Heartburn Drugs Nexium, Prevacid & Prilosec Linked To Kidney Disease
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI’s) Lawsuits
Nexium®, Prilosec®, and Prevacid®, the leading sellers among drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI’s), are used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), by reducing the amount of acid in a person’s stomach.
Drug manufacturers are responsible for ensuring the safety and efficacy of their products before marketing them for public consumption. Failure to do so is considered negligent and grounds for pharmaceutical litigation.
More than 4,000 lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid by individuals who have suffered injuries as a result of taking these two proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medications. The lawsuits are presently combined before a federal judge in New Jersey where all of the national discovery and evidence gathering is taking place.
PPI’s Risks and Side Effects
The most serious potential side effects caused through the use of Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid are strokes, bone fractures, kidney disease, renal failure, and heart damage.
People who take multiple daily doses for a long period of time (a year or longer), especially those 50 years of age or older, have an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine. Additionally, people who use the drugs appear to have a 20-50% higher risk of chronic kidney disease compared with nonusers, and a 20-30% increased risk for stroke.
Extensive Usage of Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI’s)
Proton pump inhibitors are some of the most commonly prescribed drugs because of the prevalence of heartburn in the United States. It is estimated that there are millions of people throughout the country currently taking Nexium, Prevacid or Prilosec. Nexium is in fact one of the best selling drugs in the world, with revenues exceeding $4.4 Billion in 2014. For people suffering from chronic heartburn, proton pump inhibitors like Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid, represent one of the only means through which to experience relief from the bothersome heartburn effects.
PPI’s Warnings
For nearly a decade, manufacturers of PPI’s have been on notice that these drugs can cause kidney disease and injury, including acute interstitial nephritis.
The FDA has previously issued warnings on the increased risk of hip, wrist and spine fracture from using PPI’s
In December of 2014, manufacturers changed their package inserts and labels to warn of an association between PPI’s and interstitial nephritis, diagnosed by kidney biopsy. However, to this day, the PPI products’ labels still fail to provide consumers with a general warning regarding the serious risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Two recently published studies confirm that PPI users have a significantly increased risk of developing either acute and/or chronic kidney disease.
The Russo Firm and PPI’s Lawsuits
Our firm is currently investigating possible Kidney Injuries, Renal or Kidney Failure, Acute Interstitial Nephritis, Dialysis Treatment, Kidney Removal Transplant Surgery or related Death from the use of Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid.
Contact Our Experienced Pharmaceutical Lawyers For A Free Case Evaluation.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, Acute Kidney Injury, Renal or Kidney Failure, Acute Interstitial Nephritis, Dialysis Treatment, Kidney Removal Transplant Surgery or related Death, while taking Nexium®, Prilosec®, Prevacid® or other proton pump inhibitor drugs, call The Russo Firm at 844-847-8300 or contact us online to talk with an experienced lawyer about your injuries. If you can’t travel to our office, we will come to you, or we can work by phone, fax, email or other methods of communication. Remember, you pay no fee unless we obtain compensation for you.