Benicar is the brand name of a drug which has olmesartan medoxomil as the active ingredient. It is part of a class of medications known as angiotensin II receptor antagonists, and are used to treat high blood pressure. Benicar works by getting absorbed into the blood and releasing olmesartan. Olmesartan helps in preventing angiotensin II from binding to receptors which is normally responsible for tightening and narrowing the blood vessels. However, when the chemical is blocked, blood vessels relax and widen, according to Daiichi Sankyo, the manufacturer of the drug. It was, thus, used to treat high blood pressure and cure treat hypertension.
Patients who take Benicar have experienced some common side effects such as:
- Back Pain
- Dizziness
- Diarrhea
- Stomach Pain
- Weakness
But, the drug has been linked with some severe complications. One of the most serious risks Benicar poses to patients taking the drug is fetal toxicity.
In fact, Benicar carries a black-box warning today, which is the strongest warning on a drug label and it states, “Drugs that act directly on the renin-angiotensin system can cause injury and death to the developing fetus.”
The FDA issued a safety announcement in 2013 warning that medications containing olmesartan medoxomil intestinal problems known as sprue-like enteropathy. The main symptoms of sprue-like enteropathy include chronic diarrhea and weight loss. The patients who suffered from these complications filed for benicar lawsuit asking for their financial compensation.
As early as 2006, drugmaker Sankyo has been accused of violating the FDA rules and regulations. The letter detailed how the ad made false claims that it was better than the existing medications used for the treatment of same purpose.
The number of lawsuits against Daiichi and Forest Labs grew exponentially soon after its complications came into light and after they were consolidated into an MDL. Cases were moving toward a trial date before the companies reached an agreement with the affected plaintiffs to the tune of about $300 million in August 2017.
The number of lawsuits against Daiichi and Forest Labs grew exponentially soon after its complications came into light and after they were consolidated into an MDL. Cases were moving toward a trial date before the companies reached an agreement with the affected plaintiffs to the tune of about $300 million in August 2017.
If you or someone close to you has suffered from the complications from taking the drug, you can be eligible to win a financial compensation. Visit Benicar411.info or dial 855-297-1131 to know more about the lawsuit and its procedure.