Diovan Side Effects & Reactions
Diovan (valsartan) is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of hypertension, congestive heart failure and left ventricular dysfunction.
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Modes of Action
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According to drugs.com, Diovan blocks the angiotensin receptor, which is a protein that causes blood vessels to narrow thereby increasing blood flow and pressure.
Common Side Effects
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Common side effects include back pain, diarrhea, constipation, dry mouth, stomach pain, loss of appetite, mild itching, skin rash, insomnia, headache, dizziness, anxiety, tired feeling, weakness, decreased libido and trouble having an orgasm.
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Other Side Effects
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Coughing and dyspnea have been reported though more rarely than the common side effects. Hyperkalemia (too much potassium in the blood) has also been reported, as have impaired renal function, increases in serum creatinine concentrations and blood urea nitrogen.
Pregnancy
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The FDA issued an alert in November 2006 regarding an increased risk of spontaneous abortion in pregnant patients taking Diovan. This drug alert went on to become a full-fledged black box warning in August 2007.
Heart Issues
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The FDA issued another Diovan black box warning in August 2005 about the risk of extremely low blood pressure (hypotension) for patients with heart failure or post-heart attack patients.
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