(BPT) - Larry, a 64-year-old father and husband, was diagnosed with chronic heart failure almost 20 years ago. Since his diagnosis, Larry has received several treatments — including various medicines, stents in his heart, and a pacemaker — and made the healthy lifestyle changes his health care provider recommended. Still, over time he was hospitalized several times due to his heart failure and continued to suffer from low energy levels.

He learned about a treatment option called Entresto^™ (sacubitril/valsartan) tablets, a one-of-a-kind medicine for certain types of chronic heart failure where the heart is too weak to pump blood the way it should.

“Recently, my healthcare provider and I decided to add Entresto to my regimen, along with lifestyle changes. While everyone's experience with Entresto is different, I have not been back to the hospital since I began treatment, and I am able to have more time to enjoy activities that are important to me, like spending time with my family.”

Unlike a heart attack, heart failure is not just a single episode — it is a chronic condition that gets worse over time. When you have heart failure, your heart isn’t able to pump blood the way it should. This means your heart must work harder to deliver blood to your organs. Symptoms can include shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling in your belly, legs and feet. These symptoms can make it hard to do everyday tasks, and when they get worse, they often require people with heart failure to be hospitalized.

“Heart failure is the leading cause of hospitalization for Americans over the age of 65, and I see many patients being readmitted with severe symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue, and fluid retention,” said Dr. Hector Ventura, Director of Cardiomyopathy & Heart Transplantation at Ochsner Medical Center. “I talk with appropriate patients about treatment with Entresto because it has been shown to significantly help reduce heart failure hospitalizations and even cut cardiovascular death.”

People living with chronic heart failure should work with their healthcare provider to take proactive measures to manage their condition, which includes eating a balanced diet, getting appropriate exercise, weighing themselves regularly, and closely tracking their symptoms.

Larry wants to help other chronic heart failure patients. “I encourage others living with chronic heart failure to work with their doctor to find the treatment option that’s right for them,” he says.

Learn more at www.entresto.com.

What is Entresto?  

Entresto is a prescription medicine used to reduce the risk of death and hospitalization in people with certain types of long-lasting (chronic) heart failure. Entresto is usually used with other heart failure therapies, in place of an ACE inhibitor or other ARB therapy.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

What is the most important information I should know about Entresto?

Entresto can harm or cause death to your unborn baby. Talk to your doctor about other ways to treat heart failure if you plan to become pregnant. If you get pregnant while taking Entresto, tell your doctor right away.

Who should not take Entresto?

Do not take Entresto if you

• are allergic to sacubitril or valsartan or any of the ingredients in Entresto
• have had an allergic reaction including swelling of your face, lips, tongue, throat (angioedema) or trouble breathing while taking a type of medicine called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB)
• take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Do not take Entresto for at least 36 hours before or after you take an ACE inhibitor medicine. Talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking Entresto if you are not sure if you take an ACE inhibitor medicine
• have diabetes and take a medicine that contains aliskiren

What should I tell my doctor before taking Entresto?

Before you take Entresto, tell your doctor about all of your medical conditions, including if you have kidney or liver problems; are pregnant or plan to become pregnant; are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You should either take Entresto or breastfeed. You should not do both.

Tell your doctor about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements. Especially tell your doctor if you take potassium supplements or a salt substitute; nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs); lithium; or other medicines for high blood pressure or heart problems such as an ACE inhibitor, ARB, or aliskiren.

What are the possible side effects of Entresto?

Entresto may cause serious side effects including:

• angioedema that may cause trouble breathing and death. Get emergency medical help right away if you have symptoms of angioedema or trouble breathing. Do not take Entresto again if you have had angioedema while taking Entresto. People who are Black or who have had angioedema and take Entresto may have a higher risk of having angioedema
• low blood pressure (hypotension). Call your doctor if you become dizzy or lightheaded, or you develop extreme fatigue
• kidney problems
• increased amount of potassium in your blood

The most common side effects were low blood pressure, high potassium, cough, dizziness, and kidney problems.