Another Benicar lawsuit joins the growing multidistrict litigation against manufacturers Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Pharmaceuticals over allegations that the companies failed to warn that Benicar could cause severe gastrointestinal complications.

Plaintiffs Marjorie and Mervin R. of New York filed the Benicar lawsuit after Marjorie was diagnosed with sprue-like enteropathy allegedly caused by the blood pressure medication. The couple is suing for economic loss and loss of consortium.

The Benicar lawsuit accuses manufacturers of fraudulent concealment, fraud, negligence and unjust enrichment.

Benicar Complications

Since its FDA approval in 2002, Benicar has become one of the most commonly prescribed hypertension medications in the U.S. Millions of Americans use Benicar (Olmesartan) to treat high blood pressure but according to those filing lawsuits, consumers were unaware of the severe side effects of Benicar.

Reported Benicar side effects include: 

• Chronic diarrhea
• Rapid weight loss
• Malnutrition
• Dehydration
• Nausea
• Acute renal failure
• Sprue-like enteropathy

The side effects of Benicar can take a few months or even a few years to develop, which often make the connection to the medical condition hard to diagnose. However, patients claim that once they discontinue taking the blood pressure medication the symptoms stop.

Those who have joined the mounting Benicar MDL claim that simply because the symptoms of chronic diarrhea cease doesn’t mean patients haven’t been permanently damaged. Many Benicar consumers report developing intestinal damage such as villous atrophy after use of the blood pressure drug. 

Sprue-like enteropathy and villous atrophy occurs when the intestinal lining is damaged and the condition often requires hospitalization. Often times, Benicar patients who develop chronic diarrhea are misdiagnosed with having celiac disease.

In 2013, the FDA required Benicar manufacturers to include a warning about the risk of developing sprue-like enteropathy on the drug label. According to the federal agency, olmesartan-containing drugs (including Benicar) are the only known blood pressure medications linked to sprue-like enteropathy.

Benicar Chronic Diarrhea Lawsuits

Benicar consumers throughout the U.S. continue to add to the pending multidistrict litigation against the manufacturers. In general, plaintiffs allege that had they been fully informed about the severe gastrointestinal side effects of Benicar they never would have taken the blood pressure medication.

Plaintiffs like Marjorie and Mervin are asking the courts to consider awarding them punitive damages as a way to further punish the allegedly deceptive actions of Benicar manufacturers.

The majority of Benicar plaintiffs claim that sprue-like enteropathy requires ongoing treatments which requires continual medical bills. More often than not, filing a Benicar lawsuit is the only way for victims to financially recover from the cost of treating Benicar side effects.

Benicar lawsuits that name spouses as co-plaintiffs can sue for loss of consortium, meaning the loss of intimacy, which typically results in a higher award amount.

The Benicar Lawsuit is Case No: 1:15-cv-06925-RBK-JS in the U.S. District Court District of New Jersey, Camden Vicinage.