Olmesartan and Chest Pain: What Users Say

• LYN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 6, 2020

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "I was given Benicar 20 mg in Jan 2020 for BP. I was on it 10 days then was rushed to the hospital with severe chest pains and difficulty breathing. I was kept for 'observation' while stress tests were done. All good thank goodness, but the chest pains remained. Then I read the 'more serious side effects'... chest pains was #2!!! Don't give me a pill that is going to cause more problems and less quality of life!!!"

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

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."

• 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

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."

• God...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 4, 2016

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "I was taking a different pill at first, but my doctor decided it wasn't working to lower my pressure enough, so they said we are going to try you on this one. I took one the next day since I had already taken my old pill. The first day, the pill did lower my blood pressure with no problems. The second day I took it, my pressure was still at a good number. I did not notice that later when I tried to sleep, I couldn't. Each time I would fall asleep, it was hard for me to breathe, and a few times that I woke up, my heart was beating differently, and I had some pain in my chest. I won't be taking this medication anymore. I will lower it the natural way by watching what I eat, walking, and with God's help, I will be just fine."

• Jos...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 18, 2023

For High Blood Pressure "The worst medication ever! Helped with the blood pressure, but at what cost? Took it for almost 3 months only, I just stopped it less than a week ago. From the beginning, I had coughing and a horrible problem with acid reflux. Later, the chest pain kicked in. I was feeling tired and drowsy all the time. My muscles and joints hurt. Unusual cramps in my legs. Numbness, tingling, and itchiness especially on my legs and feet. Legs felt swollen, heavy, and sore. Abdominal pain all the time. My IBS got worse, having to pass bowel motions many times a day without any relief. Tinnitus and migraines happen more often than ever before. After suffering from this for almost 3 months, I stopped the medication cold turkey. Like magic, the cramps, tingling, and numbness went away the next day. Two days later, the muscle aches were gone. Still have tired and heavy legs but are less now. The only new thing I have is diarrhea. I found a study that says it can happen after stopping this poison."

• Chu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 30, 2016

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "I took 20 mg Benicar as an alternative to Lisinopril, which caused a cough. With Benicar, the cough went away after a few weeks, but a new side effect took its place: I would wake up in the middle of the night with a sore chest and upper back pain. It's a shame because during the day, Benicar had no apparent side effect and kept BP at 128/79."

• 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."

• ACE...
• July 14, 2011

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "Just started this medication. I am 26/M in fairly good shape, work out 4 to 5 times a week, so I don't really know why my blood pressure is high, but anyway. Took my 2nd dose yesterday, jogged this morning at the gym, and hit 'the wall' HARD. Felt short of breath and chest pain. Maybe this will go away once I get used to the medication. PS: taking 20 mg."

• Bud...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 16, 2017

For High Blood Pressure "Olmesartan gets my BP down, but with downsides - sometimes systolic and diastolic decrease at different rates, and my body has difficulty adjusting back to normal. I have experienced all of the following side effects: elevated heart rate, chest pain, vertigo, breathlessness during exercise, lightheadedness. I am looking for an alternative with fewer side effects. The best advice I can give is that you should first get yourself a good BP monitor. I got myself an OMRON BP652, which is excellent. I chose a wrist monitor because it is small, portable, and easy to use. You will benefit by finding your own optimal dosage (40 mg/day was way too much for me). Effectiveness 9/10; Side effects 3/10 Overall 6/10."

• 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."

• Dak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Started taking olmesartan 1 week ago, and I know it takes time for some drugs to set in, but this drug has made me feel horrible. The first day, I had no issues, and it did seem to lower my BP that evening. The next 4 days, the issues piled on. The worst was the chest pain, chest tightness, insomnia, and pressure in my head. I started off with 40 mg but quickly realized it was too much, so cut it in half. Even with half a pill, I continue to have symptoms. I am slowly weaning it down to zero and getting off of this drug. I feel worse now than I did before I took it."

• Dak...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2021

For High Blood Pressure "Started taking olmesartan 1 week ago, and I know it takes time for some drugs to set in, but this drug has made me feel horrible. The first day, I had no issues, and it did seem to lower my BP that evening. The next 4 days, the issues piled on. The worst was the chest pain, chest tightness, insomnia, and pressure in my head. I started off with 40 mg but quickly realized it was too much, so cut it in half. Even with half a pill, I continue to have symptoms. I am slowly weaning it down to zero and getting off of this drug. I feel worse now than I did before I took it."

• Zom...
• June 8, 2019

For High Blood Pressure "Olmesartan lowered blood pressure, but my chest hurts and I feel hungover all the time. I fall asleep at the dinner table. Not worth it for me."