Diovan and hctz

I started taking Diovan about 9 years ago. At the time my doctor prescribed it because the medicine I had been on (Lotensin) was causing me to hack and cough (which was keeping me up all night long).

I started out at 80mg & then 3 years ago my bp began creeping up. I was then prescribed a 80mg dosage with 12.5 diurectic. I am now taking one 160mg/12.5 & one 80mg/12.5 pill each day.

Since I have been on Diovan I have experienced significant, yet unexplained weight gain (approximately 150 lbs), drastic hair loss, insomnia, itchy skin and more recently, brittle teeth (2 of which have broken off).

Over the years I have been blamed by the doctors for not taking control of my weight. Yet with swimming 4-5 days a week, walking & using an elliptical machine, and changing my diet (and eliminating processed/bleached food) I could only get down to 220lbs.

At this point, I do not know where to turn for advice. The doctors use more meds to mask the side effects of other meds & I have yet to find one that doesn't play into that mindset.

Sometimes not always sure if it is just me( attitude, depression, way of thinking about life) or it is the med?,, of course, it couldnt be the med, right?,, the doc wouldnt give me something that is bad for me, right?.. I have been taking Diovan (40, 80) for about a year or so and 25 hctz,,but I constantly struggle for a feeling of sanity,,(sounds crazy, huh?),, I have anxiety, palps, shortness of breath, tiredness, wake up with heart beating out of chest (thats fun)...so I feel like I am swimming against the tide each day and struggle to feel halfway normal,, its amazing that I can even go to work.