A Michigan 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 Michigan Benicar lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Michigan. 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 attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What Is Benicar?
Some people with high blood pressure are able to get it under control by changing their lifestyle. They may be able to add exercise to their daily routine or change their eating habits and see a significant reduction in their blood pressure. However, some people need the help of prescription medication. One class of medication that has been found to be effective in lowering blood pressure is called an angiotensin II receptor blocker.
Benicar belongs to this class of drugs, which have the ability to block the release of the hormone angiotensin II into the bloodstream, according to the drug’s prescription information. Preventing the release of angiotensin II works to keep the blood vessels from constricting, allowing for a better flow of blood throughout the body.
Hypertension and Pre-Hypertension
One of the most common chronic health issues in the United States today, and the number one cause of cardiovascular disease according to WebMD, is hypertension, otherwise known as high blood pressure. High blood pressure has been an increasing problem in recent decades, and now it is estimated that approximately one-third of the country’s population suffers from this condition. When hypertension, which measures the rate at which a person’s heart rate pumps blood out through their blood vessels, is sustained over time, it can be a leading factor in cases of renal, mental, and optical organ damage or failure, stroke and heart attack.
According to A Healthier Michigan, since more and more Americans are dealing with pre-hypertension and have blood pressure figures which fall into a medical ‘gray area’, increasing attention is being paid to taking preventive measures against developing hypertension in the first place.
Many health care providers recommend prevention in the form of lifestyle choices, such as whole foods nutrition and regular exercise, which can help reduce the risk of hypertension and minimize its symptoms if it is already developed. A reduction in stress levels can also aid individuals who are prone to high blood pressure. But when it is past the point for prevention, many people turn to Benicar as advised by their doctors.
One Way to Treat Hypertension
According to Benicar’s manufacturer, the Japanese company Daiichi Sankyo, Benicar is the brand name of a generic formula called olmesartan and is a prescription-only drug that is classed as an antihypertensive, meaning that it can treat high blood pressure and its associated symptoms. Taken orally on a regular basis, it helps to widen and open the blood vessels so that the blood can move smoothly and efficiently. This helps to reduce the force that the heart must exert to pump blood, which can lead to a reduction in blood pressure levels.
Potential Contraindications and Side Effects
Daiichi Sankyo warns that the drug may not be appropriate for people who have certain allergies, kidney diseases, blood sugar-related issues or urinary abnormalities.
In 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a safety announcement cautioning that patients who took the drug might also experience stomach upset including dramatic weight loss, extreme diarrhea and general gastrointestinal pain and problems. These digestive and gastrointestinal issues have been medically termed as sprue-like enteropathy. The symptoms are quite similar to those of celiac disease and can result in long-term injury and weakness. One study found that an average weight loss of 40 pounds occurred among 22 patients who took Benicar.
Benicar Lawsuits Filed
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 Michigan 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
- The permanency of the injury
- 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
Patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking Benicar, as well as the families of those who have died as a result of complications with the drug, are encouraged to seek the advice of a Michigan Benicar lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
The Time You Have to Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Michigan. 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 Michigan today.
