A Massachusetts Benicar lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking the blood pressure medication. Some patients who have been prescribed the blood pressure medication Benicar claim that they experienced severe gastrointestinal side effects and other complications, including chronic diarrhea, and that the side effects have become serious issues, even requiring hospitalization. Affected patients may be eligible to file a Massachusetts Benicar lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Massachusetts. Our consultations are free, confidential and without any obligation on your part. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a claim we can connect you with an affiliated Massachusetts Benicar lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
High Blood Pressure Facts
While high blood pressure is one of the most common diseases among adults in the United States, it can also be one of the easiest to overlook. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that some people develop it without realizing because of the lack of symptoms, and young children have even been known to unknowingly be living with this “silent killer.” Changes in blood pressure throughout the day are normal, but damage can occur to the heart when genetic or outside conditions cause the pressure within blood vessels to remain high for a long period of time.
This damage not only increases the risk for heart disease, but also the chances that a patient will suffer a stroke. While medication is often required to manage the condition, there are also lifestyle changes that can lower blood pressure. The CDC advises patients suffering from high blood pressure to keep their weight within a healthy range by making smart food choices and exercising. Smoking and drinking alcohol can also contribute to an increase in blood pressure, so it is better for patients to abstain from these practices if they have high blood pressure or have a family history of the disease.
How Can Benicar Help?
In addition to lifestyle changes, many patients use medication to keep blood pressure within a normal range. According to Benicar’s official website, the drug relaxes blood vessels, which causes them to widen and allow more blood to flow through. The blood vessels narrow, thus increasing blood pressure due to a chemical within the body called angiotensin II. Benicar prevents the vessels from tightening by blocking this chemical.
Benicar Side Effects
According to Everyday Health, there can be certain acute side effects that can occur when taking Benicar, such as symptoms of an allergic reaction like swelling or trouble breathing. While some side effects from medication occur immediately, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that there are additional risks associated with Benicar that can develop months or years after treatment. These symptoms include excessive diarrhea and uncontrollable weight loss.
After several patients developed sprue-like enteropathy, a condition which can lead to hospitalization from extreme diarrhea, officials began investigating a link between the disease and the medication. In 2013, the FDA required manufacturers of Benicar to update warning labels to include warnings of sprue-like enteropathy up to several years after the drug is taken. Due to the length of time that can pass between treatment and development of the condition, many patients were misdiagnosed as having Celiac disease or other illnesses with similar symptoms.
Benicar Lawsuit Claims
More than 1,000 lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturer of Benicar. These legal filings claim the patients involved in the lawsuits have experienced sprue-like enteropathy which is directly linked to the taking of the drug. Since Benicar is a common prescription drug administered to millions of people who face hypertension, and the fact that side effects may begin months or years after taking it, more lawsuits are expected to be filed in the future.
How a Massachusetts Benicar Lawsuit Attorney Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The Time You Have to File a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Massachusetts. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to 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 or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
