Benicar

[Michelle]

My husband has been taking a Benicar 40 mg for a couple of months and has experienced a respiratory infection with hoarseness for about 1 1/2 months. He is on his second round of antibiotics. We were just thinking that it was a winter infection but then a coworker who has experienced the same type illness stated that her doctor removed her from taking Benicar because that was a side effect. Anyone else experiencing these type problems.

[barbaralastrina]

Michelle wrote:

My husband has been taking a Benicar 40 mg for a couple of months and has experienced a respiratory infection with hoarseness for about 1 1/2 months. He is on his second round of antibiotics. We were just thinking that it was a winter infection but then a coworker who has experienced the same type illness stated that her doctor removed her from taking Benicar because that was a side effect. Anyone else experiencing these type problems.

Yes, I have the same side effects only worse, dry night cough, chest tightness, sinus congestion, hoarseness, and difficulty breathing. Off Benicar and symptoms disappeared. Doctor switched me to a calcium channel blocker Sular. Been on it for three weeks, no problems, but then I didn't have a problem with Benicar until I was taking it for four months. It does reduce blood pressure, but has too many side effects. I would talk to your husband's doctor about switching to something else.

[Carolyn]

I have had 2 sinus infections the past year, an upper respiratory infection and ear infections since starting Benicar. I just quit a week ago. How long did it take for the symptoms to go away? I have constant mucus drainage and have to clear my throat all the time -- driving everybody crazy!

[Carolyn]

barbaralastrina wrote:

<quoted text>Yes, I have the same side effects only worse, dry night cough, chest tightness, sinus congestion, hoarseness, and difficulty breathing. Off Benicar and symptoms disappeared. Doctor switched me to a calcium channel blocker Sular. Been on it for three weeks, no problems, but then I didn't have a problem with Benicar until I was taking it for four months. It does reduce blood pressure, but has too many side effects. I would talk to your husband's doctor about switching to something else.

I've had sinus infections, upper respiratory infections and constant mucus drainage for almost 2 years. Just quit Benicar. I think it's from Benicar but my doctor disagrees. I've been off it for a week. I don't know how long it takes to get out of your system. I've researched it and the side effects list sinus problems, upper respiratory infections, etc.

[Stacy]

I experienced SEVERE breathing problems since taking Benicar. The symtoms started after a few months. I was out of town due to an emergency and forgot to bring my meds and for that time I felt so much better ( 2 wk.s). My Dr. does not agree either that it is the medication. I am in the process of finding a Dr. who listens to the patient who pays him. In the last year I have been in the ER more than 6 times on steroids more times than I can count.

[barbara]

Stacy wrote:

I experienced SEVERE breathing problems since taking Benicar. The symtoms started after a few months. I was out of town due to an emergency and forgot to bring my meds and for that time I felt so much better ( 2 wk.s). My Dr. does not agree either that it is the medication. I am in the process of finding a Dr. who listens to the patient who pays him. In the last year I have been in the ER more than 6 times on steroids more times than I can count.

Been on Benicar again for four months. Now having lightheadedness and chest tightness. When will it end. I too need to find a doctor who believes the side effects.

[Robert Finch]

barbara wrote:

<quoted text>Been on Benicar again for four months. Now having lightheadedness and chest tightness. When will it end. I too need to find a doctor who believes the side effects.

I have been on benicar for about 3 months. I have had a dry cough for about 2 months, and chest tightness for the same amount of time. I am now considering going off it. I have tried a merry-go-round of high blood pressure pill this last year. This one just doesn't seem all that good either.

[barbara]

Robert Finch wrote:

<quoted text>
I have been on benicar for about 3 months. I have had a dry cough for about 2 months, and chest tightness for the same amount of time. I am now considering going off it. I have tried a merry-go-round of high blood pressure pill this last year. This one just doesn't seem all that good either.

What other meds have you taken? I have been on Cozaar, Sular, Hydrochlorothiazde, Diovan and had bad experiences with all of them including Benicar. It would be helpful to know what other meds you have been on and what type of side effects you have had. Thanks.

[steven b]

Good morning. I understand from your posts that you are all currently taking Benicar. As you may know, the FDA recently issued a "Warning Letter" to the company that manufactures and sells Benica (Sankyo Pharma) advising them that the sales materials used by the company are false and misleading. Those materials according to the FDA contain unsubstantiated claims of effectiveness and omit and minimize risks associated with the drug.

I am an attorney in Washington, D.C. who formerly worked for the federal government. I am now investigating the practices of Sankyo Pharma in connection with their sale of Benicar for consumers. In connection with that investigation, it would be very helpful if you could contact my office to discuss your experience with this medication.

If you have any questions or are interested, please contact my office.

