Benicar, generically known as olmesartan, was approved by the FDA in 2002 as a treatment for high blood pressure. Some patients have found much relief while taking Benicar, especially if taking other medications did not seem to improve their blood pressure as much.

However, severe side effects have caused some Benicar patients to suffer from issues that are more serious than the initial conditions they tried to treat. Benicar and chronic diarrhea are nearly synonymous for some patients who go on to experience severe side effects.

Side Effects of Benicar

Benicar works by affecting the blood vessels in the body, causing them to dilate. As the blood vessels open, blood is allowed to flow more freely through the body, which in turn causes less strain on the heart.

As with any medication, mild to moderate side effects are to be expected when taking a new drug. Most mild to moderate side effects of pharmaceutical drugs begin to fade once the body becomes used to the medication. Things like headache, nausea, dizziness, drowsiness, mild rash and stomach pain are often associated with generalized side effects of the drug.

Benicar users may experience many of these side effects, but some patients will also experience much more severe side effects from the blood pressure medication. In general, most of the side effects experienced by Benicar users involve the gastrointestinal system.

Diarrhea is an uncomfortable and embarrassing symptom that many people will experience on an occasional basis. The problem that stems from using Benicar and chronic diarrhea that results from the use of the drug is much more severe. The Benicar and chronic diarrhea symptoms that result from the medication can not only affect a user’s personal and professional life, it can cause life-threatening complications due to its severe and chronic nature.

Benicar and chronic diarrhea symptoms can lead to a severe electrolyte imbalance. This can cause patients to have to be hospitalized due to its severity. While hospitalized, patients must receive intravenous fluids, and depending on the situation, they may also need intravenous nutrition.

Chronic diarrhea leading to electrolyte in balance can cause a disruption in the heart rhythm. The electrolyte imbalance can be severe and, if not addressed in a timely manner, the consequences could potentially be deadly.

Other complications linked to electrolyte imbalance include muscle spasms, anxiety, dizziness, insomnia, confusion, irritability and more. Electrolyte imbalance can also lead to brain swelling, known as cerebral edema, convulsions, seizures, unconsciousness, shock and even coma.

In addition to Benicar and chronic diarrhea issues, another complication linked to the drug is known as sprue-like enteropathy. This condition mimics celiac disease, a condition where a person has a severe allergy to gluten, the protein found in wheat, barley and rye .

With sprue-like enteropathy, villous atrophy begins to develop in the patient. This condition causes erosion of the villi, the fingerlike projections that are present in the small intestine, to flatten and wear away.

Chronic diarrhea and sprue-like enteropathy both can cause a patient to develop malabsorption of nutrients and become malnourished. Unfortunately, there are no simple and effective treatments to address these two chronic conditions that are linked with Benicar.

Traditional diarrhea treatments ─ such as recommending probiotic supplements or foods, eating anti-diarrhea foods, or taking medication to stop the diarrhea ─ do not typically help a Benicar patient. A gluten-free diet, which is the treatment for celiac disease and villous atrophy does not help Benicar patients either.

Many patients taking the drug did not know the severity of Benicar and chronic diarrhea or sprue-like enteropathy side effects that were possible with the drug.

A number of patients who were harmed after the use of the drug have gone on to file Benicar lawsuits against the manufacturer for failing to adequately warn of the severe side effects. Thousands of these Benicar lawsuits are currently pending against the manufacturer.