Olmesartan and Dizziness: What Users Say

• Bec...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2018

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "I have just turned 66 years old on 4/30/18. I've been taking Benicar HCT for 6 months. I have been very sick with persistent uncontrollable diarrhea (having it right after eating anything), extreme shortness of breath (so bad that I had a lung scan done, which was negative), dizziness (had to stand slowly and in place until stabilized), debilitating fatigue (couldn’t muster the energy to do anything, even taking a bath was exhausting), muscle/joint pain (difficult to walk and walked with a limp), nausea (had to frequently take antinausea medication), sleeping problems (couldn’t stay awake and sometimes had difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep), weight gain (approximately 20 pounds in 6 months), and bloating (always felt full). However, no more, I stopped taking it on my own without doctor approval after researching the side effects. It has been 2 days since I stopped, and there is a remarkable difference."

• Mig...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 3, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I stayed on 10mg most of the time. For weeks, it worked, though I felt brain fog throughout the day, then headaches that intensified over time. I woke up every night abruptly. Depression, blurred vision, cognitive problems, vertigo, loss of equilibrium, lethargy, chest pains, anxiety, stomach aches, brain zaps... It was like being at the gates of death. This drug made my life miserable, and the doctor that prescribed it just didn't believe me. I thought I was dying. One day I decided to skip a dose. The next day all of the symptoms were gone! It's been now five days since I stopped this deadly poison and feel stronger every day. I also realized the company that makes it is dealing with multiple lawsuits about all the harm it's caused many people. This is scary stuff. Needless to say, I switched doctors and threw away this poison. If you are feeling miserable while taking olmesartan, try skipping one day. You will be surprised. Love to all, and hope we can control blood pressure in more natural and healthy ways."

• Anonymous
• August 13, 2017

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "I've been on Benicar HCT 20mg/12.5mg for 3 weeks now. This medicine has some bad side effects. I've experienced light-headedness, dizziness, coughing, feeling like my chest is tight, sometimes muscle aches, and feeling tired all the time. Does anybody else experience these side effects? When you tell your doctor about your experience, they think it's not the medicine but we know our bodies."

• Loi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2020

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "Was switched from Losartan to Benicar due to recall of Losartan. First week was ok, some nausea which was helped with taking with food. Have been on it about 6 months and have had multiple issues but had not thought related until recently. Awful head fullness in the morning, migraines, steady headache most of the day, lower leg pain, not able to sleep, and then feeling like my ears are blocked and was treated for middle ear infection several times due to constant ear pain and vertigo, dizziness. Very blurry vision, floaters. Finally started looking at all my medications and found that when I moved Benicar to later in the day, the nausea, dizziness, and fatigue occurred within an hour of taking. It did great at lowering my BP, but side effects are awful! After discussion with the doctor and safe Losartan again available I am switching back. This drug is just not for me. Hoping things settle down once it is out of my system."

• Loi...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 25, 2020

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "Was switched from Losartan to Benicar due to recall of Losartan. First week was ok, some nausea which was helped with taking with food. Have been on it about 6 months and have had multiple issues but had not thought related until recently. Awful head fullness in the morning, migraines, steady headache most of the day, lower leg pain, not able to sleep, and then feeling like my ears are blocked and was treated for middle ear infection several times due to constant ear pain and vertigo, dizziness. Very blurry vision, floaters. Finally started looking at all my medications and found that when I moved Benicar to later in the day, the nausea, dizziness, and fatigue occurred within an hour of taking. It did great at lowering my BP, but side effects are awful! After discussion with the doctor and safe Losartan again available I am switching back. This drug is just not for me. Hoping things settle down once it is out of my system."

• Big...
• May 27, 2013

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "My blood pressure was high (144/90 - 180/110). My doctors tried Alpha and Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Ace Inhibitors, Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers, and diuretics. My best pressure was 138/90. The first week we tried Benicar HCT 40/25, I could tell a big difference. My best pressure was 128/78. After losing some weight, pressure dropped as well to 116/68. I started feeling extremely dizzy. I broke the pill in half and the dizziness improved. The doctor will need to adjust the dosage and hopefully will be able to discontinue use by the end of the year if weight loss continues. My appointments are now every three months instead of monthly. Overall, I am pleased with my progress since I started taking Benicar."

