A Kansas Nexium Lawsuit may be an option for patients who suffered complications after taking the heartburn medication. Nexium is most commonly used to treat complications associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), including heartburn and ulcers. Although Nexium is a commonly prescribed medication, the drug has been allegedly linked to serious, potentially fatal complications such as acute interstitial nephritis and chronic kidney disease. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a lawsuit and recover compensation for their injuries with the help of a Kansas Nexium lawsuit attorney.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kansas. 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?
Nexium is most commonly used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid-related damages to the esophagus and stomach, and complications associated with stomach ulcers. In some cases, Nexium may be prescribed to treat other conditions such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and gastrointestinal ulcers associated with Crohn’s disease.
Nexium belongs to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPI). PPIs work to reduce the amount of gastric acid produced in the stomach. PPIs are some of the most commonly prescribed medications in the world.
Nexium Side Effects
Like many medications, Nexium may cause a variety of side effects. Some of those side effects may be more severe than others.
Serious side effects of Nexium include:
- Confusion
- Irregular heart rate
- Jerking muscle movements
- Muscle weakness
- Convulsions
- Severe allergic reactions such as swelling of the face, lips, and throat; hives; and difficulty swallowing
Common, less severe side effects of Nexium include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Constipation
- Dizziness
- Headaches
Nexium and Acute Interstitial Nephritis
Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is a rapidly developing inflammation that occurs within the tissue that surrounds the tubules in the kidneys. AIN can produce a number of symptoms, including rash, fever, and generalized aches and pains.
According to an article published in The BMJ in 2010, researchers began to notice a relationship between the use of PPIs such as Nexium and AIN. In the article, researchers examined 210 kidney biopsies and found six cases of AIN that were strongly associated with the use of PPIs. When patients stopped using the medications, their conditions improved.
In April 2016, researchers note that, although the profile of PPIs is relatively safe, concerns have been raised about their association with AIN. According to the article, PPIs are now a common cause of drug-induced AIN in the developed world due to their widespread and prolonged use.
Other Nexium Risks
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the gradual loss of kidney function, usually over a period of months or years. When CKD reaches an advanced stage, dangerous levels of fluids, electrolytes, and waste can build up in the body. Symptoms of CKD may not appear in the early stages of the disease, and if CKD is not treated properly, the condition may progress into potentially fatal kidney failure.
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a quickly developing condition in which kidney function severely drops, affecting the kidneys’ ability to filter wastes in the blood. AKI may can develop over a period of hours or a few days.
Patients who experience CKD or AKI may need to undergo dialysis to filter their blood. In some cases, a kidney transplant may be necessary.
Nexium Lawsuit
According to a Nexium lawsuit filed in May 2016, a recent study has shown the long-term use of PPIs was independently associated with a 20 to 50 percent higher risk of incident CKD. Additionally, the lawsuit claims that the makers of Nexium, AstraZeneca, failed to warn the plaintiff and the public about the negative risks associated with the medication and kidney injuries.
Despite clear knowledge that Nexium causes a significantly increased risk of CKD and AKI, the manufacturers continued to market and sell Nexium without warning consumers and healthcare providers of those significant risks.
How a Kansas 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 Today.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kansas. 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.
