Benicar® Enteropathy and Intestinal Side Effects
A popular angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) drug used to treat high blood pressure, Benicar® (olmesartan medoxomil) has been prescribed to millions of patients. But Benicar’s manufacturer, Daiichi Sankyo, is facing increased scrutiny from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) following reports of severe gastrointestinal (GI) side effects—often referred to by doctors as sprue-like enteropathy—from patients who took the drug.
If you took Benicar and experienced GI symptoms requiring a doctor’s care or were diagnosed with sprue-like enteropathy or celiac disease, our drug injury lawyers want to help protect your rights. You may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Don’t wait. Call or contact us online to get the legal representation you deserve.
GI Side Effects Linked to Benicar®
Olmesartan medoxomil—marketed under the brand names Benicar, Benicar HCT®, Azor®, and Tribenzor®—is the only drug of its type linked to sprue-like enteropathy. Sprue-like enteropathy is a GI condition identified by a collection of symptoms including severe, chronic diarrhea and rapid weight loss.
Sprue-like enteropathy shares similar symptoms with celiac disease (a condition in which food containing gluten causes damage to the small intestine) and irritable bowel syndrome, and is often misdiagnosed due to these similarities. Screening is recommended for patients exhibiting severe gastrointestinal distress after using Benicar, Azor, or Tribenzor, as one of the hallmarks of sprue-like enteropathy is GI symptoms that persist even after eliminating gluten intake entirely.
Other gastrointestinal side effects that may be caused by Benicar include:
- Anemia
- Chronic diarrhea
- Chronic fatigue
- Electrolyte abnormalities
- Intestinal inflammation
- Mouth ulcers
- Rapid weight loss
- Vitamin deficiencies
- Vomiting
FDA Warnings Lead to Benicar® Label Updates
The FDA issued a Drug Safety Communication linking Benicar, Benicar HCT®, Azor®, and Tribenzor® to the development of sprue-like enteropathy. Labels for the drugs were updated to include this warning. Additionally, FDA officials recommended that patients who develop symptoms of sprue-like enteropathy talk to their doctors about switching to alternative ARB blood pressure treatments.
Contact Our Benicar® Lawyers Today
You shouldn’t have to pay out of pocket if you took Benicar, Benicar HCT, Azor, or Tribenzor and suffered gastrointestinal side effects requiring medical treatment or hospitalization. Our drug injury lawyers will do everything we can to help you get the maximum possible results for your claim, so you can focus on getting better. Take action now—call or contact us online for a free case consultation today.
Benicar®, Benicar HCT®, Azor®, and Tribenzor®are registered trademarks of Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, and are used here only for the purpose of identifying the products in question.
Lundy Law is not associated with, sponsored by, or affiliated with Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited, or the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
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