A Virginia 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 Virginia Benicar lawsuit to seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Virginia. 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 Benicar lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
Hypertension and Its Effects
Most diseases produce symptoms that cause concern and send people to their doctors to determine the source of the problem and find a treatment that works. However, according to the American Heart Association (AHA), high blood pressure does not conform to this expectation. Instead, this silent killer, also known as hypertension, creates too much pressure against the walls of the blood vessels as the heart pumps the blood through the body, distending the tissues and causing what may be fatal damage.
Many people experience heart attacks as a result of unchecked hypertension, while others may suffer a stroke, loss of vision, erectile dysfunction and kidney damage, the AHA explains. People who have risk factors should have their blood pressure checked periodically. These include genetics, age, diabetes and high cholesterol. People who smoke or live a sedentary lifestyle are placing themselves in danger of developing high blood pressure, as well.
Treatments and Medications
While doctors generally recommend careful blood pressure monitoring and lifestyle changes to lower the risks, the seriousness of the disease often requires medication to relieve the pressure, as well. The AHA lists many different types of blood pressure medications that a health care provider may prescribe, depending on the source of the patient’s risk.
Some chemicals cause the tightening of the arteries. Calcium is one of these, and calcium channel blockers promote relaxation of the blood vessel walls and the heart contraction itself by lowering the amount of calcium in heart and artery smooth muscle cells. Angiotensin is another chemical that may cause a negative reaction for those who have high blood pressure. An angiotensin II receptor blocker keeps that chemical from tightening the blood vessel, which allows the blood to flow through more easily.
Prescription Information
Manufacturers of antihypertensives are required to perform testing to ensure that a medication is safe and seek approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) before marketing it to doctors and patients. The FDA also requires extensive labeling that includes all the facts about the drug within the marketing materials. Doctors have the responsibility to learn the information so they can determine which drug is right for a patient.
Benicar Side Effects
If the drug company does not provide all the appropriate warnings, doctors may not identify the problems as related to the medication. As a result, the patient may continue to suffer an adverse reaction and develop greater harm. According to hundreds of lawsuits, this is what happened to patients who experienced serious side effects while taking Benicar.
That particular angiotensin II receptor blocker allegedly caused symptoms not listed by the manufacturer, Daiichi Sankyo, Inc. These included chronic, severe diarrhea and gastrointestinal distress due to damage to the lining of the digestive tract, which are also common in people who have celiac disease, according to WebMD. Many patients were treated for celiac disease rather than being taken off the medication, and some have allegedly suffered permanent damage to the intestines, kidneys or other organs because of the length of the exposure.
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 Virginia 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 Virginia. 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.
