rather than tension headaches.
bw
I was on cozaar from august 2010 until October 2010 at which time it was stopped due to cough and hypotension (postural). I was also extremely tired and had frequent headaches I also developed dyspnea and was found to have low sodium after falling at home.
I had not heard anything about these medications until I read your article today. thank you for keeping us informed.
Helen M
I started Diovan in 1998 after a blood clot was removed from my largest heart artery. My endo insisted I had heart disease, and also needed to protect my diabetic kidneys with this medication. After a lot of episodes of dizziness upon changing position (even getting out of a car), in 2010 I decided to wean off. In October 2001 I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer; that organ is gone along with my parathyroids. In October 2007 I was diagnosed with breast cancer, small and treated with a lumpectomy and radiation. It goes on: just when the radiation treatment was over, I seemed to develop a painful kidney stone, x-rays showed cancer in both kidneys. Biopsies showed the cancers were not related.
The surgeon in SF offered me half a kidney and… dialysis. Not an option. A friend discovered ablation, and after six months of fighting with the people at UCSF, I had cryoablation of the right kidney, Feb 2009,still in me. The left is gone, alas as of September 2009. I took an anti-angiogenesis medication for a while, could not bear the side effects.
Was the diovan the cause, or a contributing factor, in my cancers? Who knows? BTW, my bp is normal, however this is helped by the low dose of diuretics I take necessitated by the doctor induced hypoparathyroidism. Can’t win for losing!
SR
What will happen if Diovan is stopped immediately, other than BP rising?
Peoples Pharmacy response: Elevated blood pressure is the primary reaction. Don’t stop any medication suddenly without discussing it with the prescribing physician.
SalW
Thank you so much Graedons for this timely alert just in time as I am planning to contact my doctor this morning to discontinue the 320/12 mg tablet of Diovan I recently started taking each morning. My blood pressure dips so low each afternoon to 117/64, 110/64, 117/60 that I simply have no energy and I am retaining fluids.
I am a 74-year-old female and my pressure is never above 150/80, which pressure I take several times a day! Pure case of treating “disease creep” because I have no heart risks/problems. The independent Cochrane Collaboration suggests that many patients with mild hypertension are overtreated.
In addition to ARB’s possibly causing lung cancer (I previously was on 100 mg Losartan for years), I also have had several bouts of basal cell carcinoma skin cancer which additionally puts me, and other females with nonmelanoma skin cancer, at a 26% increased risk of developing lung and breast cancer (4/23/13 in the journal PLOS Medicine). Dr. Anthony Alberg, a professor of edipemiology at the Medical University of South Carolina states that some researchers suspect that the cellular machinery involved in DNA repair may not work as well in some people, leaving them at an increased risk for any type of cancer.
There seems to be a lot of bad side effects from some ARB’s. Just yesterday, the FDA issued a “Drug Safety Communication to healthcare professionals warning them that Benicar can cause intestinal problems, even months to years after starting it, known as sprue-like enteropathy (which includes severe, chronic diarrhea with substantial weight loss) and has approved changes to the labels of Benicar, Benicar HCT, Azor, Tribenzor and generics to include this concern.”
We simply must do our homework to calculate our own potential risks with no real benefits because all drugs have side effects!
Sheila B.
At age 59 my blood pressure, which had been 129/80 all of my life until this point, had started to edge up to about 130. Concerned, I went to see a cardiologist. He immediately put me in 120mg of Diovan daily. Over the next year I began to itch, I scratched so much I almost bled. At first I thought I was just allergic. So I changed soap, changed laundry detergent, changed eating habits, cut out dairy. Nothing happened. A year later my cardiologist informed me I was probably allergic to Diovan. By this time, I had lost hair and had a sinus infection. In fact, my ability to smell is impaired.
He tried me on two other meds, one made me cough so hard, night and day, that I lost bladder control. The next gave me blinding headaches (I have rarely had any headaches in my life). I tried asking questions – he didn’t want any of my impertinence! So, I changed doctors and went to a new Primary care doc. He put me on 2.5mg of Amlodipine Besylate.
My new cardiologist was fine with that and happy to answer any questions I had. A couple of years later I learned from my Doc that 130/85 isn’t unusual for my age (67). So he’s told me to monitor my BP and when it’s goes up from that number to take the Amlodopine. I’ve also discovered my BP issues are stress related (I’ve bad carotid artery ultrasound to look at plaque in my arteries and happily they were fine). So, now I don’t have to take them daily and try to stay stress free.
I am still shocked that my first Doc gave me such a high dose of Diovan without checking to see how I reacted. I’ve also learned to listen to my body and question any drugs that cause any reaction. I am skeptical about all meds ’cause we must be our own health advocates. Question, question, question.
EL
I have taken Diovan HTC for about the last 4 years and am now taking the generic Valsartan. I have not had any issues with either one.
BG
I have been taking Diovan for many years without known side effects. It has helped keep my blood pressure well within range. Of course reported side effects are a concern but have not occurred with me.
Noah V.
I am currently taking losartan-hctz (100/12.5) and have been for about two years with no noticed side effects. Apparently some are quite subtle. It seems to be working just fine and I take it in the morning.
I had been taking lysinoprol, which worked wonderfully for my lower range HBP but on which I developed a terrible cough… a recognized side effect. I would recommend trying this Rx first and if the cough doesn’t develop God Bless you.
Straight losartan just didn’t work for me.
lawrence d. b., MD
I am on losartan which is in the same ARB group as Diovan. I stopped Diovan and switched to losartan because I found I was developing symptoms of gouty arthritis.
When I switched to losartan, my gouty symptoms because much less frequent.
DS
I have been on blood pressure medication for years. Diovan is the only medication that did not cause me to cough. However, I have experienced hair loss, arthritis and upper respiratory infections.
I started weaning myself off after I stated reading about the side effects. While weaning off the Diovan, I started taking a herbal tea (ginger) and dark chocolate until my blood pressure was lower. My doctor was well-pleased with my blood pressure when I saw her 3 months ago. I check my blood pressure on a daily basis.
NC
I have been taking Diovan HCL for 25 years. it controls my blood pressure very well and drugs before that did not or gave me side effects (chronic cough). I have had no side effect of any kind. I do have arthritic issues, but that is genetic, as all my immediate family members had arthritis.
Jonathan B.
I was on Diovan HTC a couple of years ago. One day I was in the garden doing some work, when I stood up my hips hurt so bad I could barely get into the house. My doc put me on losartan and the pain went away.
Elaine K.
I take Diovan160/25 for a long time. Then the Doctor put me on PulmoAide for my lungs &copd I have hair loss a lot. sinusitis, stuffy nose. a lot of stomach discomfort. Also lost a lot of my family due to cancer. I am 65, what can I take other then Diovan? I got all this after he put me on BP meds. Please help me. Thank-You ps I’m sick all the time now with upper respiratory infections.
alan
And the hits just keep on coming, don’t they?