BENICAR HCT Reviews (HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE: OLMESARTAN MEDOXOMIL)

Average Rating: 2.7 (127 Ratings)

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 DIURETICS ANTIHYPERTENSIVES

 Type: Rx Drug

  

BENICAR HCT  (HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE: OLMESARTAN MEDOXOMIL):  This drug is used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension). Lowering high blood pressure helps prevent strokes, heart attacks, and kidney problems. This product contains two medications: olmesartan and hydrochlorothiazide. Olmesartan is an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) and works by relaxing blood vessels so that blood can flow more easily. Hydrochlorothiazide is a "water pill" (diuretic) that causes you to make more urine, which helps your body get rid of extra salt and water.   FDA Approval Date: 2003-06-05 (Sources: U.S. Centers for Medicare Services, FDA)

  

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Key to Ratings: 1=LOW (I would not recommend taking this medicine.)
5=HIGH (this medicine cured me or helped me a great deal.)

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More on BENICAR HCT: Reviews Summary  |  Drug Safety Information

RATING  REASONSIDE EFFECTS FOR BENICAR HCTCOMMENTSSEXAGEDURATION/
DOSAGE
DATE ADDED
 
 1  High Blood Pressure Started out with blood pressure controlled and feeling ok but over time noticed pain in my legs with heaviness when walking. The leg pains increased so badly that even walking short distances caused so much pain. Told my doctor but she did not think it was the Benicar. Went through several tests including xrays of knees, blood pressure circulation test by a cardiologist on my legs and arms, also 2nd opinion treadmill test, diabetes and cholesterol reading, and all tested normal. Also went through 2mos of Physical therapy and no respite. Then i found that the side effects I was experiencing were all the Benicar side effects. This drug is dangerous over time, now I am using a Disabled placard because it hurts to walk. Sleep deprivation, heart palpatations are some of the effects too. I have used other HBP medication with other side effects such as coughing, upset stomach and dizziness so when my doctors switched to Benicar I thought finally, this would work and it turned out to be the end of my feeling better and the beginning of disabling pain and limited well being. Am feeling unbalanced all of the time. what???? F 65 365 days
20 mg 1X day
10/4/2011
 4  High Blood Pressure (genetic) none. It seems to be regulating my blood pressure to below normal levels and I have had no noticeable side effects. I take the lowest dosage combo Benicar. I am unemployed and went to a clinic and was prescribed Lisinopril & a desperate diuretic (both generic because they were free) and had HORRIBLE side effects (weigh loss, lethargic, no appetite). I asked the clinic Dr to prescribe me Benicar HCT which my Dr had me on before I lost my job and health insurance. Side effect: I have to pay out of pocket and it is very expensive I am 5'3" and weigh 110 and have an healthy diet and exercise. I do not smoke. I do not use salt. I walk but don't work out daily. I am considered underweight by some and at one point my Dr. wanted me to gain 10 lbs. My Dr told me because of no other health issues and no diet or weigh issues that my hypertension is most likely genetically inherited. I have it on both paternal and maternal sides (mother, father, grandmother, grandfather) and heart disease and heart failure issues on both sides of my family. I am in my early 40's but not over 45. Had low blood pressure until I hit 40 years of age. F 40 2 years
12.2/20 1X day
3/29/2011
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 3  Hypertension I started with neck and back pain/stiffness. Now I have bouts with Vertigo and soreness of muscles in my knee, hip and elbows. Slight bouts with breathing occasionally. Benicar is the ONLY prescription medication that I take, over than a low dose aspirin. It controls my BP very well, however I am now experiencing these effects, especially muscle pain/soreness. My joint especially in my knees, elbows and hips hurt. When I checked the rare side effects of Benicar it listed everything I just mentioned. I told my dr. He doesn't believe that its' the Benicar. He ordered several blood tests and I'm waiting to hear back. He told me to discontinue the Benicar, but didn't give me anything in it's place to control my chornic BP. I feel horrible. Standing up from sitting and getting out of bed and walking stairs are VERY difficult now. F 55 3 years
20/12.5 1X day
3/24/2011
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 3  high bp swelling, edema F 77 5 years
59mg 1X day
3/19/2011
 3  blood pressure 140/90 Began with abdominal cramps like sharp gas pains. Diarrhea followed. The longer I took it the worse it got. Once I connected these symptoms to the new med and stopped taking it, within three days I was better. Went back on the Lisinopril, which gives me a wet cough and congestion feel. Hope the MD can find something different for me. F 59 30 days
20mg/12.5 1X day
11/27/2010
 1  hypertension Peripheral edema in legs, ankles, feet. Pain in legs, heaviness in legs. Swelling of wrists and hands. Extreme fatigue. Saw Dr on 11/18 and BP was 130/100. Also she doesn't believe the med caused the swelling. Switched back to lisinopril and happy with this. Diovan HCT also caused horrible peripheral edema in me and my dr. didn't believe me then. She said it can't be that because it contains HCT. Now she doesn't believe the Benicar caused the same reaction, even though it is in the same class of drug (ARB). Only reason I went on Diovan or Benicar is because she suspected my cough was from the lisinopril. I still had the cough with Benicar. F 51 4 months
20/12.5 1X day
