Benicar and Dizziness: What Users Say

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

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."

• Anonymous
• August 13, 2017

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

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

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

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."

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

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

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

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.'"

• Din...
• May 3, 2009

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

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."

• Mik...
• July 24, 2016

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."

• Anonymous
• October 3, 2009

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

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."

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

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."

• Tar...
• January 31, 2011

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

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."

• onl...
• January 12, 2009

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."

• Anonymous
• December 12, 2010

For High Blood Pressure "I'm taking Benicar 40 mg for high blood pressure 163/100 on average. I'm slightly overweight (47). Benicar has actually reduced my dizziness I had prior to taking blood pressure medications. I tried water pills, but blood pressure got worse. My doctor knows I'm the kind of patient that will stop taking medications that bother me, so she skipped the lisinopril and went straight for the Benicar, and I'm glad she did. Although it's day 4 now, and my blood pressure is 124/58, sort of low after being in the 100s a few days ago. Maybe I'll need the 20 mg, but I love the focus and energy I have again, and the looser bowels are an additional perk! Knees stopped hurting from arthritis too."

• Jel...
• April 4, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Benicar HCT for 2 years after being diagnosed with high blood pressure at 23. Side effects were dizziness, constant sleepiness, and weird heartbeats, but it works amazingly. After dropping some weight, I have just been dropped down to regular Benicar and have no complaints. Awesome stuff. Now, if they could only make it taste better."

• Yoo...
• April 18, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking Benicar 40 mg for about 4 years. Dizziness is the only occasional trouble. Never had any problems associated with drinking alcohol, even after some all-night vodka binges - no hangovers either. That was some years ago. I don't drink much nowadays. Blood pressure alternates but is never above 130/80. Interestingly, after running 7 miles (I do it once a week or so), systolic count is often below 110 and diastolic in the low sixties within 5 minutes of the run. I am 56. I am thinking of lowering to 20 mg."

• Anonymous
• June 22, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I've been taking Benicar 20 mg/12.5 HCT for about 7 years, and it works great. It keeps my blood pressure down to 120-125/75-80. I do experience dizziness and light-headedness frequently, but I sit at a desk most of the day at work, so it's no big deal. I also cannot stay out in the sun long at all. I don't know if this is a side effect of Benicar, but also 2 years ago, I started getting vision 'floaters' and had to change to another prescription twice. I'm only 43, and my vision is no longer 20/20 and can only get 20/40 with corrective lenses. The eye doctor doesn't see anything wrong and says 20/40 is okay. I'll get a 2nd opinion just in case. Also, I started getting flushing or 'red face and neck' about 3 years ago. It comes and goes. Benicar is the only medicine I use."

• nck...
• April 12, 2010

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Benicar 20 mg for about 2 years for high blood pressure and headaches caused by stenosis and a bad disk in my neck. I know within a couple of hours if I have missed my dose. My blood pressure elevates, headaches with loss of balance, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and my neck muscles knot up. For the past several months, I have experienced leg and feet swelling on a regular basis. If it wasn't for Benicar, I would have had neck surgery several years ago."

• nck...
• April 12, 2010

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on Benicar 20 mg for about 2 years for high blood pressure and headaches caused by stenosis and a bad disk in my neck. I know within a couple of hours if I have missed my dose. My blood pressure elevates, headaches with loss of balance, dizziness, sensitivity to light, and my neck muscles knot up. For the past several months, I have experienced leg and feet swelling on a regular basis. If it wasn't for Benicar, I would have had neck surgery several years ago."

• Anonymous
• April 3, 2008

For High Blood Pressure "20 mg a day has been enough to put me well into the safety zone. I haven't had any side effects, except occasional dizziness when standing. Energy level is great."

• Anonymous
• August 27, 2009

For High Blood Pressure "I just started taking this medicine, and it makes me dizzy."