A Kentucky Nexium Lawsuit may be an option for patients who suffered complications after taking the heartburn medication. Nexium, a commonly prescribed medication used to treat acid reflux disease and various other ailments associated with the stomach and esophagus, has been linked to severe side effects and complications, including serious conditions affecting the kidneys. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a Kentucky Nexium lawsuit and recover compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Kentucky. 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, also known as esomeprazole, is prescription medication used to treat symptoms related to gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), acid-related damage to the esophagus, ulcers in some people who take non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), stomach infection caused by H. pylori bacteria, and conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.
Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and works by blocking the amount of acid produced in the stomach. PPIs neutralize the active enzymes in some cells, weakening the acid made in the stomach.
Nexium Side Effects
Common side effects of Nexium may include:
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Headache
- Gas
- Dry mouth
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Drowsiness
Nexium and Kidney Disease Risks
In addition to common side effects and allergic reactions associated with the use of Nexium for the treatment of heartburn and acid reflux, there are other serious complications that are reportedly linked to the use of the drug.
Those risks include:
- Acute Interstitial Nephritis (AIN): AIN is a form of nephritis (kidney inflammation) that affects the interstitium (fluid that surrounds tissue cells) in the kidneys surrounding the tubules. An article published in 2006 identified 18 biopsy-proven PPI-induced AIN, prompting researchers to state that there is now evidence linking all five major PPIs, including Nexium, with an increased risk of AIN. Likewise, an article published in the Journal of Nephrology claims that PPIs are now a common cause of drug-induced AIN due to their prolonged use.
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): CKD is a progressive loss in kidney function over a long period of time, typically months or years. CKD may lead to a number of other conditions such as high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health, and nerve damage.
- Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): AKI is a complex disorder marked by an abrupt loss of kidney function, usually developing within seven days and sometimes within hours. AKI is most commonly caused by decreased renal blood flow, exposure to harmful substances in the kidneys, an inflammatory process in the kidneys, or an obstruction of the urinary tract.
If any of these conditions are not treated properly, they can lead to renal or kidney failure, a medical condition in which the kidneys fail to adequately filter waste products from the blood. Renal failure can possibly lead to increased fluid in the body, increased acid levels, raised levels of potassium and phosphate, decreased levels of calcium, and anemia in later stages. Kidney failure often requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Other Nexium Kidney Risks
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), serious complications including severe diarrhea caused by an infection of the intestines; hip, wrist, or spine fractures; chronic inflammation of the stomach lining (atrophic gastritis); low magnesium levels; and vitamin B-12 deficiency.
Nexium Lawsuit
An Illinois Nexium lawsuit alleges that, despite clear knowledge that Nexium potentially causes a significantly increased risk of CKD and AKI, the manufacturers, AstraZeneca, continued to market and sell Nexium without warning consumers or healthcare providers of the significant risks.
The lawsuit further alleges that the drug manufacturers engaged in and continue to engage in fraudulent, unfair, and unlawful conduct likely to mislead consumers and the public.
How a Kentucky 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 Kentucky. 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.
