Over 1,250 injured consumers have filed Benicar lawsuits alleging that the blood pressure medication can lead to serious medical conditions.

One of the alleged side effects is sprue-like enteropathy, which causes complications including chronic diarrhea, malnutrition, and weight loss.

Benicar medication complaints have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation, or MDL, in the District of New Jersey. The cases were centralized to reduce duplicate decisions and avoid conflict in the decision-making process.

Many of the Benicar medication lawsuits claim that the manufacturers, Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories, failed to adequately warn the public and the medical community about Benicar’s side effects. The side effects may not be immediate and, according to the lawsuits, can occur years after initial use of Benicar.

The Benicar lawyers involved in the MDL are preparing for the first round of bellwether trials, which will test the legal waters on a few cases that are representative of the larger group.

What is Benicar HCT?

Benicar HCT (also known as olmesartan medoxomil) is a popular blood pressure medication used primarily to treat hypertension.

Benicar medication has become extremely popular, and it is widely distributed across the country.

In 2012 alone, approximately 1.9 million patients received olmesartan-containing products from U.S. outpatient retail pharmacies.

Benicar Side Effects

On July 3, 2013, the FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication warning that the drug Benicar HCT can cause several medical complications including chronic diarrhea, weight gain, and gastrointestinal issues such as sprue-like enteropathy. Also in 2013, the FDA approved new wording on the Benicar label that warns about these side effects.

Although Benicar has been available for over a decade, this label warning update came as a surprise to many consumers and even doctors who were allegedly not aware of the link between Benicar and possible diarrhea side effects.

Benicar Lawsuits

Over the past few years, allegations of Benicar’s association with multiple medical complications has sparked a series of Benicar lawsuits. Many plaintiffs in these suits claim that Daiichi Sankyo failed to perform necessary 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 Benicar in false or misleading ways that omit and/or minimize the potential risks associated with the drug.

If you or someone you love has experienced side effects of Benicar medication, you may be able to file a Benicar lawsuit.