Side Effects of Nexium, Similar Heartburn Drugs, Linked To Gastric Lesion Formation: Study

Researchers warn that the potential side effects of popular heartburn drugs, such as Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium, may cause gastric lesions to form, raising further concerns about the long-term safety of a class of medications known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI). 

In a study published this month in J-Stage Internal Medicine, the journal for the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine, researchers indicate that there appears to be a link between use of proton pump inhibitors and an increased incidence of “gastric cobblestone-like lesions” (GCLLs).

These gastric lesions began appearing in patients who were taking Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid or other PPI medications, leading researchers to investigate. The study looked at 171 patients who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy following six months or more of PPI use. The patients were seen at Mitsugi Public General Hospital from January 1, 2015, until March 31, 2016.

According to the findings, the lesions were detected in a little more than a third of the patients. They found no link to the age or sex of the patient, nor did how long they had been using drugs like Nexium or Prilosec appear to make a difference. However, many of those in whom the lesions were detected had cystic dilation of the fundic gland, parietal cell hyperplasia or cytoplasmic vacuolation. Atrophic gastritis (chronic inflammation of stomach mucosa) of the corpus occurred significantly less frequently in those who had the lesions, researchers noted.

“GCLLs occurred freqhently in long-term PPI users, especially in patients without atrophic gastritis,” the researchers concluded. “The clinical importance of these new lesions remains uncertain, but they should be observed carefully.”

Nexium, Prilosec Kidney Risks

This new study comes as a growing number of Nexium lawsuits, Prilosec lawsuits, Prevacid lawsuits, Protonix lawsuits and claims over other PPIs continue to be filed in courts nationwide, alleging that drug makers failed to adequately research the long-term risks associated with their heartburn drugs, or warn about the potentially life-threatening kidney injuries.

Since the drugs have been aggressively promoted without indication of any serious side effects, many users and doctors assume the medications are safe, and the medications are typically taken for long periods of time without any effort to reduce or stop the need for the medication. Experts have expressed concern that many users continue to take the drugs, even though there may be no real medical need any longer.

Serious questions have emerged about kidney risks associated with Nexium, Prilosec and other PPIs over the past three years, with studies and adverse event reports identifying a potential increase in the risk of acute kidney injury, acute interstitial nephritis, chronic kidney damage and kidney failure.

In December 2014, the FDA required new warnings for the first time about a form of kidney damage associated with proton pump inhibitors, known as acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), which involves a sudden inflammation of the kidneys, which can lead to more severe problems.

More recent studies have highlighted the potential link between Nexium and kidney problems, suggesting that the popular drugs make also cause users to experience acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney failure, often resulting in the need for dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant.

Earlier this year, a study published in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine also found an increased risk of chronic kidney disease with the heartburn medications, indicating that users of Nexium, Prilosec and other PPI may be 50% more likely when compared to non-users.

These findings were supported by another study published in April 2016, in which researchers with the Department of Veterans Affairs found that users of Nexium, Prilosec or other PPIs may be 96% more likely to develop kidney failure and 28% more likely to develop chronic kidney disease after five years of use.

As heartburn drug injury lawyers continue to review and file cases, it is ultimately expected that thousands of kidney injury cases may be filed in the coming months and years.

Given similar questions of fact and law raised in the complaints, consolidated pretrial proceedings have been established in the federal court system, where all lawsuits are centralized before U.S. District Judge Claire C. Cecchi in the District of New Jersey to reduce duplicative discovery into common issues, avoid conflicting pretrial rulings and serve the convenience of the parties, witnesses and the courts.