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.
What are side effects of Benicar?
Common side effects of Benicar include:
- dizziness,
- lightheadedness,
- bronchitis,
- back pain,
- joint or muscle pain,
- stomach pain,
- nausea,
- diarrhea,
What is the best time to take Benicar HCT?
How to use Benicar HCT. Take this medication by mouth as directed by your doctor, usually once daily with or without food. If this medication causes you to urinate more frequently, it is best to take it at least 4 hours before your bedtime to prevent having to get up to urinate.
Is Benicar good for high blood pressure?
Benicar (olmesartan) is an angiotensin II receptor blocker (sometimes called an ARB). Olmesartan keeps blood vessels from narrowing, which lowers blood pressure and improves blood flow. Benicar is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension) in adults and children at least 6 years old.
Can I eat bananas while taking Benicar?
If causes high potassium, does this mean you can’t eat bananas? Benicar (olmesartan) can raise the amount of potassium in your body, so you might want to avoid eating too many bananas and other foods with high potassium. It’s important that you have regular visits with your doctor so they can check your labs.
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).
What is a good replacement for Benicar?
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.
What can I take instead of Benicar?
Has Benicar been taken off the market?
Benicar has not been taken off the market. People filed the first federal Benicar lawsuits in 2014 after the Food and Drug Administration warned that drugs containing olmesartan could cause sprue-like enteropathy, a disease known to cause severe diarrhea and weight loss.