Benicar is a medication that is often prescribed to patients to treat hypertension or high blood pressure. While many patients benefit from the drug, some patients have experienced severe gastrointestinal issues, including chronic diarrhea, and other complications after taking the drug. Affected patients may be eligible to file a Kansas Benicar lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kansas. 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 Risks
The University of Kansas Hospital describes blood pressure as the force created by a beating heart pumping blood into the accompanying arteries. In cases where this force is too intense, both the arteries and the heart itself can be damaged over time. Many people who are afflicted with this condition are without obvious symptoms, so it is important for them to have their blood pressure routinely monitored.
High blood pressure can have a lasting impact on a patient’s health if left untreated, including an increased risk of stroke and heart attack. People aged 60 and older have the greatest risk, although high blood pressure can be present in people of every age. Other risk factors, such as family history, medical conditions like diabetes and kidney disease, obesity and excessive consumption of alcohol, can also increase one’s likelihood of developing high blood pressure.
How Does Benicar Work?
Benicar belongs to a class of drugs known as angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB). According to the American Heart Association, ARBs hinder the angiotensin 2 hormone, which in turn stops certain effects from occurring. These effects, including stiffening of the heart, blood vessel constriction and increased retention of water and salt, sometimes result in heightened blood pressure and possible damage to the heart and other organs.
ARBs, such as Benicar, work by preventing this hormone from binding to its associated receptor, thereby halting the potentially harmful effects of angiotensin 2 from taking their toll. ARBs can also be combined with other drugs, such as hydrochlorothiazide, as a means of decreasing a patient’s blood pressure even further.
Potential Benicar Side Effects
Benicar has been able to help many patients but the drug is also linked to quite of few side effects, some of which can have very serious health ramifications. The Mayo Clinic lists the following complications that may occur when taking Benicar:
- Dizziness
- Nasal congestion
- Back and/or leg pain
- Headache
- A feeling of lightheadedness
While less common, Benicar has also been linked to side effects such as kidney and liver failure, rapid swelling of tissues, a decrease in white blood cell counts and possible allergic reactions in certain patients. The Mayo Clinic also cautions that women who are pregnant or are planning to become pregnant should also refrain from taking Benicar due to potential birth defects.
Some patients taking Benicar have experienced side effects related to severe gastrointestinal issues that can occur years after a patient began taking the drug. Known as sprue-like enteropathy, these effects include chronic diarrhea and accompanying weight loss along with damage to villi in the small intestine, which are similar to symptoms experienced by those suffering from celiac disease. As a result, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved labeling changes to Benicar that warn patients of the potential ill-effects. The agency recommends that patients who experience sprue-like enteropathy but test negative for celiac disease should stop taking Benicar.
Benicar Lawsuits Filed
Some patients suffering from chronic diarrhea and sprue-like enteropathy after taking Benicar claim that the manufacturers of the drug should be held responsible for their failure to include adequate warnings. One woman in particular became malnourished and dehydrated due to an extended period of chronic diarrhea that occurred after being prescribed Benicar. These effects eventually led to kidney failure, which required the patient to undergo extensive medical treatment and hospitalization.
How a Kansas 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 a Kansas Benicar lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us for More Information
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kansas. 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 Kansas today.
