Serious Side Effects Of Diovan

According to MayoClinic.com, Diovan, or valsartan, belongs to a group of medicines called angiotensin II inhibitors, which are used to treat high blood pressure. Angiotensin II contributes to high blood pressure, so inhibiting this chemical reduces blood pressure. Furthermore, Diovan has been shown to treat heart failure and reduces the likelihood of hospitalization from heart failure. While Diovan is an effective prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure, a patient should be aware of serious side effects associated with taking Diovan. Overall, clinical trials have been shown to be fairly safe.

Palpitations

According to Drugs.com, Diovan can cause a patient to have palpitations. Palpitations are described as a pounding or irregularly strong heartbeat. This occurs because the pharmacological effects of Diovan may also affect the way the heart functions. In this case, a patient should stop taking Diovan, but should seek immediate medical treatment, especially if chest pain is experienced. While palpitations are a serious side effect, it only occurred in less than 0.2 percent of patients.

Shortness of Breath

Drugs.com states that Diovan may cause shortness of breath in certain patients. This occurs because Diovan may irritate lung tissue or the blood vessels in the lungs that may cause a patient to experience shortness of breath. While serious, this side effect occurs in less than .2 percent of patients taking Diovan. In this case, a patient experiencing shortness or breath or chest pain should stop taking Diovan and seek emergency medical treatment. A doctor should properly assess the cause of shortness of breath and treat accordingly. If Diovan is the cause, the doctor will likely prescribe a different type of medication to treat blood pressure. It is the patient's responsibility to make sure Diovan is promptly replaced to keep blood pressure under control.

Viral Infection

Patient's taking Diovan may have an increased risk of having a viral infection. In a clinical trial, 3 percent of patient's taking valsartan had a viral infection in comparison to two percent of patient's taking a placebo, or a sugar pill. Thus, a patient should take extra precautions in hand washing and avoiding sick contacts to reduce the risk of having a viral infection. Furthermore, a patient that is having frequent viral infections should let his doctor know so the cause can be properly diagnosed and the viral infection can be treated.