Benicar Lawsuit Information

If you've had issues with your blood pressure, the name Benicar might sound familiar. Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) is a blood pressure medication for those suffering from high blood pressure. It's used to lower blood pressure in the treatment of hypertension. Forest Laboratories markets the drug in the U.S., and the Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. manufactures this antihypertensive drug.

Since entering the American market, it has become one of the country's most widely prescribed blood pressure medications. Despite the drug's popularity, Benicar carries several health risks.

Many patients have filed a Benicar lawsuit against the drug's manufacturers. These lawsuits claim the blood-pressure drug caused severe intestinal problems and other complications.

Read on to learn more about the problems associated with Benicar and the resulting lawsuits.

Benicar Overview

Benicar is the brand name for olmesaratan, an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB). Angiotensin is a chemical in our bodies that narrows our blood vessels. When this happens, your blood pressure goes up. ARBs prevent this from happening, keeping your blood pressure safe.

Patients have taken Benicar for decades. It wasn't until 2014 that people started suing the drugmaker for injuries related to the popular medication.

Benicar Is Not Safe for Pregnant Women

Women who are pregnant should avoid Benicar. Before 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classified Benicar as a category D pregnancy drug, meaning that it posed a risk of death to an unborn fetus. However, the FDA abandoned its categorization system in 2016.

Today, the FDA suggests that pregnant women avoid Benicar if possible. Unless your doctor has a specific reason why you should take the drug in spite of the risk, it's not a safe option.

Benicar and other drugs that impact your renin-angiotensin system (RAS) cause harm during the second and third trimesters. Specifically, the drugs decreased the baby's renal functioning. These drugs also increase an infant's morbidity and death rates.

Benicar's Side Effects

Like most other drugs, Benicar carries several adverse side effects. Most of these are tolerable and may diminish the longer you take the medication. Others are serious side effects and should trigger a visit to your healthcare provider.

Some of the common side effects of Benicar include:

• Dizziness
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headache
• Difficulty breathing or swallowing

Patients who experience any of these symptoms should contact their doctor.

There are more severe injuries associated with Benicar as well.

Some patients who took the prescription drug reported the following gastrointestinal side effects:

• Severe intestinal problems
• Severe diarrhea
• Significant weight loss
• Colitis
• Malnutrition

Many patients required hospitalization, and some developed more severe complications. The good news is that patients who stopped taking Benicar recovered quickly.

Benicar Is Associated with Intestinal Issues

Many of the Benicar lawsuits involve patients with gastrointestinal issues. According to a Mayo Clinic study, the medication may cause a severe intestinal condition called sprue-like enteropathy, which mimics celiac disease. These issues are in addition to other gastrointestinal injuries.

There are other concerns with Benicar. The FDA reviewed studies showing that Benicar increases the risk of cancer in some patients. Further clinical trials demonstrate that Benicar increases the risk of death from heart problems among diabetes patients.

These issues and others sparked over two thousand lawsuits against the pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo.

Benicar Lawsuit Information

Many patients who became sick after taking Benicar and Benicar HCT (hydrochlorothiazide) sued the manufacturers. Plaintiffs alleged that the medication was a dangerous drug, causing a host of health issues.

Some of the severe side effects plaintiffs cited in their personal injury complaints included an increased risk of the following:

• Gastrointestinal problems
• Chronic diarrhea
• Substantial weight loss
• Villous atrophy
• Kidney failure
• Risk of sprue-like enteropathy
• Heart attack

Let your injury lawyer know if you experienced any of these medical conditions. They can help you file your claim against the manufacturer of Benicar. They'll also help you recover damages for your injuries.

Is the Drug Manufacturer Liable for Damages?

Under product liability law, injured patients can sue manufacturers for dangerous and defective products. Not only will you have the chance to hold the drug manufacturers accountable. You will also help inform the public of the dangerous and defective products.

Most Benicar lawsuits claimed that Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories knew or should have known that their drug caused intestinal problems. Plaintiffs argued that the companies failed to warn patients about the risk and should be found liable.

Your product liability lawyer will also demand that the drugmaker pay damages for your losses. Your damages may include some or all of the following:

• Medical expenses
• Future medical bills
• Lost wages
• Lost future income
• Pain and suffering
• Punitive damages

More than two thousand people filed Benicar lawsuits. Benicar settled these cases in 2017 for $300 million. There has been no action on these cases since then. If you sue a manufacturer for a defective drug, your lawsuit will likely settle, too.

Call and Schedule Your Free Case Evaluation

If you become sick after taking medication to lower your blood pressure, contact a product liability attorney to evaluate your options. You don't want to wait too long to do this. If you don't file your claim before the statute of limitations period expires, you'll lose your right to sue.

Whether your injuries are due to the use of Benicar or some other drug, you have rights. Talk to an experienced attorney and schedule your free case review.