What should I do if I have suffered an injury while taking Benicar?
Benicar (Olmesartan) is a medication used to treat high blood pressure or hypertension. Benicar performs the vital task of lowering a patient’s blood pressure so as to help prevent strokes. However, for some patients, taking Benicar resulted in serious gastrointestinal injuries. As a result, hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against Daiichi Sankyo, the Japanese pharmaceutical manufacturer of Benicar. Our New Jersey personal injury lawyers at the Cassidy Law Firm discuss the settlement recently reached against Benicar and what steps you should take if you were prescribed Benicar and suffered an injury.
Benicar Injuries and Side Effects
Benicar has been linked to severe gastrointestinal illnesses. A study conducted at the Mayo Clinic linked Benicar to the development of sprue-like enteropathy. This disease produces gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and malnutrition. The study examined 22 patients who used Benicar and started to experience gastrointestinal symptoms. Initially the patients were diagnosed with Celiac disease. When traditional treatment for Celiac did not have a positive impact, the patients were discontinued from Benicar. They all experienced relief from their gastrointestinal findings.
Benicar Settlement
Hundreds of lawsuits were filed against Benicar in 2015, when evidence of the link between the drug and gastrointestinal illnesses emerged. Many lawsuits were consolidated into a multi-district litigation in New Jersey. Now, after lengthy litigation, the makers of Benicar have agreed to a $300 million settlement based on the company’s failure to warn consumers that the blood pressure medication could result in gastrointestinal illness. The settlement will apply to those consumers that took the drug prior to May 17, 2015, unless they opt out of the settlement agreement.
Take Action if You Were Injured by Benicar
If you are currently taking or previously took Benicar and experienced any of the following symptoms, you should consult with a personal injury attorney right away.
- Chronic diarrhea
- Malnutrition
- Rapid weight loss
- Vomiting
- Malabsorption
- Renal issues or renal failure
You may be able to seek compensation for your damages linked to Benicar. Lawsuits based on dangerous medications are complex, but with the help of your attorney you can recover for the losses you suffered at the hands of the prescription medication that was intended to help you.