A New Jersey Benicar lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered severe side effects after taking the blood pressure medication. Patients take Benicar to control their blood pressure or hypertension, and to treat other medical conditions. Although the medication has given relief to many patients, some patients have suffered serious complications, including chronic diarrhea, after taking the drug. Affected patients may be eligible to file a New Jersey Benicar lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for New Jersey. 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.
Treatment of Hypertension
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) can greatly increase the chances of experiencing strokes and heart disease if left untreated. While fluctuations in blood pressure are normal, in hypertensive patients the force of blood against arterial walls remains heightened for an extended period of time. This can cause damage to the heart as well as the arteries, and may eventually develop into a number of serious medical conditions.
Benicar treats hypertension by blocking angiotensin II, a chemical that causes the constriction of blood vessels. As the vessels become narrower, pressure within them can rise dramatically. When angiotensin II is blocked, the chemical can no longer bind to the associated receptors, thereby allowing the blood vessels to dilate, which in turn decreases the pressure within. This decrease of pressure is crucial to keep serious disorders from developing.
Risk of Gastrointestinal Complications
The most serious side effect that has been linked to Benicar use is known as sprue like enteropathy. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), this disorder causes a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms. Patients taking Benicar may experience chronic diarrhea and subsequent weight loss, as well as damage to the lining of the intestines over time. In many cases patients will require hospitalization due to the detrimental effects of long-term diarrhea. This is especially true for aged patients, who can be more susceptible to these symptoms.
After reviewing multiple cases of Benicar patients experiencing sprue like enteropathy, the FDA has stated that there is a link between the drug and certain gastrointestinal ailments.
Research also shows that a discontinuation of the drug resolves such issues when no other underlying cause is found. Because of these risks, the FDA released a safety announcement in 2013 warning health care professionals to closely monitor patients taking Benicar, as well as approving labeling changes listing the possibility of sprue like enteropathy.
Other Benicar Side Effects
In addition to intestinal complications, Medline Plus lists the following Benicar side effects:
- Unexplained swelling (which can affect the face, tongue, hands, feet and lower legs)
- Hoarseness
- Trouble breathing and/or swallowing
- Fainting/lightheadedness
There is also a possibility of adverse reactions to other types of blood pressure drugs, as well as common supplements and pain killers. Additionally, patients with diseases of the heart, liver or kidneys are cautioned to inform their doctor before taking the drug.
Benicar Lawsuits Filed
Additional research has also illustrated an association between Benicar and ongoing intestinal distress. Medpage Today reports on one study conducted by the Mayo Clinic. When 22 patients exhibited significant weight loss due to chronic diarrhea, they were tested for Celiac disease, which can result in comparable gastrointestinal effects. However, testing returned negative results, which led researchers to probe the possible link with Benicar.
Due to the number of patients developing similar symptoms while taking Benicar, many health care professionals claim that the issue is bound to be much more widespread than initial testing suggests. Because some Benicar side effects can take months or even years before they become evident, it is often difficult to determine just how many patients will be affected. The association with Celiac disease can also result in a delayed diagnosis, which prevents patients from receiving proper treatment.
Some patients injured when taking Benicar have opted to file lawsuits claiming drug maker Daiichi Sankyo was negligent in not disclosing all potential side effects of the drug. This lack of disclosure prevented both patients as well as the medical community from making informed decisions regarding whether the benefit of the drug would be worth the associated risk.
How a New Jersey 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 Pursue a Claim is Limited. Contact Us Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for New Jersey. 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.
