diovan hct side effect - abdominal pain

[mrt123]

Hello -
I am new to this board and new to diovan hct. I was prescribed this med for hypertension a year after the birth of our third daughter. I am 38 years old and in excellent health otherwise (vegetarian, exerciser, non smoker, non drinker) but I have a strong family history of hypertension.

I have been taking it for 6 days (started with 1/2 a dose of 160 diovan/12.5 hctz) the first day and added another 1/4 dose (now at 120 diovan/@10mg hctz).

I have been having abdominal pain in the upper region just below the ribcage...... additionally lightheadedness/hypotension when standing. The abdominal pain was particularly bad the first 2 days on the 120 dose and has since eased in frequency but not intensity.

Has anyone ever experienced abdominal pain? I am extremely sensitive to medication and tend not even to take an aspirin.

Also, has anyone switched from diovan to another ARB (avapro or atacand) and had a better experience? I have read some very concerning info online regarding diovan. It is bringing my numbers down quite nicely so I believe this class of drug is one that will work for me.

Thank you so much for your input.

God Bless.....

[bethsheba]

Originally Posted by mrt123

...I have been having abdominal pain in the upper region just below the ribcage...... additionally lightheadedness/hypotension when standing. ...

Hello mrt. You need to call the doctor right away..although I have no personal experience with diovan, I have taken hct and a serious side effect of hct can be abdominal pain. While you're waiting for the doctor to call you back, reread your package insert, and try to find any other info you can about side effects for both meds...I would also encourage you to contact your pharmacist. I suggest these things because in the past patients have exerienced very serious side effects only to have their physician deny it was the med! You need to be "armed with information" should this happen to you.

Good luck, and please let us know what happens.

Bethshehba

[mrt123]

Thank you SO much for your reply...
I did speak with my nephrologist on Saturday (he was on call) and he suggested that I go back down to the 80 mg dose. He indicated that it may be the hctz as "Diovan does not usually cause that pain." I did take 25mg hctz alone after the birth of my second daughter for borderline readings and remember having some gastro type symptoms, but not pain.

When I tried going down on Sunday, my numbers crept up, so I added a quarter. For whatever reason, today has been some better, but I am still uneasy.

Have you (or anyone else) had any experience with another ARB?

Take good care......

[bethsheba]

mrt,

Did you tell your nephrologist that you were experiencing pain in the area of your liver? The info that I've read suggests that abdominal pain
is a rare but very serious side effect and that the med should be discontinued immediately!

Just because you were on hct before doesn't mean you can't have problems with it now. Side effects can occur at any time even if you've been on a med for years without problems. I would encourage you to check with several sources and not rely on only the advice of one doctor....believe me, they can make mistakes. Better to error on the side of caution.

Bethsheba

PS Some other side effects that may be related would be the yellowing of the eyes and skin, more bruises, dark urine....do watch for any changes.

[famnd]

Hi MRT,

Where exactly is the pain? Is there any chance it is heartburn which is freguent with these meds.

Take these meds with food. I find frying a egg with 1 tsp of margarine (fleishmans') help calm the stomach down after it has been irritated by meds. I also find it is best to eat some food & then take the med, followed by eating the rest of one's food.

I take HCTZ 25mg plus 1800 Lebetalol & Synthyroid. Before starting these meds 5 yrs ago I never took even vitamins. I hate it!!! Fam