Plaintiffs Jeanette J. and Raymond J. are suing Daiichi Sankyo for allegedly causing Jeanette to suffer chronic diarrhea after ingesting Benicar.

The plaintiff couple claims that Jeanette developed sprue-like enteropathy and possible intestinal damage from the blood pressure drug.

Like millions of other Americans, Jeanette had had been suffering from high-blood pressure. In order to prevent her chances of suffering from a heart attack and other complications associated with hypertension, the couple’s physician prescribed Benicar to Jeanette.

According to the Benicar lawsuit, Jeanette followed all prescription instructions when taking Benicar and also followed the advice of her physician. However, her diligence did not prevent the sudden onslaught of the personal side effects she allegedly suffered. Medical records indicate that she suffered from sprue-like enteropathy, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, nausea, malnutrition, and dehydration.

Even after ceasing Benicar, the diarrhea reportedly continued and compounded the Jeanette’s injuries. As her condition worsened, she had to be monitored by medical professionals to prevent her condition from worsening.

Her physician indicates that Benicar may have inflicted chronic intestinal damage in the Jeanette, which could prevent adequate nutrition absorption for her. This would ultimately prevent the plaintiff from living a healthy and active lifestyle, despite recovering from the Benicar side effects.

The couple’s Benicar lawsuit claims that their life was permanently altered due to the side effects of Benicar, which never would have happened if they had known about the possible risks of Benicar. Jeanette claims that she never would have taken Benicar if she knew it was associated with the complications of chronic diarrhea and intestinal damage.

Furthermore, the couple’s lawyers state that Daiichi Sankyo had the civil responsibility of warning their clients and other Benicar patients of the dangers of their drugs because they rely on the accuracy of the given information. At no point in time did Daiichi Sankyo inform the plaintiff couple of possible Benicar side effects, nor were they mentioned on the label.

For being allegedly responsible for manufacturing, selling, distributing, and marketing a dangerous drug, Jeanette and Raymond are suing Daiichi Sankyo. The charges include: negligence, false advertising, concealing information, and misrepresenting a product.

This Benicar Lawsuit is Jeanette J. and Raymond J. v. Daiichi Sankyo Inc., Case No. 1:15-cv-02877-RBK-JS, in the U.S. District Court of Western Tennessee.

Overview of Benicar Complications

Ever since Benicar entered the American market in the early 2000s, it has become one of the most popular treatment methods for high blood pressure or hypertension. Not only does this drug drastically decrease the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and other complications associated with high blood pressure, but it also encourages patients to live a healthier lifestyle.

Many experts credit the marketing success of the drug to the long and aggressive Benicar marketing campaign, run by Daiichi Sankyo. The Japanese pharmaceutical giant had marketed Benicar in the United States from 2002 to 2008, focusing heavily on in-person sales to physicians, giving out clinical samples and presenting it at medical conferences. In 2006, the FDA raised concern regarding Benicar side effects after the agency found the drug’s marketing materials to be false or misleading.

At the time, the federal agency criticized Daiichi Sankyo for overstating Benicar’s benefits and efficiency, stating that it was not superior to other hypertension drugs. Several years later, the FDA once again raised concern about Benicar, but it was over the personal side effects patients reported after using Benicar.

Numerous patients have reported suffering from chronic diarrhea and sprue-like enteropathy, even after discontinuing Benicar. In the most extreme cases, patients have reported developing villous atrophy, which is a chronic intestinal condition that consists of malnutrition and malabsorption.