Breathlessness
Fatigue & tiredness
Ankle swelling
Starting your treatment
This treatment may not be the only medication you are prescribed for heart failure. If you are currently prescribed either of the types of treatments below, you will need to stop taking these before you start Entresto®.
Remember, it is very important that you stop taking these medicines before you start sacubitril/valsartan. If you are not taking either of these, you can start your sacubitril/valsartan immediately.
If you are not sure what to do, call or make an appointment with your healthcare professional who will be able to help you. If you have any of your old medication left over, please take them to your pharmacist who will dispose of them safely.
Download our guide and keep a note of the name, date and time of your last dose and ensure you take the first dose of this medicine at the right time.
How do you take sacubitril/valsartan?
It is important to remember to take your medication at the same time each day for your heart to pump blood around your body effectively. Make sure you keep taking this treatment even if you are feeling better. You should consult your doctor or nurse before you stop taking this treatment.
You can download the free third-party mobile app Medisafe Pill reminder which allows you to set medication and repeat prescription reminders, find online support and helps you spend less time thinking about medications — and more time living your life. Novartis has no control over the content of the MediSafe Pill reminder app.
Try these tips to help you remember to take this medicine:
What should you do if you miss a dose?
Taking your medicine at the same time each day means it will help your heart pump blood around your body more effectively. If you do miss a single tablet, you will not normally notice any effects and you should simply take your next dose at the usual time.
DO NOT TAKE TWO OR MORE DOSES AT ONCE TO MAKE UP FOR ANY YOU HAVE MISSED.1
If you regularly miss or stop taking your medicine, your symptoms may get worse more quickly. It is therefore very important that you talk to your heart failure nurse, doctor or pharmacist about how they can support you with taking your medicine.
What side effects might you experience while using sacubitril/valsartan?
All medication can cause some side effects in some people and these will be monitored as part of your check-ups with your healthcare team. Not everyone experiences side effects, and some side effects will pass within a few days as your body adjusts to the new medication.
Very common (may affect more than 1 in 10 people)¹
- low blood pressure, which can cause symptoms of dizziness and light-headedness (hypotension)
- high level of potassium in the blood, shown in a blood test (hyperkalaemia)
- decreased kidney function (renal impairment)
Common (may affect up to 1 in 10 people)¹
- cough
- dizziness
- diarrhoea
- low level of red blood cells, shown in a blood test (anaemia)
- tiredness (fatigue)
- (acute) inability of the kidney to work properly (renal failure)
- low level of potassium in the blood, shown in a blood test (hypokalaemia)
- headache
- fainting (syncope)
- weakness (asthenia)
- feeling sick (nausea)
- low blood pressure (dizziness, light-headedness) when switching from sitting or lying to standing position
- gastritis (stomach pain, nausea)
- spinning sensation (vertigo)
- low level of sugar in the blood, shown in a blood test
A complete list of all known side effects is available in the Patient Information Leaflet, provided with your medicine. Some side effects may be serious. Stop taking Entresto® and seek immediate medical attention if you notice any swelling of the face, lips, tongue and/or throat, which may cause difficulties in breathing or swallowing. These may be signs of angioedema (an uncommon side effect which may affect up to 1 in 100 people).1
You should also report your side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/.
By reporting your side effects, you can help us provide more information about the safety of this medicine.
What should you keep in mind when taking sacubitril/valsartan?1
- This treatment must not be taken with ACEIs or an ARB. If you are currently prescribed an ACEI, you will have to stop taking it 36 hours before you start this treatment, the same applies if you’re switching from this treatment to an ACEI. If you are prescribed this treatment whilst taking an ARB, you will be required to stop taking the ARB before you can start taking Entresto®.
- You should stop taking this treatment immediately if you develop any allergic reaction to it. You should report any reaction to your doctor or nurse or by using the Yellow Card Scheme.
- This treatment should not be taken with aliskiren, a drug prescribed for high blood pressure. It should also not be taken while you are taking aliskiren for diabetes and/or have renal impairment.
- This medicine is not recommended in early pregnancy, and must not be taken when more than 3 months pregnant.
- Read the patient information leaflet provided with the medicine for a complete list of precautions and drugs you should not take alongside Entresto®.
- Do not take this medicine if you suffer from severe liver disease.
- Do not take this treatment if you have ever had a reaction called angioedema (rapid swelling under the skin in areas such as the face, throat, arms and legs which can be life threatening if throat swelling blocks the airway) when taking an ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)
Please refer to the patient information leaflet for a full description of what you should know before taking this medication.
Download the guide and take it with you
No matter where or how you were diagnosed with heart failure, we have a helpful guide to support you on your treatment journey. Download the guide below and print it out so you can take it with you to your next appointment.
Your guide to Entresto® - Download guide
YOURCHOICE
ENGAGE
Supporting you at every stage of your treatment journey
The Entresto® YOURCHOICE ENGAGE programme provides patients like you with valuable support on your treatment journey. Through regular emails we can support you in learning more about your Entresto® treatment, understand how to manage any possible side effects and even help you to find further helpful information and resources.
YOURCHOICE ENGAGE can also help you to:
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Find reliable and up-to-date information relevant to you
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Read and hear stories from other patients
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Learn tips to help you stay on track with your treatment
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Discover information and sources of emotional and well-being support