Recover Compensation for Your Suffering with a Benicar Lawsuit
Benicar® is a popular prescription medication used to lower blood pressure. In recent years, lawsuits have been filed against the drug manufacturer by patients who have suffered intestinal problems and other harmful effects caused by the drug. If you or a loved one have become sick while taking the drug, you may be eligible to compensation as part of a Benicar lawsuit. Dangerous medication attorney Chris Olsen in San Diego, CA, works tirelessly to ensure victims receive justice.
A Closer Look at the Drug
Also called Olmesartan, Benicar is made and sold by Daiichi Sankyo and Forest Laboratories. Benicar was approved for commercial sale by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in April 2002. Since that time, Sankyo has spent nearly $1 billion promoting Benicar for its effectiveness in safely treating high blood pressure. According to the FDA, approximately 10.6 million Benicar prescriptions were dispensed in 2012 alone. Benicar has become the most widely prescribed blood pressure medication in the U.S.
Common Side Effects
There are a number of adverse Benicar side effects. Some Benicar patients developed serious intestinal conditions, which were characterized by chronic diarrhea, nausea, vomiting. As a result, they often endured severe weight loss, malnutrition, and other complications. Other concerns include:
- Dizziness
- Headache
- Difficulty breathing
- Trouble swallowing
- Coughing
Physicians have consistently reported instances where discontinuing Benicar allowed patients to recover. Anyone who experiences these symptoms should promptly contact their doctor.
Research Confirmed Harmful Complications
This link between patient illness and Benicar use has been documented. In 2012, the Mayo Clinic published findings that Benicar use is connected with severe spruelike enteropathy, a serious intestinal condition that causes severe diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. Since July 2013, Daiichi Sankyo has been required by the FDA to include a label on their product warning patients about the risk of severe spruelike enteropathy.
Lawsuits against Benicar
A growing number of patients who endured intestinal problems have filed lawsuits against Daiichi Sankyo. They have sought compensation for expensive medical costs, lost earnings from time off work, and emotional suffering.
The maker of Benicar has agreed to a $300 million settlement, but has not acknowledged liability.
Benicar lawsuits claim that the drug makers knew or should have known about the risk of serious intestinal complications. The lawsuits claim that Daiichi Sankyo should be liable for patient suffering and connected losses since the company failed to warn patients about potentially dangerous side effects.
On August 1, 2017, Daiichi Sankyo agreed to a $300 million settlement of all cases, if 95 percent of all claimants opt in. The company agreed to this settlement, although it did not admit liability, and continued making claims that the drug is safe.
Why File a Lawsuit?
Injured individuals can sue manufacturers of dangerous medications in a product liability lawsuit. Such lawsuits recover financial damages, allowing patients to focus on healing and alleviate the burden of mounting economic strain. Additionally, product liability suits bring public awareness to defective products or drugs, and force the hand of manufacturers to make their products safer, something they might otherwise not do for the sake of profit. In other words, product liability lawsuits are crucial to ensuring consumer safety.
Take the First Step Today
Attorney Chris Olsen can evaluate your unique situation to determine if you have a viable claim against Benicar's manufacturer. Contact the firm online or call our office at (619) 550-9352 to learn more.
