Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) and Aciphex (rabeprazole
Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) are a class of drugs prescribed to heartburn and ulcer patients. In the event that stomach acid is overproduced in the stomach, such as is the case in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), PPI’s inhibit the production of acid, allowing the lining of the esophagus and the stomach to heal.
One such PPI is manufactured by Eisai Co. and distributed by Janssen Pharmaceuticals. Known as Aciphex, or rabeprazole, this drug was ordered by the Food and Drug Administration in 2013 to be labeled by the pharmaceutical company as including the potential for acute interstitial nephritis, [1] an allergic reaction which, untreated, could result in kidney failure.
One study published by CMAJ Open, [2] a medical journal, analyzed 290,000 patients aged 66 years and older. The study found that PPI’s increased the risk of acute kidney injury two-and-a-half times and the risk of nephritis three times.
Further study of the drug’s side effects and ultimate consequences was conducted at Johns Hopkins University [3] in 2016. The study linked PPI’s with increased rates of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Furthermore, it showed that individuals who were prescribed PPI’s on a one- or twice- daily basis increased their chances of CKD by 20 to 50 percent. Ultimately, CDK can lead to kidney failure as the condition damages the kidneys and diminishes their ability for blood-filtering.
In addition to these risks, patients who have taken high doses of Aciphex for more than a year are also at high risk of wrist, hip and even spinal bone fractures. While the exact reason for this is not known, it has been hypothesized that the lessening of acid in the stomach may lead to a diminished digestion of calcium, resulting in less calcium for the body.
The Federal Drug Administration (FDA) released a warning in 2010 stating that PPI’s could increase bone fractures risks following a study that had shown a link between the two. The United Kingdom, in 2012, released a warning stating that acid-reducing drugs could increase the risk of bone fractures. This risk was stated as being much higher for the elderly, as well as those patients who had taken the drugs for more than a one year period.
Contact an Experienced Aciphex Injury Attorney
If you have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease after using Aciphex or another proton pump inhibitor medication, it is important to speak to a skilled Aciphex injury attorney as soon as possible. Patients who were harmed by proton pump inhibitor medication can file a lawsuit in civil court against the drug manufacturer to obtain compensation for their damages and losses including medical bills and lost income. At Michigan Injury Lawyers, our caring and experienced defective drug lawyers are here to help. Contact us today at 313-GET-HELP.
References:
[2] http://cmajopen.ca/content/3/2/E166.short
[3] http://archinte.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=2481157