Daiichi Sankyo Pharmaceuticals and Forest Laboratories LLC have been hit with a new Benicar side effects lawsuit that alleges the companies concealed the dangers of the popularly prescribed blood pressure drug.

Plaintiff Nancy K., a Washington state resident, claims in her Benicar side effects lawsuit that she was injured as a result of her use of Benicar, a medication prescribed to her in 2006 to treat her high blood pressure.

Benicar is manufactured, marketed, and distributed by Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories.

According to Nancy, Benicar caused her to suffer from a host of serious IBS symptoms such as severe diarrhea, nausea, dehydration, intestinal and colonic disease manifestations

The Benicar side effects lawsuit further alleges Daiichi Sankyo knew and, in fact, advertised and promoted the use of Benicar despite its failure to test or otherwise determine the safety and efficacy of such use.

Allegedly as a direct and proximate result of Daiichi Sankyo’s widespread promotional activity, physicians began commonly prescribing Benicar as safe and effective.

Benicar Overview

Japanese drugmaker Daiichi Sankyo Inc. developed the popular prescription medication Benicar (olmesartan medoxomil) to treat high blood pressure. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Benicar for commercial sale in April 2002. Since then it has become the most widely prescribed blood pressure medication in the country.

Benicar is an angiotension II receptor blocker (ARB). Many patients can trace their high blood pressure to the effects of angiotension II, which can cause blood vessels to narrow.

Benicar is designed to block angiotension II, allowing a patient’s blood vessels to expand. This can reduce blood pressure.

Side Effects of Benicar

There are more serious injuries associated with Benicar as well. Some patients who took Benicar report developing serious intestinal problems, similar to IBS symptoms.

Chronic and severe diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, severe weight loss, and malnutrition are indications that a Benicar user should seek medical treatment.

Many patients require hospitalization, and some develop more serious complications. Both patients and doctors have reported cases where stopping Benicar use caused patients to recover.

A 2012 article published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings concluded that Benicar is associated with a serious intestinal condition called severe sprue-like enteropathy.

In July 2013, the FDA announced Benicar would receive a label update to reflect the risk of sprue-like enteropathy. According to the FDA’s drug safety communication, this GI disorder can cause symptoms that include chronic and severe diarrhea with substantial weight loss.

The condition may take months or years to develop and may require hospitalization, the agency said.

Benicar Side Effects Lawsuit Information

A growing number of patients who were injured after taking Benicar have sued the manufacturers, Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories, claiming these companies had a duty to protect the public and properly conduct research and testing before making Benicar available to the public.

Over 1,100 Benicar lawsuits are pending in a New Jersey multidistrict litigation, according to recent court estimates. Each Benicar side effects lawsuit claims that Japanese pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo failed to warn patients and doctors that its popular blood pressure drug can cause dangerous side effects.

If you or someone you know suffered gastrointestinal issues or experienced side effects similar to IBS symptoms, an experienced Benicar lawyer can speak with you free of charge and help you determine if a Benicar side effects lawsuit is right for you.

Nancy’s Benicar Side Effects Lawsuit is filed in the larger Benicar multidistriction litigation In Re:  Benicar (Olmesartan) Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2606, U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Camden Vicinage.