The Benicar Lawsuit

Benicar, a olmesartan angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), is a medication approved for the treatment of high blood pressure alone or with other antihypertensive agents. Benicar was approved by the FDA in 2002 and is distributed by Daiichi Sankyo of Forest Laboratories.

In May 2012, the Mayo Clinic published a study of 22 cases involving Benicar. Each patient in the study was using Benicar and being treated for symptoms of Celiac disease. Once the patients discontinued their use of Benicar, the symptoms of Celiac disease ceased.

Benicar (prescribed to treat high blood pressure) has been linked by the FDA to sprue-like enteropathy & Celiac Disease. — Studies have found that the prescription drug Benicar may cause Celiac's disease-like symptoms in patients.

What the FDA Says About Benicar

In July 2013, the FDA issued a safety announcement for olmestartan medoxomil (Benicar, Benicar HCT, Azor, Tribenzor) and its link to sprue-like enteropathy. In the announcement, they required labeling changes to reflect health risks. At the time of the statement, the FDA did not link any of the 8 other angiotensin II receptor blockers to sprue-like enteropathy.

Symptoms of Sprue-Like Enteropathy

Sprue-like enteropathy is a serious health condition that sometimes requires hospitalization. Symptoms include:

severe, chronic diarrhea
substantial weight loss

According to the FDA, the condition can develop well after Benicar (olmesartan) is taken, with symptoms developing months or even years after a patient starts taking the drug. Anyone displaying symptoms of sprue-like enteropathy should see a medical professional immediately.