Don't know about your first question, but to your second, muscle and joint are common side effects to most BP meds. Does the Benicar have the diuretic HCTZ component too? I was taking BenicarHCT until it went off the formulary list and am now taking Avapro which has HCTZ. I too have annoying muscle and joint pains. If you look far enough back in this forum you'll find some of my questions about the same problems. A lot of folks point their finger to HCTZ as a primary factor to these symptoms. Info is sketchy at best.