Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) including Nexium are some of the most commonly used heartburn medications on the market today.

Over the last decade, doctors prescribed Nexium to millions of patients under the belief that there was no risk in taking the drug, only to find out there may be a link between Nexium and kidney disease.

What is Nexium?

Nexium (Esomeprazole), known as the “purple pill”, is a highly popular medication for heartburn and acid reflux. Nexium is the third most prescribed drug in the U.S., with over 13 million prescriptions annually, generating $4.7 billion in sales for drug maker AstraZeneca.

Nexium is in a class of drugs known as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs). These medications ease acid reflux by reducing the amount of stomach acid produced by the glands in the lining.

Too much acid can result in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which the contents of the stomach can move back into the esophagus, causing discomfort, heartburn, and even damage to the esophagus in extreme cases.

However, recent medical research suggests there may be a link between the use of PPIs like Nexium and kidney disease.

Studies Link Nexium and Kidney Disease

In a recent April 2016 report in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) , researchers found that long-term PPI use may lead to an increased risk for kidney disease and kidney failure.

Researchers found that 15% of PPI users were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to 11% of patients who took histamine H2 receptor blockers (Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac).

After calculating for variables, this translated to a 28% increased risk of CKD associated with proton pump inhibitor use. Only a few patients in the study — <0.2% — developed end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but the risk was 96% higher for those on PPIs.

Another study published earlier this year in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) involved more than 250,000 patients and reported that there is a significant increased risk to patients taking proton pump inhibitors such as Nexium and kidney disease development.

Additionally, the April 2015 issue of the medical journal CMAJ Open, researchers reported that PPIs may increase the risk of kidney injury and acute interstitial nephritis, an inflammatory kidney disease that can lead to kidney failure. Once the kidneys fail, patients are doomed to chronic dialysis or waiting for kidney transplantation.

Still, the researchers noted they could only speculate on how Nexium and kidney disease are connected.

Nexium and Kidney Disease Lawsuits

Not everyone taking a heartburn medication like Nexium will experience adverse symptoms, but for some Nexium and kidney disease may occur with one or more symptoms presenting as:

• Changes in urine color
• Changes in urine frequency
• Sleep problems due to muscle cramps or restless leg
• Swelling of face, hands, ankles and feet due to fluid build up
• Kidney pain located in the back
• Metallic taste in mouth
• Breathe that smells like ammonia or metal
• Severe itching of the legs
• Nausea and vomiting

If you or someone you know has taken Nexium or other PPI and experience the side effects noted above, you may be able to obtain financial compensation for your injuries through a Nexium kidney disease lawsuit.