A Georgia Nexium Lawsuit may be an option for patients who suffered complications after taking the heartburn medication. Many Americans take medications such as Nexium to treat symptoms associated with acid reflux disease. Although Nexium, as well as other medications in its class, is a commonly prescribed drug, it has been linked to serious, sometimes deadly complications such as acute interstitial nephritis and chronic kidney disease. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a Georgia Nexium lawsuit and pursue compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Georgia. We offer free, confidential, no obligation consultations. We can help answer your questions, and if you choose to pursue a case we can connect you with an affiliated Nexium lawsuit attorney who can assist you throughout the legal process.
What is Nexium and How Does It Work?
Nexiumis a type of prescription drug used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), complications related to H. pylori infection, gastric ulcers, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Nexium may also be used to treat and heal damage caused by other complications affecting the stomach and esophagus.
Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and works by blocking the production of acid in the stomach. Nexium relieves symptoms associated with heartburn, difficulty swallowing, and damages to the stomach and esophagus caused by stomach acid. In some cases, Nexium can be used to prevent ulcers and esophageal cancer.
Nexium Side Effects
Common side effects of Nexium include:
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Dizziness
- Gas
- Headache
- Stomach cramps
Rare side effects of Nexium may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Anemia
- Muscle pain or weakness
- High blood pressure
- Infection in the intestines due to Clostridium difficile bacteria
- Bone fractures, particularly in the hip, wrist, and spine
- Vitamin B-12 deficiency
- Low magnesium levels
- Chronic atrophic gastritis
Nexium Kidney Disease Risks
In addition to side effects related to the use of Nexium to treat GERD and ulcers, Nexium has been linked to serious kidney problems, including acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury (AKI), and renal failure.
AIN is a condition (often temporary) in which the spaces between the kidney tubules become inflamed or swollen. According to research published in the peer-reviewed medical journal BMC Nephrology, numerous biopsy-confirmed case reports and retrospective descriptive reports have been published suggesting a connection between PPI use and AIN, including research published in 2006 citing three cases of esomeprazole-associated AIN.
According to an article cited by The New York Times Blog, PPIs such as Nexium may increase the risk for CKD. Researchers indicated that the use of PPIs such as Nexium was independently associated with a 20 to 50 percent higher risk of CKD.
AKI, or acute renal failure, occurs when the kidneys suddenly stop working. When the kidneys stop working, waste products, fluids, and electrolytes can build up in the body, potentially leading to serious, sometimes deadly complications. According to an article in the open-access online journal CMAJ Open, researchers examined older patients who used PPIs, including Nexium, between 2002 and 2011. The study indicated that those patients who started PPI therapy had an increased risk of AIN and AKI.
If left untreated, these complications can lead to more severe kidney problems such as renal failure. Renal failure, or kidney failure, may occur suddenly or over a period of months or years. The only treatment options available for renal failure are dialysis or kidney transplant.
Nexium Lawsuit
A Nexium lawsuit filed in the state of Illinois claims that the makers of Nexium, AstraZeneca, took no action to inform the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s physicians of the risks associated with kidney injuries and the use of Nexium, despite previous knowledge of numerous case reports linking the medication to complications associated with the kidneys.
Even if used as directed, the lawsuit alleges, AstraZeneca failed to adequately warn against the negative effects and risks associated with Nexium, including the excessive risk of kidney injuries related to the long-term use of Nexium.
How a Georgia Nexium Lawsuit Can Help
Drug makers have a duty to provide safe products. If there are risks of harm associated with their products, they also must provide adequate warnings. If a drug maker fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable in lawsuits for injuries that may result.
People injured by bad drugs may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who have died may be eligible to recover money for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
The time you have to pursue a claim is limited. Contact us for more information.Get Help Now.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Georgia. You can fill out the form on this page or contact us by phone or email.
After you contact us, an attorney will follow up to answer questions that you might have. There is no cost or obligation to speak with us, and any information you provide will be kept confidential.
Please note that the law limits the time you have to pursue a claim or file a lawsuit for an injury. If you think you have a case, you should not delay taking action.
