Diovan and weight gain

49 years old. I took diovan 80mg for about 2 years. Never thought to associate dry eyes and throat, low back and muscle aches, and weight gain to this drug. I lost 10# by doing 1 hour of fast walking and 30 minutes of weights 3x week and my b/p went to 110/70, so I stopped the drug to see what would happen. In 2 days my head was aching and my b/p was 170/102!! Beware of rebound, which Novartis does not list in its warning section. Back on the diovan to prevent a stroke, but I will talk to my doctor about a low dose beta blocker, and will keep exercising and eating light, with the goal to get off all meds with a healthy lifestyle. Does anyone else ever feel fullness in the throat? that is another weird symptom I get sometimes.

have been on diovan for about 3 years. taking 80 mg. twice a day. have gained weight. then in oct. 2007, my doctor upped my dose to an extra 40 mg. i had noticed side effects when i first started the diovan, such as back pain, dizziness, weight gain, diarrhea. then when my dose was increased, i now have knee pain, muscle pain all over, weakness in legs, more fatigue, no energy. i have to force myself to do what i need to do, because my body is so tired. the thing that scares me the most is the weakness. not just feeling tired, but muscle weakness. has anyone experienced muscle weakness while on diovan?
thanks for any response.

I have been on Diovan for a year. The worst part for me has been the weight gain. I went to my doctor last week. He denied that the medicine could cause it and did a thyroid test. Those results were normal. I can barely eat a meal and I am exercising 5 times a week. I know how to lose weight-- I've had three babies. This is impossible. I am so upset.

OK guys, I have been reading all your side effects for a couple of weeks now, and finally decided to jump into this pot! You will not believe this, but I have been on Diovan 80 mg twice a day along with a couple of other blood pressure medications. It's been about 2 years, maybe a little less, and for the past 10-12 months, I have complained to my doctor that my joints and muscles ache so much that I feel like a 100 year old person. I also have has every side effect mentioned on the 9 pages listed here with all of you. I have had every test imaginable for artery's/veins/muscles/joints/sleeplessness/hair loss/weight gain/swollen ankles...you name it, I've been tested for it. They can find nothing wrong with me at all. NOTHING! I'm sure they feel that it's all in my head, since I've been quite sensitive to a lot of meds. in the past!

I am usually very active and run around like a crazy woman most of the time, but I was absolutely walking like I'd been hit by a truck. I went to my doctor with all of the complaints listed under Diovan printed out, and believe me, she took notice. We stopped Diovan that night and I started on a couple of new meds. that have absolutely no side effects. It will be two weeks this coming Wednesday (June 4) and I am almost a new person. I'd say, about 98% pain free. I actually felt relief after being off for about 5 days. It's getting better day by day. I actually feel that this stuff was killing me slowly. Get off asap!
By the way, I tried to look up the new meds, and they are so new that I can't find anything. For me, they are an answer to prayer.

I am 53 year old male and began taking Diovan 160 dose in JULY 2002. I have dizziness, nausea, fatigue, some weight gain but changed diet and lost the extra 20 lbs. Of course, I realize the fatigue is due to the insomnia. I can be feeling OK and all of a sudden feel nausea, chills, sweats and have to lay down sometimes it last for days; other times just a few hours. I have a thumping in my throat with every heartbeat, which causes a headache. Am always complaining of lower back and joint pain. My eyesight is ever changing for the worst, has is my impotence. Open to natural ways to lower BP.

I have been taking Diovan HCT 160 for the past 4 years and did not realize the side effects I am experiencing is from this medication. After reading comments from this site I now realize why I am having hair loss, lower back pains, fatigue, sleepless nights, weight gain, palpitations, anxiety, excessive gas, depression, daily joint and body pains. Just about everything on this page is what I have been going through. Has it maintained my BP, Yes! I have gone from 150/100 to 120/80.
I am so glad I came across this site. I will be speaking with my PCP, ASAP.

I've been on Diovan for about 9 months and I have all of the side effects everyone else here has mentioned! Weight gain, bloating, fatigue, mood swings, extreme muscle aches- especially in my lower back and legs, hunger, and more! These Drs. are sooo stupid!!!! They tell us to lose weight and then give all of us medications that cause weight gain. I am also diabetic and my Dr. also has me take Humalog insulin- which also causes weight gain! I would enjoy hearing from everyone who has had side effects from Diovan, and I would like to hear about alternative remedies for hypertension. Good luck and Best Wishes to all of you....Kim Q.

