A New York woman recently filed a Benicar lawsuit against Daiichi Sankyo, Inc., alleging that the hypertension drug caused severe gastrointestinal side effects.

According to the Benicar lawsuit, the plaintiff was not adequately warned by Daiichi Sankyo of the risks associated with the drug, which led to her physical and economic suffering.

Plaintiff Pamela C. began taking Benicar in 2011 after being prescribed the olmesartan product by her doctor. Pamela alleges that after taking Benicar she suffered from a number of medical injuries, including nausea, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, sprue-like enteropathy, villous atrophy and other intestinal injury and damage.

Because of these medical issues, allegedly caused by Benicar side effects, Pamela also incurred substantial economic injuries.

Pamela filed her Benicar lawsuit on multiple counts. These include, but are not limited to: design defect, negligence, failure to warn, fraudulent concealment, fraud, breach of express and implied warranties, and punitive damages.

What is Benicar?

Benicar (also known as olmesartan medoxomil) is a popular drug used primarily to treat hypertension. Olmesartan medoxomil is also marketed as Benicar HCT, Azor, and Tribenzor.

Olmesartan medoxomil drugs have been extremely popular, as well as widely distributed since their approval. In 2012, approximately 1.9 million patients received a dispensed prescription for olmesartan-containing products from U.S. outpatient retail pharmacies.

However, the medication has recently been associated with multiple medical complications which have sparked a series of Benicar lawsuits for defectiveness and failure to adequately warn consumers of the potentially serious risks.

Benicar and the FDA

Benicar tablets were first approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hypertension in 2002.

On July 3, 2013, the FDA followed up this approval with a Drug Safety Communication warning that the drug Benicar can cause several medical complications which can be quite severe, leading to chronic diarrhea, weight gain, and gastrointestinal issues..

At this time in 2013, the FDA approved changes to the label of these drugs that would include warnings about this medical concern. Several studies have shown a connection between olmesartan medoxomil and several gastrointestinal problems, including a study published by Mayo Clinic researchers in 2012.

Benicar Lawsuits

Many Benicar lawsuits have claimed that Daiichi Sankyo failed to perform necessary prolonged clinical trials to determine the effects of longer term cumulative exposure to olmesartan.

Plaintiffs in these Benicar lawsuits also claim that Daiichi Sankyo has, over the years, marketed their Benicar products in false or misleading ways which omit and/or minimize the potential risks associated with the drug.

This fraudulent behavior has, according to these Benicar lawsuits, led to consumers suffering from Benicar side effects that they were inadequately informed of.

Despite knowledge of the risks, the company continued to make claims as to the efficacy of their products, but did not conduct any clinical outcome trials that would prove this efficacy.

If you or someone you know has experienced adverse effects after taking Benicar, you may be able to file a Benicar lawsuit.

The Benicar Lawsuit is Case No. 1:15-cv-08339-RBK-JS, in the U.S. District Court for the Camden Vicinage of the District of New Jersey.