A Georgia couple have filed a Benicar lawsuit under the national Benicar multidistrict litigation, alleging the wife suffered after using the popular Daiichi Sankyo Inc. and Forest Laboratories blood pressure medication.

Background on Benicar Lawsuit

Plaintiffs Rubena and Robert M. filed this Benicar lawsuit in late July, alleging that 58-year old Rubena developed gastrointestinal injuries and other Benicar side effects that she and her husband attribute to her use of Benicar and Benicar HCT.

Rubena was first prescribed these Daiichi and Forest manufactured olmesartan products in January 2006, presumably to manage a high blood pressure condition. Benicar was supposed to help Rubena live a more normal life; however, according to the Benicar lawsuit, Rubena and Robert allege:

“While taking the recommended dosage of olmesartan products, Plaintiff developed serious gastrointestinal injuries, including but not limited to severe intestinal and/or colonic disease manifestations and colitis. These manifestations caused Plaintiff to suffer from diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, dehydration, stomach pain, weight loss, etc. Consequently Plaintiff required hospitalization, screening, testing, and treatment.”

As a result of these Benicar complications, Rubena claims she suffered injury to herself, economic loss, and loss of services. Her husband Robert has joined this Benicar side effects lawsuit as a co-plaintiff alleging loss of consortium, a claim a spouse can pursue that means a loss of intimacy as a result of a drug-induced injury.

Rubena has asked that this case go to trial by jury. She brings several allegations against Daiichi and Forest, including claims of design defect, failure to warn, gross negligence, negligence, negligence per se, negligent design, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, constructive fraud, fraud, breach of express warranties, breach of implied warranties, unjust enrichment, violation of Georgia State consumer protection law, loss of consortium, and punitive damages.

The Benicar Lawsuit is Case No. 1:15-cv-04832-RBK-JS and is part of the Benicar MDL known as In re: Benicar (Olmesartan) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 260, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.

Benicar Litigation

As previously stated, Rubena and her husband have filed this Benicar lawsuit as part of the larger Benicar MDL, meaning that many other patients have also allegedly suffered Benicar side effects and filed similar allegations against Daiichi and Sankyo.

In fact, in August 2012, the Mayo Clinic published a report highlighting dozens of Benicar cases that occurred between 2008 and 2011, in which patients exhibited symptoms of celiac disease that were allegedly linked to their use of Benicar. According to the report, once the patients’ discontinued their Benicar prescriptions, their celiac conditions improved. This result led the researchers to conclude that these patients’ sprue-like enteropathy and gastrointestinal issues were caused by their use of Benicar.

Some side effects of Benicar reported by consumers and doctors include:

• Severe and chronic diarrhea
• Substantial weight loss
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Sprue-like enteropathy
• Villous atrophy
• Other GI problems misdiagnosed as celiac symptoms

If you or someone you know believe you have suffered gastrointestinal issues as a result of Benicar use, you should contact an attorney to determine if you have grounds to file a Benicar lawsuit or join an existing Benicar class action lawsuit.