A drug used for treating high blood pressure has been linked with a number of severe gastrointestinal side effects, according to a report from the Mayo Clinic.
Between 2008 and 2011, 22 patients taking the drug olmesartan, sold under the brand name Benicar, suffered symptoms similar to celiac disease, including chronic diarrhea, vomiting, intestinal inflammation and weight loss. Fourteen of the patients had to be hospitalized.
Doctors tried putting the patients on a gluten-free diet, the typical solution for treating celiac disease, but to no avail. When patients stopped taking olmesartan, their symptoms improved dramatically.
Dr. Joseph Murray, the Mayo Clinic gastroenterologist who treated the patients, said the problem is most likely very rare.
"The message to people taking this drug is that they should not stop their medications," Murray said in a press conference. "If they're having GI problems, they should talk with their doctors."
Olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor blocker, or ARB, a popular class of drugs used to treat high blood pressure. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, pharmacies dispensed the drug to 1.2 million Americans in 2010. About 68 million Americans have high blood pressure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Doctors are skeptical that the findings apply to most of the people who take olmesartan or other ARBs. Dr. Franz Messerli, director of the hypertension program at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York, said just because the side effects stopped when patients stopped taking the drug doesn't necessarily mean that the drug caused those side effects.
"Only re-exposure [to the drug] can confirm that the GI side effects were indeed due to olmesartan," he said.
And many doctors say that GI side effects from the drug are very uncommon.
"I use this agent all the time with excellent results with respect to blood pressure lowering," said Dr. Henry Black, clinical professor of cardiology at NYU-Langone Medical Center. "I find it very difficult to believe that this very small sample of individuals means anything."
More:
Blood Pressure Drug: GI Side Effects?
- CCHR: Psychiatric Drugs Side Effects [Last Updated On: March 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: March 14th, 2011]
- Senseless [Last Updated On: March 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: March 31st, 2011]
- Acid Reflux Drug Side-Effects [Last Updated On: April 3rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 3rd, 2011]
- Drug Side Effects Up, But Benefits Up More [Last Updated On: April 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: April 20th, 2011]
- OCD Drug Commercial Side Effects Spoof - Funny Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Cartoon - ExoticJess [Last Updated On: May 20th, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 20th, 2011]
- Bipolar side effects song Dustin Prinz drugs ep [Last Updated On: May 22nd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 22nd, 2011]
- Anti-Malaria Drug Side Effects on Military Personnel - Cowardice [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2011] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2011]
- The A to Z of Drug Side Effects [Last Updated On: June 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 11th, 2011]
- Neurologic side effects of antipsychotic medication [Last Updated On: June 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 12th, 2011]
- Side Effects of Drugs - USE a SAFER Alternative - MD / RN - Click link at RIGHT [Last Updated On: June 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 15th, 2011]
- Yaz | Yasmin Drug Side Effects [Last Updated On: June 16th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 16th, 2011]
- Nutrition vs. Conventional Medicine [Last Updated On: June 18th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 18th, 2011]
- Side Effects of Cholesterol Drugs (Lipitor) [Last Updated On: June 21st, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 21st, 2011]
- CCHR: Drugging Our Children—Side Effects [Last Updated On: June 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 25th, 2011]
- Side effects of Common Arthritis Drugs.wmv [Last Updated On: June 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: June 30th, 2011]
- Self Hypnosis Hallucination Video (NO SIDE EFFECTS) [Last Updated On: July 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 11th, 2011]
- How Medicines Work: Drug Problems 3: Interactions and Substrates [Last Updated On: July 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 25th, 2011]
- Pharmaceutical Drug Commercial Spoof [Last Updated On: July 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2011]
- Nick Gillespie Talks Ed Schultz, TSA v. Texas on Fox News Red Eye w/ Greg Gutfeld [Last Updated On: July 27th, 2011] [Originally Added On: July 27th, 2011]
- The Drugging Of Our Children (Full Length) [Last Updated On: August 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 13th, 2011]
- HIV medicine ATRIPLA/side effects [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 17th, 2011]
- What are the side-effects of ADHD medications? [Last Updated On: August 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 26th, 2011]
- Chemotherapy Cancer Treatments [Last Updated On: August 31st, 2011] [Originally Added On: August 31st, 2011]
- Suzy Cohen Tells You About Side Effects from Drug Muggers [Last Updated On: September 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 11th, 2011]
- Governor Admits Past Drug Use, Now What? [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2011]
- Adderall - College Student Smart Drug [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2011]
- Children Drugged To Death - Channel 4 [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2011]
- Mom Refuses Ritalin and Heals Her ADHD Autism Kids With Natural Medicine [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2011]
- Taking the Tablets - Side Effects [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2011]
- Side Effects Of HIV Drugs [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2011] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2011]
- Narcotics Agent Body Slams Drug Laws [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Most Astonishing Health Disaster of the 20th Century [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- The Drug EFFEXOR will bring you to your knees [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Depakote Side Affects Harm Autistic Person [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- TV Commercial DruG SPOoF ! [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Side Effects - Part 2 [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2011]
- Side Effects May Include... : from the Goin' Green album by: Audio Faux Pas [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- How to Sue Drug Companies for Free [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Should You Trust Your Doctor? [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Xenical (Orlistat) Side Effects - News Report [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Side Effects - Part 1 [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Chantix Side Effects: The Carter Albrecht Effect [Last Updated On: October 5th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 5th, 2011]
- Can I sue if a pharmaceutical drug I took causes negative side effects? [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Powerful Form of Ecstasy Drug Kills Blood Cancer Cells - 8/21/11 [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Drug voltaren [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- The Dark Side Of Psychiatry--Antipsychotic Drugs, Olanzapine, Risperidone, Clozapine [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- My Review Of Accutane [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Evista treatment [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Tizanidine medicine [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Ponstel 250mg [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- #14.2 Senior Medication Challenges [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Levlen 28 [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Diclofenac uses [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Happy Juice - Peru [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Premarin pill [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2011]
- Revatio cost [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Alendronate sodium pills [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Provera drug [Last Updated On: October 7th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 7th, 2011]
- Tizanidine drug [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- CCHR Video 8a - Side Effects. Anti-Depressants, Suicidal Thoughts. Psychotropic Drugs. [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Drug Duphaston [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Dydrogesterone in Usa [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Vigora price [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Premarin drug [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Raloxifene side effects [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2011]
- Tizanidine medication [Last Updated On: October 9th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 9th, 2011]
- Zanaflex drug [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- Zanaflex medicine [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- Vigora [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- Side Effects of Alzheimer's Disease Medications [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- Are You Tired of Your Blood Pressure Medicine? [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2011]
- PCOS- Metformin (Is it worth dealing with the side effects) [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2011]
- 1/5.Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil, Viagra, Lipitor, Cialis, Nexium [Last Updated On: October 12th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2011]
- Drug Side Effects - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Drug Interactions and Side Effects - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- Do You Understand Your Prescription Blood Pressure Drugs? - Video [Last Updated On: October 13th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- What you need to know about statin drugs side effects (animation) - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- The #1 Most Dangerous Blood Pressure Drug Side Effect - Video [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Mental Health Medication Side Effects [Last Updated On: October 14th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Prescription Drug Side Effects - Video [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2011] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]