A Tennessee Nexium lawsuit may be an option for patients who have suffered complications after taking the drug to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and acid reflux disease. Despite its popularity, Nexium has been associated with severe, potentially life-threatening conditions, including those affecting the kidneys. Affected patients and their families may be eligible to file a Tennessee Nexium lawsuit and pursue compensation for their injuries.
Jacob Wackerhausen/iStock/ThinkstockFor more information, contact Attorney Group for Tennessee. 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?
Nexium is a type of medication used to treat symptoms associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), duodenal ulcers, and other problems of the esophagus and stomach such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Nexium may also be used to decrease the risk of bleeding after endoscopy in patients with ulcers.
How Does Nexium Work?
Nexium is known as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). PPIs work by lowering or decreasing the amount of acid produced by glands in the stomach lining. Other popular PPIs used to treat GERD include Prilosec, Protonix, Prevacid, Dexilant, and AcipHex.
Nexium Side Effects
Like many prescription drugs, Nexium is known to cause some side effects such as headache, constipation, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, drowsiness, and dry mouth. However, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are some serious risks related to the use of Nexium, including:
- Chronic inflammation of the stomach lining, or atrophic gastritis
- Symptoms related to low magnesium levels in the body such as seizure, dizziness, abnormal or fast heartbeat, jitteriness, jerking movements, muscle weakness, and spasms of the voice box
- Severe allergic reactions, including rash, face swelling, throat tightness, and difficulty breathing
- Severe diarrhea due to an infection of the intestines
- Increased risk of hip, wrist, or spine bone fractures
Nexium Kidney Disease Risks
Studies published in several peer-reviewed medical journals including the BMC Nephrology, The BMJ, and the JAMA Internal Medicine have linked the use of PPIs, including Nexium, to the following kidney disorders:
- Acute Interstitial Nephritis (AIN): AIN is a kidney disorder in which the spaces between the kidney tubules become swollen or inflamed. Symptoms of AIN may include increased or decreased urine output, drowsiness, confusion, blood in the urine, fever, nausea, vomiting, swelling, rash, and weight gain.
- Acute Kidney Injury (AKI): According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), AKI is a condition where kidney function suddenly decreases and kidney damage occurs within a few hours or days. Symptoms can include water-electrolyte imbalance or fatigue, insufficient urine production, shortness of breath, swelling, or too much acid in the blood or tissues.
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): CKD is a condition characterized by a slow, progressive loss of kidney function over a long period of time. CKD may include conditions that damage the kidneys and decrease their ability to remove wastes from the blood.
If these conditions are not treated properly, they may progress into kidney failure. Symptoms of kidney failure include weakness, shortness of breath, lethargy, and confusion. If the kidneys fail completely, patients may need dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.
Nexium Lawsuit
A Nexium lawsuit filed in the state of Illinois claims that the makers of Nexium, AstraZeneca, did not inform the plaintiff or the plaintiff’s physicians of the risks associated with kidney injuries such as CKD and the use of Nexium, despite previous knowledge of numerous case reports linking the drug to such complications.
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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee. 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.
