A Louisiana woman filed a Benicar side effects lawsuit against drug manufacturer Daiichi Sankyo Inc. after she allegedly suffered gastrointestinal injuries from her use of the blood pressure medication.

Plaintiff Bernadette Bujol-Brown, 63, was prescribed and used Benicar to manage her high blood pressure from May 1, 2006, until Aug. 9, 2013, according to her Benicar lawsuit. In the spring of 2010, Bujol-Brown experienced “various gastrointestinal conditions, including but not limited to, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, which led her to see her primary care physician.” She also underwent surgery when it was discovered that she had active bleeding in her upper GI tract due to lesions and other GI damage allegedly caused by her use of Benicar.

According to the Benicar side effects lawsuit, “Plaintiff [Bujol-Brown] has since discontinued use of the Product, Benicar HCT, on advice from her treating physician, and her symptoms have been resolved.” Since the initial GI problems, she has had to make several medical visits and had an additional surgery in 2013 to manage the GI problems and side effects she alleges were caused by Benicar.

Bujol-Brown alleges that Daiichi Sankyo has violated the Louisiana Products Liability Act by producing and selling a dangerous drug with risks that outweigh the supposed benefits advertised on the Benicar label. She also alleges that Daiichi Sankyo is liable because they neglected to place proper warning labels on the blood pressure medication about the risks of painful GI side effects associated with consuming Benicar.

The Benicar Side Effects Lawsuit is Bernadette Bujol-Brown v. Daiichi Sankyo Inc., et al., Case No. 2:14-cv-01762, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Background on Benicar

Benicar (or Olmesartan) is a popular hypertension medication designed, manufactured, and sold by the Japanese pharmaceutical company Daiichi Sankyo. Since this angiotensin II receptor antagonist drug was first developed in 1995, it has been prescribed to over 11 million patients every year.

In July 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported use of Benicar can cause patients to develop sprue-like enterophathy, a medical condition that can cause severe GI problems.

Additionally, the Mayo Clinic Proceedings medical journal published a research study that reported on 22 Benicar cases in which the subjects who had taken Benicar to manage their blood pressure conditions allegedly exhibited celiac disease symptoms in addition to complications in the small intestines.

Benicar Side Effects

Benicar’s warning labels and marketing materials only warn consumers of the possibility of developing kidney problems and does not mention other potential side effects. According to various reports, other Benicar side effects experienced by consumers include:

• chronic diarrhea
• sudden and severe weight loss
• electrolyte imbalance
• sprue-like enteropathy
• villous atrophy
• other GI problems regularly misdiagnosed as celiac symptoms

Benicar users who were prescribed and consumed the Daiichi blood pressure medication for at least four months and were then hospitalized for severe gastrointestinal problems may qualify to join a Benicar class action lawsuit.