A Louisiana couple recently joined the Benicar multidistrict litigation (MDL) taking place in New Jersey federal court.

Due to the high volume of Benicar lawsuits that have been filed against drug manufacturer Daiichi Sankyo Inc. over the drug Benicar, the cases were all consolidated into one MDL.

This process allows plaintiffs with similar concerns over the product in question to have their cases heard at a single court with a single judge presiding over the cases. The multidistrict litigation also conserves time and resources where all information gathering can be done at a single location, and streamlines the process as a whole.

On Feb. 16, 2009, plaintiff Dyanne R. began using Benicar (olmesartan) and other olmesartan products such as Azor and Tribenzor.

While taking the dosages of olmesartan products as prescribed by her physician, she suffered severe gastrointestinal injuries, including severe intestinal and/or colonic disease manifestations. As a result, Dyanne experienced chronic diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.

Because of these physical Benicar side effects, Dyanne had to be hospitalized and was forced to undergo screening, testing and treatment for her complications.

The plaintiffs brought about fifteen charges against Daiichi Sankyo, which includes: design defect, failure to want, gross negligence, negligence, negligence per se, negligent design, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, constructive fraud, fraud, breach of express and implied warranties, unjust enrichment, punitive damages and loss of consortium.

The plaintiffs are seeking compensatory damages, interests, costs of suit and any additional relief deemed suitable by the court.

The Benicar Lawsuit is Case No: 1:15-cv-06446-RBK-JS  and is part of the Benicar MDL known as In Re: Benicar (Olmesartan) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2606, in the U.S. District Court District of New Jersey Camden Vicinage.

Side Effects of Benicar Use

Benicar is a prescription medication used to treat hypertension. It has been approved for use since 2002 by the FDA. Benicar works by dilating the blood vessels, allowing the blood to have more space to freely flow, and thus reduces the amount of strain on the heart.

As with any pharmaceutical, Benicar has common side effects associated with its use. These include pain in the joints, muscle or back, weakness, lightheadedness/dizziness, mild itching or rash and upper respiratory infections.

Severe Benicar side effects have also been reported, and these affect a patients’ gastrointestinal function, leading to stomach pain and discomfort, diarrhea and weight loss.

While these side effects may be listed on other medications as “common” in order to not raise patient concern, when these side effects occur with Benicar, it is usually the sign of more severe underlying problems.

The diarrhea experienced with Benicar is chronic and sometimes unrelenting. Chronic diarrhea is more than just an uncomfortable and embarrasing physical symptom; Benicar diarrhea is severe and can lead to dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, malabsorption of nutrients and malnutrition.

The severe abdominal pain leads doctors to suspect Celiac disease (an allergy to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye), but most patients test negative for the condition.

However, patients are often found to have villous atrophy or sprue-like enteropathy. This causes the fingerlike projections in the intestine, called villi, to flatten and wear away. This can also lead to malabsorption and malnutrition.

Weight loss is usually related to the diarrhea and villous atrophy, and the resulting malnutrition may lead to hospitalization for the patient.

Benicar Lawsuit Information

If you or a loved one suffered severe gastrointestinal side effects after using Benicar or other olmesartan products, you may have a legal claim.

Attorneys are available to offer complimentary consultations to discuss your individual situation and can help you decide if filing and individual lawsuit or joining an MDL might be right for you.