Nexium Side Effects Caused Chronic Kidney Disease, Lawsuit Claims

In a product liability lawsuit filed last week against AstraZeneca, an Illinois man claims that side effects of Nexium caused him to suffer chronic kidney disease, alleging that the drug maker failed to adequately warn users or the medical community about the risk of kidney problems from the popular heartburn and acid reflux medication. 

The complaint (PDF) was filed by George Mullen in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York August 26, indicating that he was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease on Nexium in 2008.

According to the lawsuit, Mullen was prescribed Nexium on numerous occasions between September 2006 and September 2013. He indicates that the drug maker knew or should have known about the link between Nexium and chronic kidney disease, yet never provided warnings about the potential risk.

“Despite the fact that Defendants knew or should have known that Nexium caused unreasonably dangerous side effects, Defendants continued and continue to market, manufacture, distribute and/or sell Nexium to consumers, including the Plaintiff,” the lawsuit states. “As a result of the foregoing acts and omissions, the Plaintiff was caused to suffer serious and dangerous side effects including, Chronic Kidney Disease, as well as other severe and personal injuries which are permanent and lasting in nature, physical pain and mental anguish, including diminished enjoyment of life, as well as the need for lifelong medical treatment, monitoring and/or medications.”

Nexium is one of the most widely used brand name medications in the United States, taken by millions of Americans for treatment and prevention of acid reflux and heartburn. It belongs to a class of similar drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which includes Prilosec, Prevacid and others.

Since has been widely believed that there are few serious Nexium side effects, the medication is often used by individuals for years, with little attempt to reduce or eliminate the underlying cause of the heartburn or acid reflux. However, a number of studies published in recent years have suggested that users may face serious kidney risks from Nexium.

In December 2014, the FDA required new warnings for the first time about the acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) risk from Nexium, Prilosec and other proton pump inhibitors. This condition involves inflammation of the kidneys, which can lead to more severe and chronic kidney damage. However, more recent independent studies have suggested that users also may face an increased risk of acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure.

According to the findings of a study published in the medical CMAJ Open in April 2015, individuals who started using PPI drugs had a 3 times higher risk of acute interstitial nephritis when compared to individuals who did not use the drugs, and a 2.5 times higher risk of experiencing acute kidney injury, which involves an abrupt loss of kidney function.

Earlier this year, a study published in the medical journal JAMA Internal Medicine built on these findings, examining data on more than 10,000 participants over a period of more than 10 years, finding that the drugs were also associated with a higher incidence of chronic kidney disease.

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 kidney failure and 28% more likely to develop chronic kidney disease after five years of use.

The complaint filed by Mullen joins a growing number of Nexium lawsuits, Prilosec lawsuits, Prevacid lawsuits, Protonix lawsuits, Dexilant lawsuits and other claims involving allegations that users of proton pump inhibitors may have avoided severe kidney problems if the drug makers had adequately warned about the potential risks associated with the medications.

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