11/21/2010
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 4  borderline high blood pressure The usual tiredness, but during the day. Increased unrination and leg cramping in the beginning (this went away after increasing fluid intake). Some blurred vision, but fleeting. Has anyone else experienced a change in your body smell? The medicine has a strong unpleasant odor in the bottle and I have noticed gradual change in my body smell (noticeable to me) over the last 7 months. It's not unpleasant, just different. F 45 9 months
40 25 1X day
10/30/2010
 5  Hypertension Flushing of the face I tried several blood pressure medicines and Benicar HCT has been by far the most effective for me. I tried Lisinopril, Diovan HCT, Lotrel and I had bad experiences with all of them. I felt like a new person when my Nurse Practitioner switched me to Benicar HCT. F 58 2 years
20mg/12.5 1X day
10/23/2010
 3  Blood Pressure I am itching. My skin around my hips, eyes and ears itch. For those of you experiencing leg and foot cramping... Try using a bar of soap under your sheet in the area of your legs/feet. I have been using it since I read about it in Dr. Gott. It works for me at night when the cramping sometimes starts. I have used Dial, Dove, Ivory soaps and there is no bed in the house without a bar of soap. Visitors sometimes complain but that's the only side effect. :) F 63 3 months
40-12.5 1X day
10/17/2010
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 1  high blood pressure was taking benicar off and on over the past 4 years. I kept getting shortness of breath, high pulse rate, lack of motivation, chest pressure. finally asked to switch me to 10mg lisinopril because I was sick of having benicar pushed on me. My pressure went from 180/70 within 3 hours of taking the med. No side effects. I was on benicar 40mg hct and it took weeks to kick in and I never got the great numbers I do with lisinopril F 45 4 years
40 1X day
9/14/2010
 2  labile blood pressure, Ok first few days, then noticed slightly spacey feeling in afternoon. After 1 month noticeable tiredness at end of day. Also difficulty remembering things - maybe because of tired feeling. blood pressure went from 145/95 at clinic to 106 over 75,occasionally to 103/65.Worse tiredness after eating a meal. Am going to see if they can give me a lower dose or a different med F 66 6 weeks
20-12.5 1X day
8/16/2010
 3  High Blood Pressure Increased urination,heart palpatations. I have lost 10lbs in 6 days I think due to the HCT but I am feeling the effects of it and I am staying hydrated 64 +oz daily. Not sure if this is for me. F 44 6 days
20MG 12.5 1X day
8/11/2010
 2  Hypertensn (160/104 typical premed) Moderate weakness, shortness of breath, lightheaded, headache, some dizziness, feeling ill, moderately severe diarrhea, felt like (mild case) food poisoning. Did not have an increase of Urination, however, already was getting up 3-4 times a night to go. Question: can the 20/12.5 pills just be cut in half, as current dose appears to be too strong for my physiology??? Took 20/12.5 for a couple of months, then discontinued for almost a year. Then I recently checked my BP again - was 160/100, yikes! SO I said, OK, I can't ignore this, and resumed. Both times, I had extreme sensitivity to being outdoors in the sun, extreme sweat. If all you look at is the numbers, it's excellent: a 160/100 dropped the next day to 120/80s, but in the sun (just watering the yard) got very lightheaded, weak, ill feeling, moderately severe diarrhea, checked BP ASAP and got 102/64, explained a lot. Had this a bit first time I took this, but reading returned to good range quickly, this time, even after major re-hydration still low. I will either be taking this every 48 hours or splitting the pills in half. I'd love to discontinue, but not without a plan in place. Regards to all, Thanks for making this a valuable resource for all whom take this med! F 59 45 days
20/12.5 1X day
8/9/2010
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 4  hypertension The first 2 to 3 weeks I had a cough but that went away. My cholesterol has risen but that may be due to aging. I was trying to control my BP with diet and exercise alone but it didn't work. After a course of treatment with other BP meds - none of them worked -- I was given Benicar HCT by a new doctor. Within the first 3 days my pressure went from 190/100 to 130/70. I have now been on it for 4 years, and my pressure is consistently 120/80 or below. I am thrilled with the results and am very happy with the medication. F 53 4 years
20 12.5 1X day
7/13/2010
 4  high blood pressure dont know of any works really well without ace inhibiter side affects M 47 2 years
lowest 1X day
7/12/2010
 1  hypertension Extreme weakness, shortness of breath upon walking, depression. Taking in conjunction with Bystolic. Don't know which medicine is worse. BP reduced somewhat. F 65 4 months
40 mg 1X day
6/15/2010
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 5  Hypertension some dizziness at first, but no more F 57 8 years
40/12.5 1X day
6/14/2010
 4  hypertension dizziness Have been on plain Benicar for about 8 years, but still had elevated systolic. New cardiologist changed to Benicar HCT BP averages now 118/64 (was running average of 160/94) F 57 7 days
40/12.5 1X day
5/27/2010
 4  High Blood Pressure Has brought my blood pressure down into the 120-70's so am happy. side effects have to get up several times at night to go to the bathroom. Have flushing of face Doctor not sure about this, ask to stop taking supplements for couple of weeks. Over all quite happy with results. M 66 2 months
40 mg 12.5 1X day
3/22/2010
 1   severe diarrhea. almost died. hospitalized 6 times before they figured out it was the Benicar. Lost 35 pounds. F 62 2 years
40 mg 1X day
3/20/2010
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