There's bad news about olmesartan, which may be more familiar as the blood pressure medication Benicar. According to two clinical trials people taking this drug have a higher risk of death than people on a placebo.
The FDA still thinks you should keep taking olmesartan while they are evaluating this information. Fortunately the decision is yours alone.
"In the first study, more than 4,400 patients were given either the med or a placebo. Fifteen people taking the meds died of stroke, heart attack or other cardiovascular problem, versus just three in the placebo group.
"The second study involved 557 patients. Again there were just three heart-related deaths in the placebo group-- versus 10 of the patients who had been taking Benicar."
Blood pressure can be controlled by diet and lifestyle changes. Eating whole food instead of processed foods can improve your health. Making a point of getting enough potassium, magnesium, niacin and omega-3 fatty acids can also aid in maintaining healthy blood pressure.
http://www.healthiertalk.com/blood-pressure-med-heart-scare-2120