A Virginia Nexium lawsuit may be an option for patients who have developed severe kidney problems after taking the medication to treat acid-related complications of the esophagus and stomach. Millions of Americans take medications such as Nexium to treat symptoms associated with acid reflux disease. However, Nexium, as well as other medications in its class, 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 Virginia Nexium lawsuit and seek compensation for their injuries.
For more information, contact Attorney Group for Virginia. 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 one of the most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. It is generally used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), difficulties related to H. pylori infection, gastric ulcers, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Nexium may also be used to treat and mitigate damage caused by other complications affecting the stomach and esophagus.
Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and works by blocking the creation of acid in the stomach. Nexium also alleviates symptoms associated with heartburn, problems 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
The most common side effects of Nexium include:
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal pain
- Drowsiness
- Nausea
- Constipation
- Headache
- Intestinal gas
- Dry mouth
Nexium may also cause serious side effects. Those side effects include:
- Chronic atrophic gastritis, a long-lasting inflammation of the stomach lining
- Symptoms associated with low magnesium levels in the body
- Vitamin B-12 deficiency
- Severe diarrhea caused by a bacterial infection
- Increased risk of bone fractures, specifically of the hip, wrist, and spine
Nexium Kidney Disease Risks
Other serious risks have been linked to the use of Nexium in addition to common side effects. Those risks include serious kidney problems such as acute interstitial nephritis (AIN), chronic kidney disease (CKD), acute kidney injury (AKI), and renal failure.
AIN is an often temporary condition in which the spaces between the kidney tubules become swollen or inflamed. According to a study published in the medical journal BMC Nephrology, a number of biopsy-confirmed case reports and retrospective descriptive reports have been published noting a potential connection between PPI use and AIN. This includes research published in 2006 citing three cases of esomeprazole-associated AIN.
Likewise, researchers have indicated that the use of PPIs such as Nexium was independently associated with a 20 to 50 percent higher risk of CKD, according to an article cited by The New York Times Blog.
AKI, or acute renal failure, occurs when the kidneys suddenly stop working. 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
Nexium lawsuits filed against the drug maker AstraZeneca allege that even if used as indicated, the drug maker failed to sufficiently warn against the negative side effects and serious risks associated with the drug, including the increased risk of kidney injuries. Although the drug company knew or should have known of the increased risks related to the use of Nexium and certain kidney injuries, they continued to market and sell the product without warning consumers or healthcare providers.
How a Virginia 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 Virginia. 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.
