Why was Benicar taken off the market?
Watchdog group Public Citizen petitioned the FDA to get antihypertensive olmesartan medoxomil (Benicar HCT) and generics off the market because of the risk of sprue-like enteropathy, a severe and even life-threatening gastrointestinal side effect.
Was Benicar taken off the market?
In 2017, Benicar manufacturer Daiichi Sankyo and co-promoter Forest Laboratories agreed to a $300 million settlement to compensate nearly 2,000 patients for their injuries. Benicar has not been taken off the market.
Is there a recall on Benicar?
Has Benicar been recalled? No. However, in July 2013, the FDA required the addition of warnings regarding the risk of sprue-like enteropathy and villous atrophy to the drug labels of Benicar, Benicar HCT, Tribenzor and Azor.
Does Benicar cause heart problems?
Benicar Drug Combo Increases Health Risks For Patients With Heart Failure: Study. Medical experts are warning that use of Benicar together with many heart drugs may not help patients suffering from high blood pressure and heart problems, and the combination may in fact cause kidney damage and other health risks.
What are the long term effects of taking Benicar?
Symptoms of drug-induced sprue-like enteropathy include severe, chronic diarrhea and substantial weight loss within months to years after beginning use of the medication. Benicar can also result in fetal toxicity and is not recommended for women who are pregnant.
Is Benicar hard on the kidneys?
But since its FDA approval, many negative side effects have been linked to the use of Benicar, one of the most serious being kidney failure (also referred to as renal failure).
Why was olmesartan discontinued?
[7-3-2013] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that the blood pressure drug olmesartan medoxomil (marketed as Benicar, Benicar HCT, Azor, Tribenzor, and generics) can cause intestinal problems known as sprue-like enteropathy.
What is a good replacement for Benicar?
The bottom line As you have seen, Cozaar (losartan) may be used more frequently than Benicar (olmesartan) because it is approved for more conditions. They both work very well for hypertension and are recommended by many health organizations as first-line hypertension treatment.
Is Benicar safe to take?
FDA has not concluded that Benicar increases the risk of death. The Agency is reviewing this safety concern and will update the public when additional information is available. FDA believes the benefits of Benicar in patients with high blood pressure continue to outweigh the potential risks.
Is Benicar a safe drug?
Why is olmesartan discontinued?
Is hair loss a side effect of Benicar?
Hair loss (alopecia) is not a common side effect of the blood pressure medication Benicar (olmesartan). There have been isolated reports of people experiencing hair loss while taking Benicar, but that doesn’t mean the drug necessarily caused the problem.