My Dr wants to switch me to a new medication - Entresto

My blood pressure has gone from a lifetime of 120/ to 170 / and thru My-Chart my Dr said, “ make an appointment to see me and we will discuss medication”. Aren’t there a few steps to take before meds. I am 88 years old and in good health, walk everyday or swim, and my diet is good, not perfect but good.
I would appreciate any suggestions or ideas others have.
Lulu

I am a 72 year old male and have a Ef of 25 diagnosed as heart failure. It has remained at 25 for about 10 years . I do not have a defibrilator and dont want one. I have been taking carvedilol 2 times a day and warfarin and Losartin for years. My doctor retired and the new cardiologist wants to switch me to Entrestol 49 mg and she does not want to raise it to the recommended 98mg after a few weeks. She wants me to remain on 49 mg permanently and take me off Losartin and replace it with Farxiga. So I would be on Warfarin and Entresto and Farxiga and Carvedilol. I am concerned about this switch as it seems to be three blood thinner meds and a blood pressuring lowering drug and I am concerned about the interaction between these 4 drugs. Farziga and Entrestol are very expensive but that is not my concern. I want to know if this combination of Farxiga and carvedilol and Entresto and Warfarin is safe. This new doctor says it is okay.

I’m not a dr. But on meds for heart failure etc. so I understand your concern. I can only suggest you talk to a Pharmacist about these medications. That’s my go to. It may be helpful to you. Good luck.

I tried it twice in the last 6 weeks. Caused major diarrhea .
Good luck!

I just read the posts on heart meds. My doctors have tried 4 different ones for me ( none at same time) and I had such different reactions with each. Now I started Carvedilol 3 weeks ago. Yesterday, I suddenly felt very hot in my head, nauseated, dizzy. Checked bp. Heart rate had dropped to 49 and below 50 is very dangerous. Systolic and Diastolic were climbing too fast, to make matters worse. I am closely monitoring . Heart rate in low 50s. Doc is on board and advised, thank goodness. I guess I am sharing this mostly to say, I think you should do whatever you can to get in to see another cardiologist. I know that is very hard to do but that many bp meds are like juggling balls and each has its own effect and each body reacts differently. You need a doctor you can reach even if virtual, when you need to and with whom you have confidence. I know it is hard. My sister went through this when her cardiologist retired. I try to find docs that friends recommend , for starters. Maybe some of the folks here are from your area. Or maybe you could get a virtual appointment with a Mayo doctor. Wishing you the best of luck. - eirrol

I am also recently started on Entresto. My immediate feeling was one of overall improvement. My energy level went up; even mental outlook was better (due to feeling more normal) I am on the low dose currently.
However recently symptoms have developed. My hands are very sensitive. Also my hands and arms tend to be very itchy. But that symptom comes and goes. I have read that these are not uncommon problems. Don't know if these symptoms are are an indication of larger issues.

I have diastolic heart failure stage C. 73 years old. My doctor recently replaced my dose of 160 mg of valsartan with Entresto49/51. To be honest, I haven’t noticed any changes whatsoever one way or the other. No side effects at all. I also take farxiga. From what I have read my understanding is that these drugs may not make you feel a whole lot different, but they help keep you out of the hospital, which is a very good thing.

My sister had issues with her heart for the first time in her life (she is 72 years old) due to medication that was used to treat a fungal lung infection she developed while in hospital. The cardiologist prescribed Entresto and then also prescribed Farxiga. When my sister realized that Farxiga is a medication for DIABETES (which my sister does NOT have), she asked why he was prescribing it for her. His answer was that one of the possible side effects of Entresto is a rise in glucose levels, so doctors prescribe Farxiga to counteract that possible effect. My sister refused to take Farxiga unless and until there was a rise in her glucose levels. (In other words, just as it was possible she MIGHT incur increased glucose levels, it was possible that she MIGHT NOT incur high levels.)
By the way, Entresto has other possible side effects: It can also cause HYPOtension (low blood pressure) and can also cause high Potassium levels (high potassium levels can adversely affect your kidneys). You should discuss all of this with your doctor and ask her to please explain why she wants to make such radical changes. (JUST A NOTE: I suggest to anyone who is on multiple medications that they go to the DRUGS dot com (.com) website and run the "Drug Interaction Checker". You input the names of medications you are taking and it will check interactions with multiple drugs, vaccines, supplements, alcohol, food and diseases. I do that any time my doctor wants to add a new medication. It's important because not only can prescription drugs interact with other prescription drugs, but they can also interact with supplements, food, etc.)