Studies Link Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid to Serious Kidney Injuries

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are popular medications that are used primarily to reduce the production of gastric acid in the stomach.

These drugs, which include common brands such as Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid, are among the most widely sold drugs in the world.

Our lawyers are providing free, no obligation lawsuit evaluations for people who were injured by Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid.

Call A Lawyer Now – 215-923-9300

Studies Show Proton Pump Inhibitors are Linked to Serious Side Effects

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are popular medications that are used primarily to reduce the production of gastric acid in the stomach. These drugs, which include common brands such as Nexium, Prilosec, and Prevacid, are among the most widely sold drugs in the world.

Several studies have been released that link PPI use to serious health issues.

Long-term use of PPIs have been shown to cause serious side effects including:
Acute Interstitial Nephritis (AIN)
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)
Other serious kidney injuries

Proton Pump Inhibitors and Serious Kidney Injuries

AIN is a medical condition that is characterized by the swelling between the kidney tubules.

In a healthy body, this system will reabsorb water and other substances from your kidney filtrate system.

However, when AIN is present, the swelling causes disruption in the system and can lead to a number of negative symptoms including fever, fatigue, exhaustion, nausea, vomiting, rash, elevated blood pressure, and lethargy.

Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)

CKD is characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function, which keeps it from performing normal functions that keep the body healthy.

CKD causes excess waste to build up in the blood, which can lead to complications including high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones, poor nutritional health, and nerve damage.

Furthermore, poor kidney health is associated with heart and blood vessel disease.

Medical Studies Linking Proton Pump Inhibitors to Kidney Injury

For more than two decades, studies have been conducted that suggest taking Proton Pump Inhibitors can be harmful to your health. Long-term use of PPIs is associated with certain kidney injuries, drug dependence, and other serious medical issues.

Below you will find a number of studies conducted over the years that show an association between PPI usage and various health issues and kidney injuries.

1992 The American Journal of Medicine

Acute Interstitial Nephritis (AIN) due to Omeprazole

A 74-year-old woman was admitted to the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center because of acute renal failure.
Two weeks earlier, she had noticed increased feelings of malaise, fatigue, and anorexia.
After she was brought in for testing, a 24-hour urine protein collection showed 741 mg of protein.
The woman was diagnosed as having drug-induced acute interstitial nephritis
This was marked as being the first case of AIN that could be linked to omeprazole, which is the generic term for Prilosec.
The study concluded that physicians who prescribe omeprazole should be aware of the association of acute interstitial nephritis with omeprazole.

1992

1997 European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association

AIN Secondary to Omeprazole Use

This article expands on the research that was conducted in 1992 and shows omeprazole (Prilosec) can cause acute interstitial nephritis.
In the study, two cases of acute interstitial nephritis were linked to omeprazole therapy.
In both cases, omeprazole use resulted in recurrence of symptoms and impairment of kidney function within a short period of time.
The study highlighted that PPIs need to be used with caution, especially in elderly patients on multiple medications.

1997

2004 Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation

PPI-Induced Tubulo-Interstitial Nephritis (TIN)

In this study, 8 out of 14 cases with presumed drug-related TIN could be attributed to the PPIs omeprazole and lansoprazole (Prilosec and Prevacid).
Two of the cases of lansoprazole-associated TIN were the first to be reported with this particular PPI.
The study concluded that the drugs, omeprazole and lansoprazole, were the most common cause of interstitial nephritis in the population studies.

2004

2006 CGH Journal

Proton Pump Inhibitors & Acute Interstitial Nephritis

This article highlights the fact that PPI use has continued to grow despite the known harmful side effects on the kidneys.
In the study, 28 cases of biopsy-proven AIN were identified between 2 hospitals and of those 28, 18 (64%) were associated with PPI use.
11 cases were omeprazole-associated (Prilosec), 3 cases were pantoprazole-associated (Protonix), 3 cases were esomeprazole-associated (Nexium), and 1 case was rabeprazole-associated (AcipHex) AIN.
This was the largest series of PPI-induced AIN presented to date, with the most commonly implicated drug being omeprazole (Prilosec).

2006

2007 Clinical Nephrology

Acute Kidney Injury after PPI use

his study states that, throughout the medical community, it is accepted that kidney damage is a confirmed injury related to PPI therapy.
Furthermore, after 15 years since the first report was released correlating PPI use with kidney damage, the labels remain unchanged, despite the research showing the potential dangers.

2007

2013 BMC Nephrology Study

PPIs and Acute Kidney Injury

A Population of 184,480 patients, who were continuously enrolled with an insurer for at least 24 months between September 2002 and November 2005, were selected to determine effects of PPI use and acute kidney injury.
854 cases were identified as having at least two claims for an acute kidney disease diagnosis.
Data showed that kidney disease was positively associated with PPI use even after controlling for potential confounding conditions.
Study concluded that patients with kidney disease diagnosis were twice as likely to have used a previous prescription for a PPI.

2013

2013 Pharmaceutical Journal Study

Interstitial Nephritis Caused By PPIs

This article describes the case of a 54-year-old man who had been taking omeprazole daily for four months.
He reported feeling unwell with symptoms of tiredness and weight loss.
Studies conducted later led doctors to diagnose him with acute interstitial nephritis, with omeprazole as the likely cause.

2013

2015 CMAJ Open Study

PPIs and the Risk of Acute Kidney Injury in Older Patients

Over 290,000 individuals aged 66 years and older used in the study to determine if association exists between PPIs and interstitial nephritis and kidney injury.
Patients were analyzed over a 9-year period from April 2002 to November 2011.
Study concluded that those who started PPI therapy had an increased risk of acute kidney injury and acute interstitial nephritis.

2015

2016 Journal of American Medical Association Study

PPI Use and the Risk of Chronic Kidney Diseasey

Cohort of more than 10,000 adults was studied over a 10 year time period to determine the effects of long-term PPI use.
The study found that baseline use of PPIs was independently associated with a 20 percent to 50 percent higher risk of incident CKD, even after adjusting for potential confounders, including demographics, socioeconomic status, clinical measurements, prevalent comorbidities, and concomitant use of medications.

2016

Conclusion: Proton Pump Inhibitors Can Cause Serious Kidney Injury

PPIs such as Prilosec, Prevacid, Zegerid, Nexium, and their OTC versions have been shown to cause a number of harmful health effects including, interstitial nephritis, chronic kidney disease and kidney failure. Unfortunately, these medications are widely popular and account for billions of dollars in sales for the large pharmaceutical companies every year. The FDA has been prompted to take measures in warning doctors and their patients; however, efforts to make such changes have been largely ineffective.

Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid Lawsuits

Our lawyers are actively investigating lawsuits for kidney injuries caused by proton pump inhibitors. If you or a loved one suffered one of the following side effects after taking Nexium, Prilosec, or Prevacid, you may be eligible for financial compensation:

Acute Interstitial Nephritis
Acute Kidney Failure
Clostridium Difficile (C. difficile)
Dementia
Fractures

Contact our Nexium lawyers, Prilosec lawyers, and Prevacid lawyers today for a free no obligation legal consultation.