A Florida woman filed a Benicar side effects lawsuit alleging the drug made by Japanese pharmaceutical giant Daiichi Sankyo caused chronic diarrhea.

Plaintiff Sharon F. alleges she suffered sprue-like enteropathy and other celiac disease symptoms after taking Benicar. Like millions of Americans, Sharon had been prescribed Benicar to treat her hypertension and high blood pressure.

Sharon suffered extreme weight loss and diarrhea that eventually led her to be hospitalized. According to her Benicar side effects lawsuit, she suffered sprue-like enteropathy, lymphocytic colitis, microscopic colitis, collagenous colitis, and intestinal malabsorption. She became severely malnourished and dehydrated, the Benicar lawsuit says.

After several diagnostic tests were performed, the doctors took note that Sharon had recently been prescribed Benicar. Patients who are prescribed Benicar have reported suffering symptoms that mimic celiac disease, which can leads to a misdiagnosis and months of additional suffering.

In her Benicar lawsuit, Sharon says she had not been aware of the chronic diarrhea or sprue-like enteropahy side effects associated with the drug. Sharon states that she never would have used Benicar if she had known about the possibility of sprue-like enteropathy and other diarrhea side effects.

Sharon’s lawsuit accuses Daiichi Sankyo of negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

This Benicar Lawsuit is Case No. 1:15-cv-21145-JLK, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.

Overview of Benicar Complications

According to medical experts, approximately 67 million Americans suffer from hypertension and keep their blood pressure controlled using medications like Benicar. Many patients have complained that this drug causes severe gastrointestinal problems, which can lead to permanent intestinal damage.

In the cases of permanent intestinal damage, a Benicar user could suffer villous atrophy, in which the small intestine becomes so badly damaged it is unable to absorb nutrients from food.

Benicar side effects had become such a big problem, the FDA issued a public warning in July 2013. This warning came after the agency reviewed a study from the Mayo Clinic, which found that many Benicar patients suffered severe diarrhea and weight loss, with some of them reporting intestinal damage.

The agency stated that if patients start experiencing these side effects after starting Benicar, they should consult their physicians about discontinuing the drug. The agency also warned that intestinal damage could be potentially permanent, creating the need for frequent medical care for the patients.

A number of Benicar patients have taken legal action against Daiichi Sankyo, because the company had not mentioned these side effects on the drug’s label, allegedly exposing users to an unknown risk.