What Is Used For

What Is Entresto Used For

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Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) is primarily used to treat chronic heart failure in adults and certain children. It is indicated for patients who have symptoms of the disease and a reduced ejection fraction—meaning the left side of their heart is not pumping blood as efficiently as it should[1][2][5].

The main goals of Entresto therapy are to help patients with heart failure:

  • Live longer by reducing the risk of death from heart and circulation problems
  • Reduce the risk of hospitalization due to worsening heart failure symptoms
  • Improve heart function and alleviate symptoms such as shortness of breath, fatigue, and swelling[2][3][7]

Entresto is often prescribed when standard therapies, like ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) alone, are not providing adequate symptom control[3]. It is usually given in combination with other heart failure treatments, but not typically alongside another ARB or ACE inhibitor[5].

Entresto is a combination of two active ingredients: sacubitril (a neprilysin inhibitor) and valsartan (an angiotensin II receptor blocker). Together, these components work to:

  • Relax blood vessels, making it easier for the heart to pump blood
  • Lower sodium and fluid retention, reducing swelling and strain on the heart
  • Improve ejection fraction, allowing more blood to be pumped out with each heartbeat[2][4][6]
  • Lower blood pressure

In addition, Entresto has been shown in clinical studies to reduce the rates of hospitalization and death compared to traditional heart failure therapies, making it a critical option for patients with reduced ejection fraction heart failure[1][3][8].

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