Millions of Americans have been diagnosed with high blood pressure and are treated with one of the most common hypertension medications called Benicar (olmesartan).

However, patients have reported experiencing severe Benicar stomach pain, chronic diarrhea and villous atrophy as side effects of the medication.

The study published by the Mayo Clinic found that gastrointestinal side effects may be linked to taking Benicar.

Within three years, 22 patients were seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. for chronic diarrhea while taking Benicar (olmesartan). Once celiac disease was ruled out, researchers were able to evaluate patients based on intestinal biopsies.

The chronic diarrhea symptoms along with weight loss required the hospitalization of 14 patients while biopsies discovered inflammation and villous atrophy in 15 patients. Researchers followed-up with Benicar patients after they stopped taking the medication and found that all patients who underwent follow-up biopsies showed improvement.

The Mayo Clinic report concluded that while Benicar may be associated with a severe form of sprue-like enteropathy (chronic diarrhea), patients should be able to recover once they discontinue using the drug.

FDA Benicar Warning

This report linking the blood pressure medication to Benicar stomach pain and chronic diarrhea resulted in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration issuing a safety warning to include sprue-like enteropathy as a side effect of Benicar.

The FDA warned that olmesartan can cause intestinal complications including chronic diarrhea and significant weight loss. The agency cautioned that consumers experiencing gastrointestinal side effects and no other cause is found, should discontinue taking Benicar in order to relieve chronic diarrhea symptoms.

According to the FDA safety report: “Olmesartan medoxomil is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) approved for the treatment of high blood pressure, alone or with other antihypertensive agents, and is one of eight marketed ARB drugs. Sprue-like enteropathy has not been detected with ARB drugs other than olmesartan.”

Other reported Benicar side effects include:

• Irregular heart beat
• Benicar stomach pain
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Liver impairment
• Chest pain
• Kidney complications
• Arthritis

In addition to a sprue-like enteropathy warning, the Benicar label also warns against taking the medication while pregnant as the drug may “cause injury of death to the developing fetus.”

Benicar Stomach Pain Lawsuits

Those interested in pursuing legal action against the manufacturers of the hypertension medication for not fully disclosing the severe side effects should contact a Benicar lawyer.

A Benicar lawyer can help plaintiffs navigate through the legal system in order to receive financial compensation to help pay for the medical costs of treating sprue-like enteropathy.

In general, those who have already filed a Benicar lawsuit claim that had they been warned of the severe gastrointestinal side effects of the medication they may have been able to avoid intestinal damage.

Occasionally, spouses will join a Benicar lawsuit as a co-plaintiff and sue for loss of consortium, which typically ends up with a higher financial award.

A Benicar lawyer can help determine if you have legal claim at no cost to you.