Olmesartan and Swelling: What Users Say

• 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."

• 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."

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

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!"

• 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."

• Kob...
• September 2, 2018

For High Blood Pressure "I have been taking this for about a month. I started getting nasal congestion and an earache and swelling. I was thinking I just had a sinus infection. I tried everything to get rid of it. One day I missed a dose, and I felt better that day, and the next day I started taking it again, and all of a sudden my symptoms came back. I’m done with this medicine. I hope this will help someone else in the future. It’s hard to find the right one that works for you."

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2008

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "BP dropped over 100 pts for systolic and diastolic pressures after ONE dose of 20/12.5 Benicar HCT. No side effects at all. Has remained below 120/78 for a week at two daily dosages of 20/12.5 AM and PM. Shortness of breath is gone, all leg and feet swelling is gone, and no increase in frequency of urination. Absolutely no side effects and BP taken twice a day, AM and PM is around 113/63."

• Anonymous
• March 2, 2008

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "BP dropped over 100 pts for systolic and diastolic pressures after ONE dose of 20/12.5 Benicar HCT. No side effects at all. Has remained below 120/78 for a week at two daily dosages of 20/12.5 AM and PM. Shortness of breath is gone, all leg and feet swelling is gone, and no increase in frequency of urination. Absolutely no side effects and BP taken twice a day, AM and PM is around 113/63."

• 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."

• kit...
• May 11, 2011

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "I've been taking Benicar for about 2 years now. Every other medicine tended to make my feet and ankles swell badly, but this medicine is great. My blood pressure is consistently about 110/70 (sometimes lower). No side effects. I take it in the mornings and do not have a problem with drowsiness, even though I'm really prone to this side effect with other medicines. I just wish my insurance covered it on their formulary. As it is, I pay $45/month. This, in combination with the diabetic medicines and supplies, really takes a toll on my budget. But I guess the results are worth it. As a state worker in California, though, I may have to investigate less expensive options soon!"

• rgs...
• March 4, 2009

Olmesartan for High Blood Pressure "I see many people have had a very positive effect on their blood pressure. I have been using Benicar HCT for about 2 weeks along with Toprol XL. While the Toprol seems to do its job (reduce pulse rate), Benicar HCT seems to have no effect. I had changed from Norvasc because of swelling, and blood pressure was ~140/80, still uncontrolled. Now it's 160/85. My doctor tells me not to worry, everything will be just fine."

• nck...
• April 12, 2010

Olmesartan 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

Olmesartan 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."

• mes...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 29, 2024

For High Blood Pressure "I have been on it 3 weeks now, been sick every day. I'm on half of a 5 mg tab, and it drops it so low. I'm dizzy every day, blurry vision, and my pressure is extremely low. My cardiologist won't take me off. My legs swell and I have lost weight. I would rather take my chance with medication. I was on lisinopril, it worked good but had a bad cough. I was on olmesartan but it made me sick. It has caused me to be depressed. I want to get taken off."