Get Informed: Diovan
Active Ingredient(s)
Valsartan
What does it do?
This product is primarily used to treat hypertension and heart failure, although it is also used by patients who have had heart attacks because of its association with improved survival. It works by blocking the action of Angiotensin II, a chemical which plays an important role in controlling blood pressure.
- Last Text Update:
- 2009-Nov-21 1:20 AM
- Last Data Update:
- 2009-Nov-20 6:53 PM
Other Names
- Diovan
- Valsartan
How Safe Is It?
- Your Risk Rating
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- Average Risk Rating
-
- Pregnancy Category:
- D
Black Box Warning
This product has a black box warning relating to its risks when used in pregnancy.
Facts & Figures
- Date Approved
- 23 Dec 1996
- Est US Patients*
- 3,119,000
- Generic Available
- No
- OTC Available
- No
User Age Distribution*
< 21
21-39
40-59
60+
Age (Years)
* Estimated number of US people currently taking Diovan or its active ingredient based on population adjusted patient numbers registered with iGuard.org.
Recent alerts for Diovan
There have been no alerts regarding Diovan during the past year.
Diovan Safety Report
Learn more about iGuard's risk ratings
- Please login or register (it's free) so iGuard can check how Diovan interacts with other drugs and diseases in your profile.
What is Diovan used for?
iGuard.org is currently tracking more than 18,300 patients that use Diovan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)). Use the table below to learn why iGuard users take this product; click on any underlined condition to get information on other medications used for treatment.
| Disease / Condition | % | Average Severity |
|---|---|---|
| High Blood Pressure | 80% | 
|
| Heart Failure / Edema | 7% |
|
| Kidney Protection | 6% |
|
| Heart Disease Prevention | 2% |
|
| Other | 11% |
|
How well does Diovan work?
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 18,300 users taking Diovan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) using the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medications (TSQM) . This feedback is continuously updated in tables below for the benefit of the iGuard community. To request scores for specific patient subgroups, please contact research@iguard.org.
Average Satisfaction Score
(out of 10)
Average Effectiveness Score
(out of 10)
- 80%
- of patients are confident that the good things about Diovan outweigh the bad things.
- 22%
- of patients wish they were told more before they started taking Diovan.
Common Side Effects of Diovan
iGuard.org regularly polls our more than 18,300 users taking Diovan (or similar drugs with the same active ingredient(s)) to monitor the development and frequency of side-effects. This feedback is continuously updated in tables and graphs below for the benefit of the iGuard community.
22% of patients experience side-effects on Diovan
1% of patients experience signifcant side-effects on Diovan
Most Common Side Effects...
-
Dizziness
-
Fatigue
-
Hair Loss
-
Headache
-
= 10%
Less than 1%: Chest Pain/Tightness, Cough, Heartburn/Reflux, Itch, Mood/Behavior Changes, Nausea, Seizures, Vivid Dreams
Global Patient Feedback for Diovan (Valsartan) ( Post a comment )
Question/Comment:
What is the shelf life of diovan ? I heard it would loose maybe 10% in 5 years . Can Diovan become toxic after a time period ?
63 year old Male
Posted: 2009-11-10 17:44:50
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Expiration dates tend to be very conservative to ensure that the potency of the medication is at 100% for the entire time. The amount of active medicine that Diovan would lose over time depends on how and where it is kept in your home. The amount of heat, sunlight, humidity and moisture it is exposed to will affect how fast the medication degrades. Medication that is discolored, crumbly, or powdered should be discarded immediately. There is no evidence that Diovan becomes toxic after a time period. However, with medications that can be life-saving, it is important to be guaranteed that they are at 100% potency and safety. In general, prescriptions maintain 100% potency for one year in a prescription bottle - It is standard for pharmacists to label your prescription with an expiration date of one year from the date dispensed. However, there are some exceptions to this and you will always need to look at your prescription bottle to determine the expiration date of the medicine.
Posted: 2009-11-11 22:50:05
Question/Comment:
i have been taking diovan for years have not had any side effects at all it does what it is suppose to do keep my blood pressure under control. 54 year old male
54 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-24 19:25:45
Question/Comment:
I have been taking Diovan for about two years. Recently, my heartrate has gone down and I am wondering if this can be caused by the Diovan? Has anyone else had this issue and what did you do to correct?
64 year old Male
Posted: 2009-09-16 12:34:54
iGuard.org Answer/Reply:
Diovan is indicated for high blood pressure. Low heart could occur with Diovan but it very unlikely to happen at routine doses. If your heart rate continues to be too low, please follow up with your doctor to determine what is causing your low heart rate and what you can do to bring it to a normal rate.
Posted: 2009-09-23 11:47:33
Question/Comment:
I have been on Diovan for a little over a year. I was not able to get my prescription filled due to circumstances beyond my control, on time and I did not take it for about three weeks. I got a lot of fluid retention and shortness of breath and edema in legs. It was prescribed because I have diabetes and my doctor wanted to keep my pressure as low as possible. I was borderline high blood pressure before. Is this a normal reaction when you discontinue the medication? I am a 68 year old female
69 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-16 09:09:30
Answer/Reply:
Yes, my mother also experienced edema and shortness of breath when gradually reducing diovan down to only 20 mg/day from 80 mg/day over the past 3 weeks ... in order to try to wean off of it. She is considering upping her dose again starting today to see if the edema goes away. I'll try to keep you posted. Thanks.
92 year old Female
Posted: 2009-09-29 12:48:50
Question/Comment:
When first taking diovan for 2 weeks I felt confused but it has now subsided. I do get a little lightheaded and my knee bothers me and also I have had some hair loss. Since it has been two weeks I have to see how it does in a month will report later.
73 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-05 13:15:13
Answer/Reply:
when i sleep on my side i wake up during the night on the outside of my leg and shoulder i have soreness and tingling and i don't what to do about it. sometimes i get slight palpatations. my head sometimes feelf funny.
73 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-05 16:42:14
Answer/Reply:
I have been taking Diovan for several years. When I first started it , I also experienced some dizziness. My physician told me to take it at bedtime and the problem has not recurred. I am a 73 yr old female.
74 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-26 16:56:26
Answer/Reply:
I have been on Diovan for two years. No side effects.No hair loss.
57 year old Female
Posted: 2009-08-28 19:16:46
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Comments may be either questions or answers to previously posted questions. Any iGuard.org user may post questions and reply.
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Patient Comments about
Diovan