Celiac.com 09/15/2016 - Some doctors and clinicians have reported cases of severe sprue-like enteropathy associated with olmesartan, but, until now, no clear demonstration of an increased risk has been documented by epidemiological studies.
Now, a French nationwide observational cohort study has shown a connection between severe intestinal malabsorption and the drug olmesartan, according to results presented by a team of researchers. Olmesartan is an angiotensin II receptor antagonist which has been used for the treatment of high blood pressure. Olmesartan is also sold commercially under the name Benicar.
The research team included Mickael Basson, Myriam Mezzarobba, Alain Weill, Philippe Ricordeau, Hubert Allemand, Francois Alla, and Franck Carbonnel. They are variously affiliated...

Celiac.com 06/13/2018 - There have been numerous reports that olmesartan, aka Benicar, seems to trigger sprue‐like enteropathy in many patients, but so far, studies have produced mixed results, and there really hasn’t been a rigorous study of the issue. A team of researchers recently set out to assess whether olmesartan is associated with a higher rate of enteropathy compared with other angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs).
The research team included Y.‐H. Dong; Y. Jin; TN Tsacogianis; M He; PH Hsieh; and JJ Gagne. They are variously affiliated with the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA, USA; the Faculty of Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Science at National Yang‐...

Celiac.com 03/21/2024 - For people with celiac disease, managing symptoms and maintaining a gluten-free lifestyle are essential for overall health. However, recent research has uncovered another potential cause of enteropathy that presents a diagnostic challenge for both patients and healthcare providers: olmesartan-induced enteropathy.
Olmesartan, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist commonly prescribed for hypertension, has been linked to enteropathy in rare cases, and another brand name for it is Benicar. This side effect, while uncommon, can manifest as chronic diarrhea, weight loss, and signs of malabsorption, mirroring the symptoms of celiac disease. A team of researchers set out to study the diagnostic challenges related to non-celiac enteropathy, specifically focusing on ...

Celiac.com 11/17/2025 - This study explored an important question: among people who have celiac disease, do those who are prescribed angiotensin receptor blockers—a common group of medications used to treat high blood pressure—experience different health outcomes compared to those who do not use these drugs? The researchers discovered that individuals with celiac disease who took angiotensin receptor blockers had higher chances of developing issues such as low blood count, iron deficiency, abdominal pain, and ongoing diarrhea. These findings suggest that the use of this medication class may be linked to worse intestinal health in those living with celiac disease.
Why the Researchers Did This
Doctors have long known that one specific drug in this category, olmesartan, can som...