Fatigue, insomnia, weight gain and have had two teeth break off. The worst thing is that I am so tired all the time. All I can do is make myself get off of the couch to do normal house work. Was told by Dr. that I was so tired because I am anemic. Decided to search Diovan and was completely surprised to find out how many people have the same side effects. Now I am pretty sure that Diovan is my problem. I have a call into the Dr. and he is suppose to call me back tomorrow.

I was on Lisonpril for three months, then switched to Diovan due to the cough caused by Lisonpril...but at least I could read that side effect in the prescription warning. There was no warning of weight gain with my current prescription of 1/2 pill a day(180mg). I have been on Diovan for three months and have cut caffeine and increased my exercise. At first the drug lowered my bp from 150/102 to 125/85 which I thought was great..but my bp has been slowly increasing. I started at 130 lbs and am now 150lbs...I have gained over 20lbs since starting the drug. I've experienced painful gas and insomnia. I am only 41 and two flights of stairs and I'm out of breath. A drug you take to make you feel better shouldn't make you feel worse. I'm going to try to use more natural methods.

serious weight gain over90 lbs in 5 yrs have not changed diet at all, blurry vision, fatigue, sleeplesness, i have not been able to figure out for 5 years what was wrong with me. I used to wieg 110 lbs now i wiegh 200 lbs and i am just as active as ever.

I have been on Diovan, 80 mg. for almost 3 weeks now. I was taken off of lisinopril due to a terrible cough which was getting worse by the day. My cough is almost gone now, but I have been having a real problem with flatulence since I started the Diovan. I also take Lipitor, and I think the combination of the two drugs may be the issue. Back to the doctor, I guess. I would like to be able to go out in public. I've tried Beano to no avail. But on the positive side, my blood pressure is fine now!

after starting Diovan HCT 160 mg. it reduced my bp from over 150/90 to around 120/76- this went on for about a month, but now my bp keeps creeping up again to over 138/85 or 145/88, etc. But I have no side effects.
why is that?

I shall stop it NOW. When I take it and go to work I do not feel my heart pumping that hard all over my body and feel sligh discomfort in my lower neck (left side). When I fasted this Ramadan and I had to take ot before bed time, I felt like I was gonna die and I had my heart beating hardly in my mouth. This is my last bill and I shall go and excercise. I shall bye an excercise machine. Thanks to all of you. Damn! Weight Gain and Hair Loss, I think YES too:(

Since taking Diovan for a year I have experienced extreme bloating, weight gain, muscle camps and tingling, nausea, fatigue and insomnia. My doctor says I complain lot.

I just started Diovan for just a couple of days but am dizzy quite a bit. I thought maybe this would pass in a couple of weeks. But now reading other side effects I am afraid to continue. The hair loss and weight gain, that really scares me.

Please, does anyone have something good to say about this medication. I think I will stop until Monday and call my doctor about these side effects.

I have been taking Diovan for 9 Months and have experienced several side effects that i was not aware of that were caused from Diovan. Number one weight gain 25lbs in 9 months,Lower back pain, dry eyes and some hair loss. I have contacted my doctor today and had blood tests for possible liver damage. I will get the results in two days. I am changing medications. I am looking for a natural way to lower my blood pressure maybe through diet and exercise. I exercise 3 to 4 days a week and i eat healthy but continue to gain 2to3 lbs a month. Who knows the souluion? I just want to be free of medication!!

Weight gain, I'm a 42 yr old male former marine and try to stay in shape. Normally go to the gym, run and work out 3 times a week. Since taking diovan I've went from my normal 187 lbs to 216 lbs. Thats a 29 lb gain. I'v started running farther and eating less-makes no differance. I went back and did a little research and the weight gain coinsides with when I started taking the diovan. I will be calling my Doc tomorrow to see about changing meds>>>>

I was taking Diovan 80mg for about 4 months and was told prior to taking it by my physician that it had little to no side affects. I experiencined a great deal of weight gain, fatigue and bloting. I found it almost impossible to loose weight even with everyday running and dieting. In addition, often heart rate surges during sleep, and great swings in mood/depression. It assisted in bringing my blood pressure down significantly but ultimatley stopped working. I am now on Lotrel.

bloating, weight gain