Olmesartan and Pain: What Users Say

• Ang...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 24, 2019

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "Benicar was not a good medication for me. I experienced awful side effects. Stiffening of the body, very painful joint pain especially at night, leg pain, daily stomach pains (thought I had cancer), chest pains, diarrhea, bloating, difficulty in walking, could barely walk a block without getting out of breath and needed an inhaler. I had swelling of tongue, face, feet, weight gain, and some depression due to dealing with all these issues. One day after seeing my reflection in a large window at work, I was shocked to see how hunched I was and full of pain. I was never like this and how did this happen? I started to believe I must be aging. I realized the only change in life was this medication and insisted it be switched. Once removed, the critical side effects stopped except for ongoing digestive issues."

• 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."

• zap...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 6, 2016

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "Beware!! This med worked well to lower BP, but I have been on 40mg for 3 years now. This slowly caused problems I didn't catch on to immediately, such as severe pain in feet (top and bottom) like plantar fasciitis - extremely painful to walk on. Stiffness in legs like bad arthritis pains, woke up so stiff. Possibly caused depression, weight gain, and lack of sex drive. Fatigue, no energy. Also was diagnosed with underactive thyroid. Also diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Stopped taking Metformin for 2 weeks now, only noticed slight improvement in foot pain. Been off of Benicar for 5 days, seeing improvement each day, pain in feet going away, also stiffness going away. I'm a 50-year-old female, felt like a 90-year-old body in so much pain."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• January 2, 2020

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "This medicine caused me to have pain in my ankles. Three doctors didn’t believe that it was the medicine and ordered autoimmune tests, which were negative. I finally insisted they change my medicine to Lisinopril. After being on the medicine for a full month after suffering for a year and a half, my ankle pain is gone! I am so annoyed after wasting money spent on tests and a trip to the rheumatologist."

• Tim...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 2, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Olmesartan has been one of my daily BP meds for about 15 years at 40 mg per day. Stopped taking it a week ago cold turkey and feel loads better with no aches and pains or blocked nasal passages and feeling I have the flu all the time. I think I have suffered all the side effects possible, which have gotten worse with time. I also take Atenolol, Amlodipine, Doxazosin and am 75 years old in June."

• 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."

• 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."

• Tis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 30, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Extremely bad experience after only 2 doses of non-generic olmesartan. Am seeing my doctor tomorrow to change. I went to see the chemist yesterday after work as I was concerned with the symptoms. The chemist advised symptoms can hang around for a week or so. After the first 20 mg pill in the morning, I woke at 2:30 am and had leg aches. I took the 2nd pill in the morning with breakfast, and by the time I got to work, my legs felt like lead. I had sharp pains down my legs. My hip bones felt like I was some arthritic 100-year-old. I had difficulty walking. My head ached. I began to get forgetful to the point where it alarmed me. On coming home, even my husband noticed I was different. Today I didn't take this drug, which I'm now calling poison! I still have bad lower back and hip ache despite not taking it today. I would give this drug a big ZERO and feel I should be given a refund!"

• Chu...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• November 1, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "I was taking losartan, then valsartan, but when both were recalled, my Dr. prescribed olmesartan 40 mg. My BP was great. I was even thinking about decreasing my dosage. I started having restless legs, mainly in my calves. I was playing a lot of golf and walking a lot, but noticed the pain was every day and disturbing my sleep. I just switched to valsartan 320 mg, my leg pain is better. I am in pretty good shape and have decided to really get busy with my diet and exercise to see if I can get off BP medicine altogether. I just bought the book Plant Paradox by Dr. Gundry and going to give that a try. Anyone else tried Plant Paradox?"

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 30, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Had high blood pressure, yes, it's fixed that, but the pains in my legs have increased so much I am distraught. I cannot walk 50 yards, stand for more than a minute. Sometimes driving is very uncomfortable. I've been to physio, acupuncture, reflexology, etc., etc., with no improvement or explanation as to why I'm so bad. I used to walk a lot for exercise but haven't in the past two years, and now it's time to definitely change from this medication. I have to get my life back from all this unbearable pain."

• Jud...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 3, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on olmesartan by a fill-in doctor 10 years ago. When asked why, as my BP was always good. I lost my son, so stress was high. Basically, I decided, as they changed how it is dispensed with the Benicar given monthly only and HCT (hydrochlorothiazide) given 90 days. I have been busy after the hurricane and had run out of the Benicar, and I noticed a big difference 2 days later, and now 6 days later... my pain and fatigue are waning, and swelling is going down. I decided to look up risks by stopping, which was just delaying going in for a refill of new BP meds. My doctor had told me a few years ago when I asked if I really needed this, his response was it is good to take anyway as we get older. That wasn't a good response anyway. I just turned 61. I have daily stressors, but reading the side effects on here... it's me in a nutshell. I'm shocked this medication is so harmful."

• 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..."

• Jud...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 30, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "I was put on metoprolol to slow heart rate, which made blood pressure higher. I was put on olmesartan to lower blood pressure. For 8 years, I suffered pain all over, extreme tiredness, inability to do much of anything, or remember anything. I felt old beyond my years. Stopping metoprolol cleared my head. Stopping olmesartan stopped chest tightness, the weak, tired feeling abated. Miserable 8 years. Now on just verapamil, and so far, so good. May need medication adjustment, but now I feel good, like I used to feel before these two awful medications with overlapping side effects."

• Ben...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 12, 2021

Benicar (olmesartan) for High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Benicar HCTZ 40-25 for 15 years. The name has changed to the generic Olmesartan. I wasn't happy with the name change because I don't know if it's the same medication, I assume it is. I've been taking Benicar along with Atenolol 100 mg, and those two combinations work great together. I never have or had any problems with this medication. I also don't have migraines like I used to. I have no complaints or problems with the medication, I actually like it. My doctor 15 years ago put me on it and said this is what he prescribes his patients, and if it's good enough for my doctor's parents, it's good enough for me. No complaints. I see some of these reviews state they have feet pain, but if these people are diabetic, the feet and muscle pain could come from neuropathy. My insurance won't cover it."