Daiichi Sankyo is facing a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), consisting of numerous lawsuits alleging similar Benicar HCT intestinal side effects. The most recent Benicar lawsuit was filed by a Florida couple raising claims of serious Benicar HCT intestinal side effects like massive diarrhea and severe malnutrition.

Plaintiff Nell P. and husband John P. are filing this Benicar lawsuit claiming the hypertension medication had caused Nell to experience severe gastrointestinal complications. According to the Benicar lawsuit, Nell had began using Benicar in February 2010 to treat her high blood pressure.

This is the main treatment purpose for Benicar, which is ultimately supposed to lower the chances of heart attack and heart disease. Even though Nell had only used Benicar for its treatment purpose while following all prescription instructions and physician advice, she had still reportedly experienced Benicar HCT intestinal side effects.

Nell had reported a wide variety of symptoms, from abdominal pain to chronic gastrointestinal damage. It should be noted that not only did Nell have to be hospitalized for the alleged Benicar HCT intestinal side effects, but she also had to undergo a colonoscopy and endoscopy. The Benicar HCT intestinal side effects Nell reported in her lawsuit include:

• Massive and urgent diarrhea
• Incontinence
• Abdominal pain
• Sprue-like enteropathy
• Colitis
• Malnutrition
• Malabsorption
• Fatigue
• Gastrointestinal damage

In addition, Nell was unable to leave her home and experienced a diminished quality of life due to these Benicar complications. Nell and John decided to file legal action against Daiichi Sankyo after discovering Daiichi Sankyo may have known of these potential complications for years but did not disclose this information.

Overview of Benicar HCT Intestinal Side Effects

Benicar was approved by the FDA in the early 2000s as a treatment option for hypertension and high blood pressure. This medication works by dilating blood vessels, which eases the circulation process.

However, patients have reported severe Benicar HCT intestinal side effects for years, causing concern in the medical community. The FDA sent out a public warning in July 2013 stating that Benicar can cause severe gastrointestinal side effects that are often associated with Celiac disease.

The agency warned that sprue-like enteropathy can develop months or years after treatment starts, and that villous atrophy can occur in severe cases. Villous atrophy is a condition affecting the gastrointestinal tract, which prevents the body from sufficiently absorbing nutrients from food.

The FDA had sent out this warning after the Mayo Clinic had released a 2012 study to the agency which showed that Benicar HCT intestinal side effects were similar to Celiac disease symptoms. This study outlined 22 cases of Benicar patients exhibiting Celiac disease-like side effects, but found the patients had tested negative for the condition.

Even though Daiichi Sankyo allegedly knew of this correlation for years, the company failed to disclose this information to the public, the lawsuit claims. Nell states that she never would have taken Benicar, if she had known the risk associated with Benicar HCT intestinal side effects.

This Benicar HCT Intestinal Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 1:17-cv-01601-RBK-JS, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Camden Division.