Tribenzor side effects have led to a products liability lawsuit filed by a New Jersey man who claims the blood pressure medicine caused him severe gastrointestinal disease.

Tribenzor (olmesartan) was approved by the FDA in July 2010 for the treatment of hypertension. Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories make Tribenzor.

In his complaint, plaintiff Frank S. alleges he suffered Tribenzor side effects including “severe gastrointestinal disease and symptoms including chronic diarrhea, loss of appetite, and excessive weight loss; and additional related symptoms and sequelae including severe fatigue, depression, and dizziness. As a result of these severe gastrointestinal and other symptoms, I could not function normally, experienced extreme stress, fatigue, and exhaustion; and was unable to engage in the activities of daily living, including work activity, social and recreational activities.”

Frank began taking Tribenzor in December 2012.

In July 2013, the FDA declared that Tribenzor can cause gastrointestinal issues known as sprue-like enteropathy, which include symptoms such as severe, chronic diarrhea and weight loss. These Tribenzor side effects can develop months or years after starting the drug, and can require hospitalization.

The FDA’s decision to add the sprue-like enteropathy warning was due in large part to a study done by the Mayo Clinic.

Researchers originally suspected that patients had celiac disease, but when that tested negative, they found out the only thing the patients had in common was they were all taking olmesartan. Fourteen of the 22 patients examined ended up in the hospital with gastrointestinal complications.

In May 2013, The American Journal of Gastroenterology published a report that said patients who tested negative for celiac disease were shown to have villous atrophy from Tribenzor. Once the patients stopped taking Tribenzor, they were able to gain weight and their gastrointestinal problems subsided.

Tribenzor Side Effects Include Villous Atrophy

The walls of our intestines are covered by villi, tiny tentacle-like growths that absorb nutrients in the foods we eat.

Tribenzor side effects can include villous atrophy, which means those villi have eroded away and the insides of the intestines are so smooth that they can no longer absorb nutrients. The result is malnourishment.

Tribenzor belongs to the ARB (angiotensin receptor blocker) class of blood pressure medicines that block the activity of angiotensin-II in the cardiovascular system.

The liver generates angiotensin-II, a protein that causes blood vessels to constrict, which raises blood pressure. When blood pressure is too high, the heart works harder to pump blood and oxygen through the body. High blood pressure can damage other organs, such as the kidneys.

When Tribenzor blocks the production of angiotensin-II, the result is lower blood pressure because the blood vessels don’t constrict blood flow. It isn’t clear how Tribenzor can induce villous atrophy.

The Tribenzor Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-cv-01902-RBK-JS, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Camden Vicinage.