The attorneys at Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault are investigating claims on behalf of Benicar users who were diagnosed and/or treated for serious intestinal problems including severe weight loss, diarrhea, severe gastrointestinal problems (sprue-like enteropathy), mimicking of celiac disease, and even death while taking this high blood pressure medication.

Have you or anyone you know suffered from severe weight loss, diarrhea, other gastrointestinal problems or even death while taking Benicar? Find out if you are entitled to seek compensation by completing our free case evaluation.

In medical terms, Benicar may trigger an immune response. Benicar (olmesartan), which is manufactured by Forest Laboratories & Daiichi Sankyo was approved on April 25, 2002 by the FDA and is a prescription medication to treat high blood pressure.

Benicar and Sprue-Like Enteropathy

Dr. Joseph Murray, a Mayo Clinic Gastroenterologist who specializes in treating difficult cases of Celiac Disease, was the first to link Benicar and symptoms of intestinal problems that includes severe weight loss, diarrhea and/or severe gastrointestinal problems. Between the years 2008-2011 Dr. Murray observed 22 patients who developed gastrointestinal symptoms after starting and while on Benicar. While these symptoms mimic Celiac Disease, the patients did not improve once on a gluten-free diet. In conclusion, Dr. Murray took patients off Benicar and all patients improved and gained weight. His results were published in August 2012 in Mayo Clinic Proceedings.

In addition, in October 2012, American College of Gastroenterology connected an additional 40 cases of sprue-like enteropathy to olmesartan use and in May 2013 a study was published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology where researcher’s reports that patients who were negative for celiac disease actually had olmesartan related villous atrophy and upon discontinuation of the drug, patients experienced relief as well as weight gain. FDA issued a drug safety alert on July 3, 2013 regarding the warning of sprue-like enteropathy with the use of Benicar (olmesartan) and called these side effects “life-threatening”.

Serious and Life-Threatening Side Effects From the Use of Benicar

• Intestinal Problems (Sprue-like Enteropathy)
  • Severe/Chronic Diarrhea
  • Rapid and excessive weight loss
  • Mimics Celiac Disease
• Severe gastrointestinal problems
  • Villous atrophy
  • Malnourishment
  • Dehydration
  • Chronic diarrhea
  • Malnutrition
  • Intestinal Damage
• Significant Hospital Stays

If you or anyone you know has or is taking Benicar and has suffered serious life-threatening side effects, you may be entitled to compensation. The Benicar attorneys at Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault are dedicated to ensuring pharmaceuticals companies are held responsible for the dangerous side effects of their products. Call our Benicar Attorneys at Gallon, Takacs & Boissoneault or fill out the free case evaluation. We want to help you.