Patients who have been prescribed the blood pressure medication Benicar claim that they experienced severe gastrointestinal side effects and other complications, including chronic diarrhea. Affected patients may be eligible to file a Texas Benicar lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Texas. 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.
Hypertension
The Texas Heart Institute points out that as the blood is pumped through the veins by the heart, it puts pressure on them, and this force is known as blood pressure. If the walls of the arteries constrict too much, they do not allow the blood to flow as freely and this causes strain on the heart as it pumps. This condition is called hypertension, or high blood pressure.
Hypertension can cause damage to the kidneys and in people who are diabetic, it increases their risk of damage to the eyes and blindness. Heart failure, heart attack and stroke are also possible effects for anyone who has high blood pressure.
Hypertension Risk Factors
There are many elements in a person’s life, which can raise their risk of developing hypertension. These factors include:
- Obesity or diabetes
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Tobacco use
- Genetic predisposition
- Diet high in sodium or saturated fat
- Oral contraceptives
Additionally, if people struggle with sleep apnea, parathyroid and pituitary gland problems, kidney disorders and pregnancy, they may also be at risk. People who have one or more risk factors may also benefit from having their blood pressure checked frequently.
Lifestyle changes are usually a doctor’s first recommendation when people are diagnosed as having hypertension. These include exercising, losing weight, making diet changes and ceasing tobacco use. Doctors may be able to lower patients’ blood pressure by treating other health problems or through prescribing medications.
Benicar and Hypertension
Benicar is a type of hypertension medication called an angiotensin receptor blocker. Approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2002, Benicar works to lower blood pressure by blocking the body’s release of angiotensin II, a chemical that occurs naturally. This chemical causes the blood vessels to restrict and narrow, preventing the free flow of blood and causing pressure to rise. By preventing the release of angiotensin II, the blood vessels can operate as normal, thus lowering a person’s blood pressure.
While Benicar is most commonly used to treat adults with hypertension, it has also been approved for use in children ages six to 16. According to the drug’s manufacturer, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., Benicar was approved for pediatric use in 2010, due in part to the growing demand for a medication to treat children suffering from hypertension caused by obesity.
Benicar Side Effects
Some of the less serious side effects patients may experience when they take Benicar include:
- Stomach pain
- A rash or itching
- Dizziness
- Joint, muscle or back pain
However, those who take Benicar may also experience more severe side effects. These may include symptoms that resemble an allergic reaction, such as:
- Breathing problems
- Hives and a swollen mouth, lips, face or throat
- Dark-colored urine or a change in the amount of urine that is produced
- An irregular heartbeat and chest pain
- Swollen feet, hands and ankles.
Some patients have also reported developing serious intestinal problems, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, weight loss, and difficulty breathing associated with taking Benicar.
Benicar has also been linked to a condition known as drug-induced or sprue-like enteropathy. WebMD explains that celiac sprue is an autoimmune disorder that damages the lining of the intestines due to a reaction to gluten. While healthy intestines absorb nutrients from the food that passes through, this becomes impossible after prolonged exposure to gluten. Many patients prescribed Benicar reported symptoms that included the loss of a large amount of weight and chronic diarrhea. These symptoms mimic those of celiac sprue and disappeared once patients were taken off of the drug.
Benicar Lawsuits Filed
The similarity of the symptoms and the lack of information about Benicar’s side effects allegedly led many physicians to believe that they should treat celiac disease. This caused some patients to be exposed to the chronic diarrhea and lack of proper nutrition for months. Now, some patients have filed lawsuits against the company claiming that its failure to provide the appropriate safety materials has caused permanent damage to their digestive system or kidneys.
Because so many lawsuits have been filed against Daiichi Sankyo, the actions are being consolidated through multidistrict litigation so that facts about similar cases can be compared and any settlements may be reached more quickly.
How a Texas 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 Texas Benicar lawsuit attorney to learn more about their rights and remedies.
Contact Us for More Information
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Texas. 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 Texas today.
