Medications like Benicar are commonly prescribed to treat patients suffering from high blood pressure, also known as hypertension. However, the drug has been linked to a number of potentially severe side effects in the form of severe gastrointestinal issues, including chronic diarrhea, and other complications. Affected patients may be eligible to file an Oklahoma Benicar lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Oklahoma. 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.
Benicar and Blood Pressure
According to the Oklahoma Heart Institute, high blood pressure is a condition that affects approximately 74.5 million people in the U.S. It’s characterized by a higher than normal force of blood against artery walls, which then become damaged over time. Risk factors include age, family history, diet, alcohol consumption and obesity. If left untreated, this condition can result in a number of complications. For instance, the risk of heart attack and stroke often greatly increase in those with uncontrolled high blood pressure.
Benicar reduces the effects of high blood pressure by blocking angiotensin II, a chemical that causes blood vessels to restrict. Once angiotensin II is blocked blood vessels dilate, thereby decreasing the force against arterial walls. Benicar may be prescribed alone or it can be combined with other drugs, such as diuretics intended to reduce high blood pressure by ridding the body of excess water.
Risks of Taking Benicar
While many people have experienced relief from their hypertensive symptoms as a result of taking Benicar, others have suffered from significant injuries due to side effects commonly associated with the drug’s active ingredient olmesartan. The U.S. National Library of Medicine list the following risks linked to olmesartan:
- Vomiting
- Dizziness/lightheadedness
- Dehydration
- Headache
- Stiff or swollen joints
Patients with certain medical conditions, or taking certain drugs, also face the possibility of more serious side effects occurring. These include kidney or liver failure, tissue swelling, a decrease in white blood cells and allergic reactions. Due to the risk of birth defects, women who are planning to become pregnant, or who are currently pregnant, should not take Benicar.
Benicar FDA Safety Reviews
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has conducted numerous safety reviews of Benicar in recent years. In addition to reviews related to cardiovascular risks, the FDA has also investigated claims that the drug resulted in serious intestinal issues in patients. Known as sprue-like enteropathy, this condition is characterized by chronic diarrhea that can cause substantial weight loss and damage to intestinal lining.
A study was also conducted by the Mayo Clinic involving patients experiencing sprue-like enteropathy while taking Benicar. Twenty-two patients were suffering from persistent diarrhea and accompanying weight loss, as well as effects normally associated with celiac disease, such as villous atrophy and intestinal inflammation. Of the patients affected, all experienced recovery from their symptoms once discontinuing Benicar. Consequently, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., the drug’s manufacturer, was required to add a warning describing the risk of intestinal side effects to the drug’s label.
Benicar Lawsuits Filed
Benicar’s side effects and complications have forced some patients to file lawsuits due to their resulting injuries. Many claim that Daiichi Sankyo failed to make all potential health risks known. This left medical professionals and patients lacking adequate information to make an informed decision on whether taking the drug was worth the risks.
One woman alleges to have developed diverticulitis in addition to sprue-like enteropathy after she was prescribed Benicar to treat high blood pressure symptoms. Diverticulitis involves pockets of tissue forming within the colon, leading to infection, fever and obstruction of the colon should these pockets rupture. The patient in question alleges that her diverticulitis is directly linked to the chronic diarrhea she experienced when taking Benicar, which resulted in the need for further medical care.
How an Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma Benicar lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us for More Information
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Oklahoma. 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 Oklahoma today.
