Olmesartan (Benicar)

There is no substitute for olmesartan (Benicar). Patients buy or obtain olmesartan in a number of ways. If their insurance covers the medication, they may fill the prescription at a local pharmacy or via their insurance carrier's mail order service. Others obtain Benicar or its generic equivalent through mail order, often ordering three months' supply at a time.

There is no evidence to suggest that the generic version of Benicar, such as Olmecip, is inferior. Patients who like to be cautious, however, may prefer the brand name drug, which tends to be about five times more expensive for patients who are paying out of pocket.

Patients are warned not to order Benicar HCT, which contains a diuretic.

For those who cannot afford the cost of olmesartan, certain patient assistance programs are available.

It is imperative that patients on the Marshall Protocol (MP) take regular doses of olmesartan (the brand name of which is Benicar), a medication for which there is no substitute. Olmesartan has an highly safe track record. MP patients are required to take 40mg of olmesartan every six hours – that is, equally spaced doses, four times a day – with or without food. Patients who take olmesartan once a day are not doing the MP. Do not ramp or gradually increase olmesartan.

In cases where a dose is missed, patients may take an extra olmesartan as soon as possible and/or sublingually. When severe immunopathologyA temporary increase in disease symptoms experienced by Marshall Protocol patients that results from the release of cytokines and endotoxins as disease-causing bacteria are killed. strikes or in the case of an acute emergency, patients may increase the frequency of olmesartan to up to six times day. Another option is to take a dose of 60mg.

MP patients may want to keep at least one month of extra olmesartan on hand.

Olmesartan (Benicar) has two actions. It palliates symptoms by reducing inflammationThe complex biological response of vascular tissues to harmful stimuli such as pathogens or damaged cells. It is a protective attempt by the organism to remove the injurious stimuli as well as initiate the healing process for the tissue., and it activates the innate immune responseThe body's first line of defense against intracellular and other pathogens. According to the Marshall Pathogenesis the innate immune system becomes disabled as patients develop chronic disease.. Patients who begin the Marshall Protocol (MP) may experience either, both, or neither. According to one rough estimate, 25% of patients who begin the MP experience immediate symptomatic relief when they begin the olmesartan blockade, about 25% feel no different, and the other 50% will experience some adjustment symptoms. Even for MP patients who have a minimal initial reaction to olmesartan, the medication almost always ultimately has strong antibacterial effects resulting in immunopathology. For olmesartan to be effective, it has to be dosed regularly: 40mg every 6-8 hours.

Patients on the Marshall Protocol (MP) take olmesartan (Benicar), a drug whose actions are fully known, every six hours. A substantial body of research supports the use of olmesartan as a part of a curative therapy for chronic disease. In general, olmesartan tends to be prescribed for its antihypertensive properties due to the fact that is an angiotensin receptor blocker.

For the purposes of the MP, olmesartan has two primary actions: it reduces inflammation by blocking the Nuclear Factor-kappaB cytokineAny of various protein molecules secreted by cells of the immune system that serve to regulate the immune system. pathway and it is an agonist of the Vitamin D ReceptorA nuclear receptor located throughout the body that plays a key role in the innate immune response. (VDRThe Vitamin D Receptor. A nuclear receptor located throughout the body that plays a key role in the innate immune response.). As a VDR agonistA substance such as olmesartan (Benicar) or 125-D which activates the Vitamin D Receptor and transcribes the genes necessary for a proper innate immune response., olmesartan activates the innate immune response. Research supports the safety of the doses used by MP patients. Olmesartan has minimal interactions with other drugs and is one of the safest drugs on the market.

As a matter of course, markers of kidney function including blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine will fluctuate while a patient is on the Marshall Protocol (MP).

There is a tendency for some patients to become alarmed by these fluctuations, particularly if a patient has kidney disease. However, for the vast majority of patients these test results are an expected part of the healing process. In fact, a wide range of research shows that olmesartan is therapeutic for kidney disease.

Some patients and healthcare providers have expressed concerns about the safety of higher than typical doses of olmesartan (Benicar).

Ample research supports the fact that olmesartan is one of the safest and has the most gentle side effects profiles of almost any drug on the market – as opposed to Benicar HCT, which contains a thiazide and is harmful.

I feel there are simply no adverse reactions or negative side effects that I need to worry about while taking the Marshall Protocol medications. It is an extremely safe approach. Personally, I believe overtreating this condition is preferable than undertreating as the side effects of both antibiotics and Benicar are so minimal compared to the risk of [disease] recurrence.

Greg Blaney, M.D.