Lawsuit Involving Proton Pump Inhibitors
Millions of Americans suffer from painful heartburn or acid reflux. In recent years a number of medications have been presented to provide some relief. According to a recent study, this may come at a price. Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) medications are widely used by individuals seeking relief from heartburn and acid reflux disease. The long-term use of proton pump inhibitors may increase your risk of chronic kidney failure.
Acid reflux and heartburn medication that may increase this risk include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Nexium
- Aciphex
- Protonix
- Prevacid
- Zegerid
- Prilosec
- Dexilant
What’s The Problem?
No formal legal action has been taken about the reported link between PPI use and chronic kidney disease, kidney failure or heart attacks by the FDA or PPI manufacturers, but a class action lawsuit seems inevitable considering the latest study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in February 2016. The JAMA study found that the long term use of these proton pump inhibitors places patients at a 20 to 50 percent higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease. The longer the patient’s use, the more at risk they become of severe, life altering side effects.
Symptoms of chronic kidney failure may include:
- Fluid retention
- High blood pressure
- Abnormal heart rhythm
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Fatigue
- Itching
- Fluid in the lungs
- Heart failure
More concerning is that researchers conducting the JAMA study found there may be a correlation between long-term PPI use and Acute interstitial Nephritis (AIN), a condition where the swelling of the kidney tubules can cause a number of symptoms from mild to severe. In the most severe cases, a kidney transplant could even be required due to PPI-induced AIN. Additionally, adults over the age of 60 are at a higher risk of developing the disease where some could develop irreversible kidney damage.
These same researchers are urging physicians to recommend alternatives to treating the symptoms typically treated by PPI’s like heartburn and acid-related issues. PPI’s are now available without a prescription and many fear this will exacerbate the impact of the drug over a larger segment of the population.
Suffered from Kidney Disease After Using a Proton Pump Inhibitor? You May Be Entitled to Compensation
If you or a loved one has suffered any form of chronic kidney disease due to long term use of any of the above-listed proton pump inhibitors, we can help. Please call our defective drug lawyers at Strom Law Firm, LLC for a free consultation today, 803-252-4800.