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 17, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "This medicine Olmesartan is horrible. I took it for 4 months for high blood pressure after my doctor switched me from Losartan because it was recalled. I have felt like rubbish the whole time, not realizing it was side effects from this medication. I had flu-like symptoms, muscle weakness, headaches, dizziness, and foggy-headed. I was worried it was something much worse. I would not recommend it!"

• Ree...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 29, 2018

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "I have been on Benicar 20/12.5 for 10 years and my blood pressure has been normal 110/65. I had to switch to the generic because of insurance reasons and I experienced all kinds of side effects: dizziness, cough, and higher blood pressure. It is not the same."

• hyd...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 25, 2015

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "It made me feel like I was drunk all the time, with unsteadiness on my feet and blurred vision. It also gave me hives. It made me eat constantly, and I gained about 25 pounds during the 2 months I was on it. My lower legs and ankles swelled up, and I couldn't get the swelling to go down, I tried everything. About a week to 2 weeks after quitting Benicar 300mg, the side effects started subsiding, my lower legs and ankles took the longest to go down. Even my eating has gone back to normal, but now I have 25 pounds to lose. I hope this helps anyone thinking about taking it. My mother also worked with a woman who took it for about a month, and it made her pass out at work one day, so she quit taking it too. Hope this helps!"

• Anonymous
• November 14, 2012

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Benicar for four years with no noticeable side effects; keeps my blood pressure at 115/75 easily. I had experienced negative effects such as leg cramps and severe dizziness with other medicines prior to taking Benicar. I still monitor other aspects of my life that affect blood pressure - adequate exercise, proper diet, etc., but am happy this medicine is available to 'close the gap.'"

• Fio...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 27, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "I had resisted taking BP meds for years and tried exercise, supplements, and diet to manage my BP, but eventually, it was spiking at around 180/110 and consistently averaging about 140-150/90-100 no matter what I did, so I started Olmesartan 20 mg. That was about 2 years ago. The only initial symptoms I got were mild dizziness and fatigue. The dizziness only lasted a week or so, but the fatigue has persisted to a degree. I’m just a little less energetic and feel a little more ‘flat’ since starting it, but it’s well worth it to keep my BP down and avoid all the issues that can bring."

• cat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 10, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on olmesartan 20 mg nearly 4 weeks ago. I started okay, but as the days went on, I noticed different side effects. I got chest pain, breathlessness, tight chest, hard to take deep breaths, can't walk anywhere, and my heart rate rose. I did have 2 episodes of Afib on Christmas Day 2022 and 5 weeks later, which was stress related. I do have other medical conditions. I am overweight but have lost weight on this tablet. I am 50, and my blood pressure was getting high. Hard to do normal everyday tasks. Saturday, I woke up and was nauseated, dizzy, vomiting, had chest pain, and couldn't eat or drink water. Went to the emergency room, they did tests, and my heart was fine, and they said it is the olmesartan. They said I could just stop them, and it's been 72 hours, and I'm still nauseated at times. My blood pressure is high, anywhere from 138/100 to 174/110 if I move around. The reflux is bad, I urinate a lot, the ringing in my ears has gotten worse, had pain and a needle feeling in my chest and get sometimes all over. Pain in leg, can't drive, anxiety, and depression is extreme. No sex drive."

• Mik...
• July 24, 2016

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "I give this medicine a 5 because it does lower your blood pressure, but unfortunately, the side effects are pretty bad. I was diagnosed with hypertension at 25, and before Benicar, I never had a dizzy spell in my life. Now, dizzy spells are just part of life, as well as fatigue and breathing issues. It's not all the time, but a few times a week, I just feel unwell. I think this is a good medicine for an older person who just needs to get the numbers down, but it's terrible for a young active person."

• Din...
• May 3, 2009

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "Seems to work for everyone but me. Quality of life was seriously affected by the ongoing dizziness from this product (20 mg). Elevators left me weak-kneed and staggering at work. Daily descending stairs also a vertigo nightmare. Blood pressure can easily go into 214/105 in emergencies, so I would like to find something to reduce those numbers without the extreme dizziness. I work in a psychiatric setting, so I have to be alert and move quickly without falling on my face. I didn't notice any appreciable drop in blood pressure either, with numbers still in the 170s most of the time."