Thank you for your cooperation

Steven Berk, Chavez & Gertler, Washington, DC

[William Wallace]

I have been taking Benicar (version with the diuretic) for over a year and finally discontinued a few days ago because of side effects. During vigorous exercise I sweat profusely, feel exhausted, out of breath, and light-headed. After one 4 mile walk/jog I measured BP at 90/52. As long as I was jogging I felt fine, but when I stopped to walk it felt like I was going to faint.(Some months ago in the evening I did faint when I got up from a chair and opened a nearby door to let my daughter in.)
I can pass the Army physical fitness test for my age (25 push-ups in 2 minutes, 30 sit-ups in 2 minutes, and a 2 mile in 19:30) and am overweight by about 20 pounds with a BMI of 26.4.

-- [e-mail]

steven b wrote:

Good morning. I understand from your posts that you are all currently taking Benicar. As you may know, the FDA recently issued a "Warning Letter" to the company that manufactures and sells Benica (Sankyo Pharma) advising them that the sales materials used by the company are false and misleading. Those materials according to the FDA contain unsubstantiated claims of effectiveness and omit and minimize risks associated with the drug.
I am an attorney in Washington, D.C. who formerly worked for the federal government. I am now investigating the practices of Sankyo Pharma in connection with their sale of Benicar for consumers. In connection with that investigation, it would be very helpful if you could contact my office to discuss your experience with this medication.
If you have any questions or are interested, please contact my office.
Thank you for your cooperation
Steven Berk, Chavez & Gertler, Washington, DC

[ron]

What would happen if y ou quit taking it all together?

[Edna]

I have been takin benicar for about 2 years but i think i am having a reaction to this medication . i have severe itiching and i have had upper resitory problems. Than you. Edna

[Elevate liver enzymes too]

I closely monitor my blood liver enzymes as I like to enjoy cold beers but don't want to overdo it. Seems ever since I started taking Benicar both my AST and ALT are elevated. After my first test with higher AST and ALT came back I backed off on the Benicar to once every other day but again with my most recent blood work the values are still high. I'm maintaining and increasing my exercise regimen along with dropping the Benicar completely as I have been in the sub 140/90 range with latest exercise. The same Dr. tryed to prescribe me quinine for suppose leg cramps which disappeard. The Drs. and Pharma companies are very evil and can make things worse. Always read up on side effects and don't always listen to the "HMO" Dr.

[2dogsma]

Have a suggestion for anybody that has a dr that doesn't want to think about side effects of these drugs. Print out some of these problems people write about here and stick it under their nose. Then maybe they'll wake up. That's what I plan to do. And while I'm at it I'm going to print out the list of side effects that are listed for this damn drug and every other one I've been on and underline the adverse effects that I've had to search the internet to find because the drug companies don't list them. I may be among what they call the "5%" but it doesn't mean it's in my head.

[M Ilahi]

I switched from Atacand to Benicar abut 3-4 months ago because the latter was cheaper. For the past couple of weeks I am bothered by nocturnal dry hacking cough and wheezing which prevents sleep. There is also nasal stuffiness. I plan to go back to Atacand and fork out more money. I suspect Benicar as the offending agent. Their literature gives a &5 incidence of upper respiratoy infections but I suspect its much higher.

[M Ilahi]

Yes Ive had very troubling upper respiratory symptoms starting about 3 months after initiating Benicar. Did not have them with Atacand or Cozaar. Switched to Benicar only because it cost less

[Denise]

A friend of mine began Benicar 2-3 weeks ago and called me this morning very concerned about a persistant raspy cough that developed in the same time period. He has severe nasal congestion and swollen throat. The doctor put him on a round of antibiotics which were ineffective in allieviating the symptoms. His doctor poo pooed the sugestion that the Benicar was causing the symptoms. Shame on that doctor for not listening to his patient and on the pharmaceudical companies making a profit at the expense of people's health.

[Mike]

Been taking Benicar for approx 1-year and had severe abdominal/back pain and was hospitalized. One year after hospitalization and no explanation for my pain my doctor advised me to discontinue taking benicar and i feel 100% better and am controlling my bp with diet and exercise

[Lisa]

The doctor put my mom on Benicar, and she started with a dry cough that has now turned into a full-blown deep congested cough. Sounds like she's going to cough up a lung any minute. It's gotten so bad that she's had a few choking spells from the cough and conjestion. The pharmacist told me this was a possible side effect and to try decongestant for my mom. Instead, I called the doctor, who said for her to stop the medication to see if the symptoms would go away. Today will be her first day without the Benicar, so hopefully this clears up quickly. Thank heavens I found this site so I can see this really is a side effect and that there's hope that my mom will get better. Her cough and congestion are so bad that I started getting very worried.

[Joann]

I have been on Benicar for 8 months. I have noticed that my hair seems thinner than it used to be ever since I started taking this medicine. I really don't have any of the other side effects other than possible TMJ.