Chronic Kidney Disease Lawsuit Filed Over Nexium, Prilosec Long-Term Risks

Long-term use of the popular heartburn drugs Nexium and Prilosec allegedly caused a Kentucky woman to develop chronic kidney disease, according to a lawsuit filed against AstraZeneca and Proctor & Gamble. 

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Wanda Stafford in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania on January 9, alleging that the drug makers failed to warn consumers and the medical community that side effects of Nexium, Prilosec and other proton pump inhibitors (PPI) may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease and other health problems.

Stafford indicates that she was prescribed both Nexium on several occasions between 2004 and 2009, and was prescribed Prilosec and Prilosec OTC on several occasions between 2009 and 2015. In 2009, she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but it was not until recently that she became aware that use of the popular heartburn drugs for more than a decade may have caused her kidney issues.

“Studies have shown the long term use of PPIs was independently associated with a 20% to 50% higher risk of CKD, after adjusting for several potential confounding variables, including demographics, socioeconomic status, clinical measurements, prevalent co-morbidities, and concomitant use of medications. In at least one study, the use of PPIs for any period of time, was shown to increase the risk of CKD by 10%,” the lawsuit states. “Currently, the Nexium, Prilosec and Prilosec OTC product labeling does not contain any warning regarding the increased risk of CKD.”

Nexium and Prilosec are two of the most widely used brand-name medications in the U.S. Both are part of a popular class of heartburn drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which also includes Prevacid, Protonix, Dexilant and others.

The complaint joins dozens of other Nexium lawsuits, Prilosec lawsuits, Protonix lawsuits, Prevacid lawsuits and Dexilant lawsuits brought by individuals nationwide in recent months, claiming that the drug makers withheld information about the risks associated with long-term use of the medications.

As heartburn drug injury lawyers continue to review and file cases, it is expected that thousands of similar chronic kidney disease lawsuits and other claims over side effects of PPI medications could be filed in the coming months.

Since Nexium and other PPI drugs lack any kidney disease warnings, they are widely believed to be safe by most consumers and doctors, and many individuals remain on the medications for years with little attempt to reduce use. However, a number of studies published in recent years have highlighted serious risks, including CKD, acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), acute kidney injury (AKI) and end-stage renal failure.

In an independent study published by the medical journal CMAJ Open in April 2015, researchers found that users of PPI medications were 3 times more likely to suffer acute interstitial nephritis, which involves inflammation of the kidney. In addition, the study found that users were 2.5 times more likely to develop acute kidney injury, which involves an abrupt loss of kidney function.

This research was followed by a study published last year in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine, which 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.

In April 2016, researchers with the Department of Veterans Affairs found that users of Nexium, Prilosec or other PPIs may be 96% more likely to develop renal failure and 28% more likely to develop chronic kidney disease after five years of use.

Stafford presents claims of strict products liability, negligence, breach of warranty, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and negligent infliction of emotional distress. She seeks both punitive and compensatory damages.