• Din...
• May 3, 2009

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "Seems to work for everyone but me. Quality of life was seriously affected by the ongoing dizziness from this product (20 mg). Elevators left me weak-kneed and staggering at work. Daily descending stairs also a vertigo nightmare. Blood pressure can easily go into 214/105 in emergencies, so I would like to find something to reduce those numbers without the extreme dizziness. I work in a psychiatric setting, so I have to be alert and move quickly without falling on my face. I didn't notice any appreciable drop in blood pressure either, with numbers still in the 170s most of the time."

• Anonymous
• October 3, 2009

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "Have been using Benicar 20 mg for a couple of years now (age 47). Slight dizziness first week after hard exercise in the sun (bike riding up a steep hill, singles tennis in 85-degree sun). Doctor suggested taking at night before bedtime. Now, no problems. Was 140 / 95. Now 122 / 70, still exercising (tennis, biking) 3-4 days per week without dizziness. Feels like no side effects. Love it."

• Con...
• December 6, 2014

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "Been taking Benicar/HCT for several years now. It is a very effective antihypertensive in this combination. As they say, nothing in life is free. While it does a great job of lowering my blood pressure, I have experienced several bothersome side effects. These include lightheadedness, dizziness, and sleepiness. The latter may be due to the potent antihypertensive action of the combination. Tried cutting the pill in half, but since it is not scored, really don't know how much medicine I am getting in the split piece."

• She...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 30, 2022

For High Blood Pressure "Felt okay the first two days, but then the nasty effects kicked in: dizziness, head pressure, GI symptoms, anxiety, generalized body pains, and stiffness. No effect on BP either. Better off treating hypertension with a good diet, exercise, meditation, and intermittent fasting."

• Oti...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 15, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "54-year-old male. Olmesartan medoxomil 40 mg once daily caused muscle cramps in my upper back, lower back pain while standing to the point of having to sit down, and dizziness. I stopped taking this med, and within four days, all of the above problems went away."

• Ren...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 30, 2021

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "I was put on 20 mg of Benicar in January 2020. After about 3 months, I started having a chronic choking cough, extreme fatigue, could barely walk a block without feeling fatigued. Rapid heartbeat, dizziness, stomach upset, and low body temp. The most troubling side effect was rapid weight gain-30 lbs in 6 months. Very debilitating year."

• Hel...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 25, 2025

For High Blood Pressure "Just wanted to come on here to let everyone know that I have been on this medication after switching from losartan. I take 20 mg a day and have no side effects. I was a little tired in the beginning, and I used to get a little dizzy when standing up. My blood pressure was well controlled in the beginning, but now it is creeping up just a little. Might have to double the dose. DON'T BE SCARED. You will be fine. It is trial and error. Take the pill and forget about it. The anxiety about taking the pill will make you feel worse than the pill itself. Good luck!"

• Tar...
• January 31, 2011

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "I have been very pleased with the effectiveness of Benicar 20 mg. I started out taking Benicar 20/12.5 mg, and the 12.5 HCTZ caused dizziness and light-headedness after several days of use. So I requested the plain Benicar 20 mg without the HCTZ diuretic, and I have felt much better, no problems at all. My blood pressure has stayed at 120/78, and often it is even lower. I take it once daily and go about my normal routine."

• phi...
• July 22, 2008

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "Am on Benicar 40 mg once a day. It works pretty well, although the doctor had to add 25 mg HCTZ to get my blood pressure to 120/70. Causes minimal dizziness, not aware of any other side effects. Prior medicines included lisinopril, which worked better but caused me to cough all the time, and Toprol XL. One thing about Benicar - it sped up my heart rate by about 20 beats, which my doctor said was OK."

• Cla...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 14, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Side effects, reflux, heartburn, rapid weight gain, dizziness, generalized osteoarthritis pain, restless legs and leg pain, insomnia, urinary tract infection, blurred vision, tiredness, silent migraine, nausea, heavy legs and body after taking in the evening, aspiration of stomach contents, reflux while asleep scary... Lots of side effects, going to GP to have a change of meds, feel terrible with all these side effects. Blood pressure lowered as a result on a positive note..."

• onl...
• January 12, 2009

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Benicar 20/12.5 Hydrochlorothiazide for 7 years now. It works well and keeps my blood pressure at 120/75-80. Regular Benicar without diuretic did not work so well, so I switched to HCT about 6 years ago. I do experience dizziness occasionally and get light-headed, but I was told that's normal."