I have been on Diovan for many years. My insurance has taken it off my accepted list of medications. I just started valsartan. I am told it is a generic of Diovan. As I understand it valsartan has been on the market since 2001, but only recently has been considered a generic. No medical person has explained all this to my satisfaction. I already feel negative side effects from the valsartan and have read unhappy results from others on the Internet. It feels and smells like some kind of a cover-up? Do you have any answers and/or suggestions? The Diovan is now out of my financial ability.