From the Research
Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) should not be started immediately after a stroke without consulting your healthcare provider. The decision to take Entresto after a stroke depends on various factors, including the type of stroke, blood pressure levels, kidney function, and overall cardiovascular health.
- Entresto contains valsartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), which can lower blood pressure, and after a stroke, blood pressure management is critical but must be carefully balanced to avoid reducing blood flow to the brain during recovery or increasing the risk of another stroke 1.
- If you're already taking Entresto for heart failure and experience a stroke, your doctor will need to evaluate whether to continue the medication based on your specific situation, considering the potential benefits and risks, as noted in studies such as 2 and 3.
- The timing of when to start or resume Entresto after a stroke depends on several factors, and some patients may need to wait until their condition stabilizes before starting or resuming this medication, as suggested by the need for careful management of heart failure and the potential for vasoplegia, as seen in 4.
- Your doctor might adjust your dosage or temporarily switch you to alternative medications during the acute recovery phase, emphasizing the importance of personalized medical guidance in such situations, as highlighted by the therapeutic benefits and safety profile of sacubitril/valsartan discussed in 5 and 1.
- Always follow your doctor's guidance regarding medication changes after a stroke, as individual circumstances vary significantly, and the most recent and highest quality evidence, such as 1, supports a tailored approach to managing heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, including the use of sacubitril/valsartan.