Chronic Diarrhea, Dehydration and Weight Loss: Thanks, Benicar

Washington, DCAs we look toward the emergence of bellwether Benicar lawsuits later this year, patients prescribed the popular medication indicated for hypertension (high blood pressure) continue to be surprised to find themselves shackled by the nasty and chronic diarrhea that often is a byproduct of sprue-like enteropathy.

The latter is a gastrointestinal disorder that can carry serious consequences, including hospitalization and for some, even death.

High blood pressure remains a scourge of the American population, triggered in some by natural genetics but also a result of the cumulative effects of a poor diet, lack of exercise and other factors. Benicar (olmesartan) has proven to be an effective tool for doctors to help rein in hypertension for their patients.

However, plaintiffs in Benicar lawsuits say they had no knowledge that Benicar could leave them with serious Benicar Illness and Weight Loss.

The latter is what happens when severe diarrhea takes hold. The diarrhea typical of sprue-like enteropathy can be chronic, leaving patients bedridden or at the very least shackled to their restrooms, unable to venture far from facilities. With severe diarrhea such as this, it remains difficult for a patient to retain fluids. Patients often wind up in the hospital suffering from severe dehydration.

This is especially serious for the elderly. Several Benicar lawsuits allege that patients have died due to the effects of chronic diarrhea and sprue-like enteropathy.

Benicar (olmesartan) is manufactured by Daiichi Sankyo and marketed by Forest Laboratories. The hypertension medication is in a class of drugs known as angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB). It is interesting to note that according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), sprue-like enteropathy has not been linked with other medications in the ARB class.

In other words, sprue-like enteropathy appears to be unique to Benicar.

In 2012, the well-known Mayo Clinic conducted a study and found a link between Benicar and sprue-like enteropathy. A year later the FDA was out with a warning with regard to the potential for Benicar Illness and Weight Loss. Plaintiffs in Benicar lawsuits allege they had no idea that Benicar could foster such an illness. Had they known, they would have switched to a different medication.

What makes matters even more confusing, are the similarities between sprue-like enteropathy symptoms and those of celiac disease. Some patients have been diagnosed and treated for the latter, when sprue-like enteropathy has in reality been the actual cause for Benicar Illness and Weight Loss.

For some patients - especially the elderly - substantial weight loss that often accompanies such serious illness is not survivable.