A Benicar lawsuit was filed by an Ohio resident alleging she suffered severe injuries after taking the Daiichi Sankyo Inc. hypertension medication.

Plaintiff Brenda D. Baugh filed this Benicar lawsuit in Ohio federal court alleging she “developed personal injuries, including but not limited to severe intestinal and/or colonic disease manifestations including but not limited to sprue-like enteropathy, lymphocytic colitis, microscopic colitis, collagenous colitis, and/or intestinal malabsorption.” These health conditions allegedly caused Baugh to suffer from chronic and severe diarrhea, rapid weight loss, vomiting, malnutrition, nausea, dehydration, and acute renal failure.

Because of Baugh’s alleged medical conditions caused by the Benicar drug, she has required constant medical screening, testing, and treatment, which has caused the plaintiff to incur medical expenses. Baugh “has suffered unavoidable, serious and life threatening physical injuries, severe emotional distress, and mental injuries in coping with her physical injuries,” the Benicar lawsuit states.

Baugh and her legal counsel have lodged several allegations against drug manufacturer Daiichi Sankyo Inc., including: products liability-defective design, failure to warn, strict liability, gross negligence, negligence and failure to warn, failure to comply with all federal standards and requirements for sale of olmesartan products, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, constructive fraud, fraud, civil conspiracy, and breach of express and implied warranties.

Baugh is seeking relief from Daiichi in the form of compensatory damages, punitive damages, payment of attorney’s fees, and other forms of relief as deemed fit by the court.

The Benicar Lawsuit is Baugh v. Daiichi Sankyo Inc., et al., Case No. 4:14-cv-02309-BYP, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Background on Benicar

Benicar, an olmesartan hypertension medication, is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist drug manufactured and distributed by Japanese pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo. Daiichi first introduced Benicar into the North American market in 1995 and since then more than 11 million patients have been prescribed Benicar every year.

However, over the last few years, researchers have discovered Benicar use has a high correlation with patient development of several risky health conditions and a number of harmful side effects. These studies were soon followed by the July 2013 FDA public health notice, which warned Benicar consumers of of sprue-like enteropathy and related gastrointestinal (GI) problems allegedly caused by the hypertension medication.

On the label on Benicar products, consumers are warned only of the risk of kidney problems when taking Benicar. It does not mention the possibility of GI problems.

Some other side effects reportedly experienced by Benicar consumers include:

• Chronic diarrhea
• Sudden and severe weight loss
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Sprue-like enteropathy
• Villous atrophy
• Other GI problems regularly misdiagnosed as celiac symptoms

Benicar users who were prescribed and consumed the Daiichi blood pressure medication for at least four months and were then hospitalized for severe gastrointestinal problems should consider filing a Benicar lawsuit or joining a Benicar class action lawsuit.