Nexium Lawsuit Attorneys
Caring and Dedicated Lawyers Seeking Compensation for Nexium Victims Suffering Kidney Disorders & Bone Fractures
Our experienced and knowledgeable Nexium side effect attorneys are reviewing potential legal claims of patients who suffer adverse medical complications after use of Nexium for gastroesophageal reflux disorder. Despite emerging as one of the top-selling drugs in the U.S. with over $6 billion in annual sales, a growing number of lawsuits allege links between Nexium and kidney disorders, dementia, bone fractures, and heart attacks. Our national product liability law firm is investigating potential legal claims on behalf of consumers who have suffered kidney failure and other serious side effects related to the use of Nexium.
Nexium (generic: esomeprazole magnesium) is one of a class of drugs referred to as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) designed for treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and related stomach and esophageal medical conditions. The drug, which is manufactured by AstraZeneca, was approved by the FDA in 2001 for the treatment of GERD. Pfizer purchased the rights to the over-the-counter version of Nexium in 2012. PPIs function by essentially shutting off the “stomach acid pumps” and blocking acid production. While Nexium also is approved for certain gastroesophageal-related conditions, some lawsuits allege nearly seventy percent of prescriptions or OTC use involves off-label treatments or inappropriately long periods of time.
Nexium Linked to Serious Kidney Damage or Failure
A 2008 article in the BMJ journal reported proton pump inhibitors had become one of the most over-prescribed medications because of a general perception that the drug was safe. Between 25 to 70 percent of patients using the medication evidenced no appropriate indication for taking the drug according to the report.
Studies have linked PPIs to a range of kidney problems that include the following:
End-Stage Renal Disease/Renal Failure: This is the final stage of chronic kidney disease when the kidney function is too compromised to provide for the body’s needs.
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): A long-term progressive deterioration of kidney function that ultimately results in kidney failure.
Acute Interstitial Nephritis: A condition characterized by an abrupt decline in renal function reflected by inflammation of the tissues surrounding the kidneys (renal interstitium).
Acute Kidney Injuries (AKI): This kidney condition is characterized by a sudden inability of the body to filter waste products from the bloodstream. Development of the condition occurs over the period of a few hours or days.
Research published in the May 2017 edition of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology recently reaffirmed prior studies, indicating PPIs dramatically increase an individual’s risk of kidney disease and kidney failure. The study analyzed U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs data involving 173,321 individuals who used PPIs and 20,270 individuals who used a PPI alternative, referred to as H2 receptor blockers. The percentage of study participants suffering kidney disorders was higher among PPI patients. PPIs were linked to a 96 percent increased risk of kidney failure and a 28 percent increased risk of chronic kidney disorders when compared to individuals taking H2 receptor blockers.
While the link between interstitial nephritis and the use of Nexium has been reported for some time, a report published in JAMA in 2016 provided further evidence of a connection between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and PPIs, such as Nexium. The researchers concluded use of proton pump inhibitors like Nexium increase the risk of CKD.
Nexium Link to Increased Risk of Dementia
Multiple studies have indicated a link between use of Nexium-type PPIs and an increased risk of dementia. Research published in a 2015 issue of JAMA Neurology analyzed a large sample of elderly participants over 75 years of age who did not have any signs of dementia. After taking PPIs, these seniors had a significantly elevated risk of dementia. The authors of the study analyzed data gathered by German health insurer Allgemeine and found that the elderly study participants who took PPIs like Nexium faced a 44 percent increased risk of dementia.
Nexium Heart Attack Risks
Researchers at Stanford University and Houston Methodist University found that Nexium and other popular PPIs increased the risk of heart attack. The authors of the study reviewed the medical records of 2.9 million patients. The researchers found that study subjects using PPIs, such as Nexium experienced a 15 to 20 percent higher risk of heart attack.
Nexium Fracture and Broken Bone Claims
Researchers have indicated an increased risk of broken bones and fractures among Nexium users. Multi-district litigation in California was dismissed because the judge decided that the evidence presented of a causal link was “not definitive” and the expert witness opinion was unreliable. However, many individual lawsuits are still pending.
Allegations in Nexium Injury Lawsuits
Lawsuits are being filed in state and federal courts in multiple states across the U.S. These lawsuits assert a range of allegations that include the following:
- Failure to conduct proper research
- Failure to warn of known risks
- Failure to produce a safe product
- Overstating or misrepresenting the product’s effectiveness
Free Case Evaluation for Victims of Serious Nexium Side Effects
At Stern Law, PLLC, we are currently investigating claims for compensation on behalf of patients who have suffered severe side effects associated with Nexium and other PPIs. We invite you to give us a call today to see if you or a loved one is entitled to compensation for the harm you have suffered. Patients who have experienced serious side effects after use of Nexium might have a right to compensation from the manufacturer of the drug for negligence and failure to warn consumers of the risk. Call Stern Law, PLLC today at 1 (844) 808-7529, or complete an online contact form for assistance. Click here now for more information on scheduling your free case evaluation with one of our knowledgeable Nexium injury lawyers.
