Can Valsartan Make You Feel Better? Understanding Its Role and Effects

October 8, 2025 •

5 min read

Nearly half of adults in the United States have hypertension, a primary condition treated by valsartan [1.9.1]. For many managing high blood pressure or heart failure, the question is simple: Can valsartan make you feel better? This article explores its effects on well-being.

Quick Summary

Valsartan improves well-being by lowering blood pressure and easing the heart's workload, which can alleviate symptoms of hypertension and heart failure. This leads to an enhanced quality of life for many patients.

Key Points

Primary Function: Valsartan is an ARB medication used to treat high blood pressure, heart failure, and improve survival after a heart attack [1.3.1].
Mechanism of Action: It works by blocking angiotensin II, a chemical that tightens blood vessels, thereby lowering blood pressure and reducing the heart's workload [1.4.5].
Symptom Relief: By managing hypertension and heart failure, valsartan can alleviate symptoms like headaches, dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath, leading to an improved sense of well-being [1.2.3, 1.7.1].
Quality of Life: Clinical studies show that valsartan slows the decline in quality of life for heart failure patients and can improve daily functioning [1.7.1, 1.7.2].
Common Side Effects: The most common side effects include dizziness, headache, and fatigue, which often lessen over time [1.5.2].
Important Warnings: Valsartan should not be taken during pregnancy due to risk of fetal harm. It can also cause serious side effects like high potassium levels or kidney problems in rare cases [1.8.1, 1.5.2].
Comparison to ACE Inhibitors: Unlike ACE inhibitors such as lisinopril, valsartan is much less likely to cause a persistent dry cough, a common reason for switching medications [1.6.2].

Understanding Valsartan and Its Purpose

Valsartan is a prescription medication primarily used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) and heart failure [2.1]. It is also prescribed to improve survival after a heart attack [3.4]. Valsartan belongs to a class of drugs called angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs) [2.2]. Its brand name is Diovan [1.3.1]. In the United States, nearly half of all adults live with hypertension, and approximately 6.7 million have heart failure, making medications like valsartan a cornerstone of cardiovascular disease management [1.9.1, 1.9.4]. By effectively controlling these conditions, valsartan plays a crucial role in preventing more serious events like strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure [3.2].

How Valsartan Works in the Body

To understand how valsartan can make you feel better, it's important to know its mechanism of action. The body naturally produces a substance called angiotensin II, which causes blood vessels to tighten and constrict [1.4.5]. This process increases blood pressure. Angiotensin II also stimulates the release of another hormone, aldosterone, which causes the body to retain sodium and water, further elevating blood pressure [1.3.1].

Valsartan works by selectively blocking the angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptors [1.4.3]. By occupying these receptors, it prevents angiotensin II from binding to them and exerting its effects [1.4.5]. This leads to several beneficial outcomes:

Vasodilation: Blood vessels relax and widen [3.3].
Reduced Blood Pressure: With wider blood vessels, blood can flow more easily, which lowers blood pressure [3.2].
Decreased Heart Workload: The heart doesn't have to pump as forcefully to circulate blood throughout the body [3.3].
Reduced Aldosterone Secretion: This leads to less retention of sodium and water [1.4.4].

Peak blood pressure-lowering effects are typically seen within four weeks of starting the medication [1.3.5].

The Subjective Feeling: How Can Valsartan Make You Feel Better?

While valsartan doesn't produce an immediate feeling of euphoria, its therapeutic actions can lead to a significant improvement in overall well-being by alleviating the symptoms of the conditions it treats.

Relief from Hypertension Symptoms

Many people with high blood pressure are asymptomatic. However, when blood pressure is very high, it can cause symptoms like headaches, dizziness, shortness of breath, and blurred vision [1.2.2]. By effectively lowering blood pressure, valsartan can reduce or eliminate these symptoms, leading to a tangible sense of feeling better and more clear-headed [1.2.3]. Some patients report less anxiety and fewer migraines after their blood pressure is controlled with valsartan [1.2.5].

Improving Heart Failure and Post-Heart Attack Quality of Life

For patients with heart failure, the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs, leading to symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath, and fluid retention (swelling in the ankles, legs, and feet) [3.4, 1.5.1]. Valsartan helps the heart pump more efficiently by widening blood vessels and reducing its workload [3.4]. This can lead to:

Increased Energy and Reduced Fatigue: As the body receives more oxygenated blood, feelings of tiredness and weakness can diminish [1.2.3].
Improved Breathing: Less fluid buildup in the lungs means less shortness of breath, especially during physical activity.
Enhanced Exercise Tolerance: Patients often find they can perform daily activities with greater ease [1.7.2].

