Patients who have been prescribed the blood pressure medication Benicar claim that they experienced severe gastrointestinal side effects and other complications, including chronic diarrhea. Some allege that the side effects have become serious issues, even requiring hospitalization. Affected patients may be eligible to file an Illinois Benicar lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Illinois. We can answer your questions and help you determine whether you have a claim against the drug maker. You could be eligible to recover damages for your condition. If you choose to pursue a claim, we can connect you with an affiliated attorney who can file a Benicar lawsuit on your behalf.
High Blood Pressure
When patients visit their doctors for a checkup, a nurse often measures the patient’s blood pressure, recording two numbers. According to the McKinley Health Center at the University of Illinois, those two numbers are systolic and diastolic pressures. Systolic pressure, or the larger of the two numbers, measures the force placed on the blood vessel walls by the heart as it pumps blood through the body. Diastolic pressure, or the smaller number, is the lowest force the blood places on vessel walls when the heart is in between beats. When systolic pressure is high, which is above 140, it means that there is a strain on the blood vessels when the heart is pumping. High diastolic pressure, a measurement above 90, signifies that the blood vessels are not able to relax adequately between heartbeats.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, leaving high blood pressure, or hypertension, untreated can lead to serious health concerns. It can cause the heart to become overworked, increasing the risks of stroke and heart disease, and can also contribute to the hardening of the arteries, called atherosclerosis. There are no symptoms of hypertension, which means that it can go unnoticed for years before being detected.
How Does Benicar Help?
Approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002, Benicar, is designed to lower blood pressure by blocking the naturally-occurring chemical angiotensin II, according to manufacturer information. This chemical causes the blood vessels to constrict and narrow, making it more difficult for blood to flow freely. As a member of a class of drugs called angiotensin receptor blockers, Benicar can help relax blood vessels to allow for the easy flow of blood and lower overall pressure.
Benicar Risks and Side Effects
Most prescription medications carry with them the risk of side effects, and Benicar is no exception. According to WebMD, some of the common side effects associated with the drug include dizziness or lightheadedness. However, some of the more rare side effects that have become a cause of concern include chronic diarrhea, dehydration, nausea and even malnourishment.
In 2012, the Mayo Clinic released a study in which 22 cases of sprue-like enteropathy were tied to the use of Benicar. Sprue-like enteropathy and villous atrophy are conditions in which the intestinal lining can become inflamed or destroyed, resulting in severe diarrhea, weight loss and malabsorption. In the study, researchers found that patients suffering from these side effects were able to recover or improve once they stopped taking Benicar.
In 2013, the FDA issued a safety announcement in which the agency warned patients and doctors of the potential risk for gastrointestinal symptoms caused by Benicar. In the announcement, the FDA reported that the drug can cause severe diarrhea, weight loss and malnourishment, which could lead to hospitalization.
Illinois Benicar Lawsuit Filed
Many Benicar lawsuits have been filed across the U.S. In 2014, for example, an Illinois woman filed a complaint against Benicar’s manufacturers Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., and Forest Laboratories, claiming that her repeated hospitalization for weight loss, diarrhea, vomiting and malnutrition was caused by her use of the medication. After being hospitalized, she alleges that her symptoms returned when she resumed taking Benicar as directed. As a result of her chronic illness, she claims that she received permanent damage to her intestines, as well as continuing complications.
How an Illinois Benicar Lawsuit Attorney Can Help
Drug manufacturers have a duty to ensure their products are accompanied by full and accurate instructions and warnings to guide prescribing doctors and other health care providers in making treatment decisions. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
Patients who have been injured by Benicar may be entitled to compensation for damages, including:
- Medical expenses
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish
- Loss of income or ability to work
If a patient dies from complications after taking Benicar, his or her family members may be able to pursue claims for their loved one’s wrongful death. Compensation may include:
- Pain, suffering, and mental anguish from the loss of a loved one
- Loss of financial support of a loved one
- Funeral expenses
Affected patients are encouraged to speak with an Illinois Benicar lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.Get Help Now.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Illinois. You can fill out the form on this page, call us at the number listed at the top of the page, or email us at info@attorneygroup.com.
When you contact us, an attorney will follow up with you to speak with you about your case or answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
See our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information, and contact Attorney Group for Illinois today.
