Nexium is a drug called a proton pump inhibitor. It is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease, by reducing the amount of acid in a person’s stomach. It also may be prescribed to heal acid-related damage to the lining of the esophagus, to reduce stomach ulcers, and to treat stomach infections. While approximately 15 million Americans use proton pump inhibitors, such as Nexium, researchers at Johns Hopkins University[1] report that as many as 25% of long-term users could stop taking the medication without suffering increased heartburn or acid reflux.
Nexium Side Effects
The most serious potential side effects, problems, and risks caused through the use of Nexium are bone fractures, kidney disease and renal failure. People who take multiple daily doses of Nexium 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 Nexium appear to have a 20 percent to 50 percent higher risk of chronic kidney disease compared with nonusers.
Other potential side effects from Nexium include:
- Abdominal pain
- Chronic inflammation of the stomach lining
- Constipation
- Diarrhea
- Drowsiness
- Dry mouth
- Gas
- Headaches
- Low magnesium levels
- Nausea
Nexium and Scientific Studies
The first case reports linking Nexium and kidney inflammation (nephritis) were published in 1992. By 2004, the manufacturer, AstraZeneca reported 15 cases worldwide. The number of case reports has continued to grow, including some reports involving patients who needed long-term dialysis for kidney failure. In 2014, the FDA updated the label on Nexium to include nephritis (kidney inflammation) and acute kidney injury. Unfortunately, both of these serious side effects can lead to kidney failure or even death.
In April 2016, the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology[2] published a study linking long-term use of antacid medications like Nexium with a 96% increased risk of kidney failure and a 26% increased risk of chronic kidney disease.
The researchers found that only 0.2% of patients in the study were diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure, but it occurred twice as often in PPI users. Patients who used PPIs for 1-2 were also three times more likely to be diagnosed with kidney failure compared to people who used PPIs for less than a month. This is the first major study to link PPIs and kidney failure. The conclusions of the study were published by Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly and his team at Washington University and the Clinical Epidemiology Center at the VA in St. Louis.
Contact an Experienced Nexium Injury Attorney
If you have been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease after using Nexium or another proton pump inhibitor medication, it is important to speak to a skilled Nexium 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:
[1] https://www.jhu.edu
[2] http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27080976