Clinical studies have confirmed these benefits. The Valsartan Heart Failure Trial (Val-HeFT) showed that valsartan significantly slowed the progressive worsening of quality of life in heart failure patients compared to a placebo [1.7.1]. Similarly, studies on sacubitril/valsartan (a combination drug) have demonstrated persistent improvements in motor functioning, cognitive function, sleep, and daily activities for heart failure patients [1.7.2, 1.7.5].

Potential Side Effects: When Valsartan Might Not Make You Feel Better

Like all medications, valsartan has potential side effects. While many people tolerate it well, some may experience effects that detract from their sense of well-being, especially when first starting the medication [1.2.2].

Common Side Effects:

Dizziness: This is the most common side effect, reported by up to 17% of users in clinical trials [1.5.2]. It can be more pronounced when standing up quickly (orthostatic hypotension) [1.5.1].
Headache: A common but usually mild side effect that often resolves as the body adjusts [1.5.2].
Fatigue: Some individuals may feel excessively tired, though this often improves after a few days or weeks [1.5.2].
Other effects: Back pain, joint pain, stomach pain, diarrhea, and a dry cough can also occur [1.5.1].

Serious Side Effects: While rare, valsartan can cause more serious issues that require immediate medical attention:

High Potassium Levels (Hyperkalemia): Can cause muscle weakness or an irregular heartbeat [1.5.4].
Kidney Problems: In rare cases, it can cause acute kidney damage, especially in those with pre-existing kidney disease [1.5.2].
Angioedema: Swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat is a serious allergic reaction [1.5.1].
Severe Low Blood Pressure (Hypotension): Can lead to fainting [1.5.3].

It's crucial to take valsartan only as prescribed and report any persistent or severe side effects to a healthcare provider. Valsartan carries a boxed warning from the FDA because it can cause serious injury or death to a developing fetus and should not be used during pregnancy [1.8.1].

Valsartan vs. Lisinopril: A Comparison

Patients are often prescribed either an ARB like valsartan or an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor like lisinopril. Both are effective for high blood pressure and heart failure, but they work differently and have distinct side effect profiles [1.6.1].


Feature	Valsartan (ARB)	Lisinopril (ACE Inhibitor)
Mechanism	Blocks angiotensin II receptors, preventing blood vessel constriction [1.4.5].	Blocks the ACE enzyme, preventing the formation of angiotensin II [1.6.5].
Primary Uses	High blood pressure, heart failure, post-heart attack survival [1.3.1].	High blood pressure, heart failure, post-heart attack survival [1.6.1].
Key Side Effect	Dizziness is most common. Less likely to cause a cough [1.6.2].	A persistent, dry cough is a very common side effect (up to 28.8% of users) [1.6.6].
Dosing	Typically once or twice daily [1.6.1].	Typically once daily [1.6.1].
Patient Experience	Often chosen for patients who cannot tolerate the cough associated with ACE inhibitors [1.6.5].	Effective, but the cough can lead some patients to switch medications [1.6.6].

Conclusion

So, can valsartan make you feel better? For many patients managing hypertension or heart failure, the answer is yes. By lowering blood pressure, reducing the strain on the heart, and alleviating associated symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, and shortness of breath, valsartan can lead to a significant improvement in physical health and overall quality of life [1.7.1]. While initial side effects like dizziness can occur, the long-term benefits of preventing stroke and heart attack, and improving the symptoms of chronic heart conditions, mean that valsartan helps many people lead healthier, more comfortable lives. As always, the decision to use valsartan should be made in consultation with a healthcare professional who can weigh its benefits against potential risks.

For more information, consult the FDA's patient information on valsartan.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may see a decrease in your blood pressure within the first 2 weeks of treatment, but it can take up to 4 weeks to experience the full blood pressure-lowering benefit of valsartan [1.3.4].

Yes, fatigue or feeling excessively tired is a possible side effect of valsartan. For many people, this side effect is temporary and improves as their body adjusts to the medication [1.5.2].

Both valsartan and losartan are ARBs and work in a very similar way. They are considered to be equally effective with similar side effects. The choice between them often depends on cost, insurance coverage, and doctor preference [1.3.1].

You should avoid using potassium supplements or salt substitutes that contain potassium unless directed by your doctor. Valsartan can increase potassium levels in the blood, and excess potassium can be harmful [1.5.2, 1.5.3].

No. Valsartan has an FDA boxed warning stating that it can cause serious injury or death to a developing fetus. You should not take valsartan if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant [1.8.1].

Valsartan is much less likely to cause a cough compared to ACE inhibitors like lisinopril. A persistent dry cough is a very common side effect of lisinopril, but it is considered an uncommon side effect for valsartan [1.6.2, 1.5.2].

Dizziness is a common side effect, especially when you first start taking it or when you stand up too quickly. If you feel dizzy, it's best to sit or lie down until the feeling passes. If dizziness is severe or doesn't go away, contact your doctor [1.5.1].