Benicar is a medication that is often prescribed to patients to treat hypertension. While many patients benefit from the drug, some patients have experienced severe gastrointestinal issues, including chronic diarrhea, and other complications after taking Benicar. Affected patients may be eligible to file an Iowa Benicar lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Iowa. 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.
Why is Hypertension Dangerous?
According to the University of Iowa, blood pressure is the measurement of the force of blood against the walls of the body’s blood vessels. Medical professionals take blood pressure readings by measuring two types of pressure: systolic and diastolic. Systolic pressure is measured during a heartbeat, while diastolic is measured when the heart is resting. A normal blood pressure reading is 120/80 or lower. Any reading over 140/90 is considered hypertension.
Hypertension can be caused by a wide range of factors, including hormones, salt or water levels, the condition of the kidneys, obesity, race or family history. If high blood pressure is left uncontrolled, it can cause serious health conditions, including heart attack and stroke. This is because the increased pressure on the blood vessels can cause them to harden, which in turn makes the heart have to work much harder to move blood through the body.
How Does Benicar Work?
Benicar is a hypertension medication called an angiotensin receptor blocker. Angiotensin II is a chemical that occurs naturally in the body, and one of its effects is that it causes the blood vessels to constrict, raising blood pressure. Benicar is designed to block the release of this chemical, allowing the blood vessels to relax so that blood can flow more easily without the force against the vessel walls. Benicar was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in 2002, and since then millions of people have been prescribed the drug each year, with 10.6 million prescriptions in 2012 alone.
Benicar Risks and Studies Conducted
Between 2008 and 2011, physicians at the Mayo Clinic studied 22 patients who experienced severe gastrointestinal symptoms that were tied to Benicar. The patients suffered from chronic diarrhea, weight loss, malnutrition and intestinal inflammation similar to the symptoms associated with celiac disease. Once gluten intolerance was ruled out, the patients stopped taking Benicar and the symptoms improved dramatically.
In 2013, the FDA issued a safety announcement regarding Benicar following the identification of 23 adverse events. The agency received reports of these serious cases through the FDA Adverse Events Reporting System. The agency evaluated the reports and noted similarities in claims of severe diarrhea, weight loss and villous atrophy, which is the destruction of the intestinal lining. In the safety announcement, the FDA warns patients and medical professionals of the risk of gastrointestinal distress when taking Benicar.
Benicar Lawsuits Filed
Benicar lawsuits that have been filed in recent years have been consolidated into a multi-district litigation in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Most of the lawsuits claim that manufacturers Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., and Forest Laboratories failed to provide adequate warning information for consumers. There are also lawsuits that allege the two companies actually knew of the risks of severe gastrointestinal side effects associated with Benicar, but that they withheld the information.
How an Iowa 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 Iowa Benicar lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us for More Information
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Iowa. 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 Iowa today.
