A woman suffering PPI kidney side effects has filed suit against the makers of proton pump inhibitors Nexium and Prevacid.

A PPI works by stopping the cells in the lining of the stomach from producing too much stomach acid. The PPI binds with the proton pump to inhibit the ability of the cell to secrete gastric acid.

Plaintiff Johnette R. says she was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease in October 2016, which has caused her “pain, suffering, and emotional distress.” This occurred after many years of taking PPI medications, which caused her to suffer PPI kidney side effects.

Chronic kidney disease means the kidneys are gradually losing their functionality. Symptoms often go unnoticed until an advanced stage has led to dangerous levels of fluid, electrolytes and waste built up in the body. The last state of chronic kidney disease is end state renal disease.

Johnette used prescription brand Nexium from December 2003 through December 2015. She took prescription brand Prevacid from December 2006 through April 2007.

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and AstraZeneca LP are behind Nexium. Takeda Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. and five Takeda subsidiaries make Prevacid.

The PPI kidney side effects lawsuit says AstraZeneca and Takeda “negligently represented” Nexium and Prevacid when the companies told doctors, the FDA and the public “that Nexium and Prevacid had been tested and were found to be safe and effective for their indicated use in treating peptic disorders.”

More specifically, the companies stand accused of concealing the fact the drugs can cause serious kidney injuries.

PPI Kidney Side Effects Allegedly Were Known

“Defendants have had notice of serious adverse outcomes regarding kidney disease associated with their Nexium and Prevacid through case reports, clinical studies and post-market surveillance,” asserts the PPI kidney side effects lawsuit.

“In October of 1992, researchers from the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center led by Stephen Ruffenach published the first article associating PPI usage with kidney injuries in the American Journal of Medicine, followed by years of reports from national adverse drug registries describing the association,” says the complaint.

PPI kidney side effects also include acute interstitial nephritis and acute kidney injury, which studies have shown also contribute to chronic kidney disease. A 2015 study indicates elderly patients had a 250 percent increase in acute kidney injuries within 120 days of starting a PPI.

The PPI kidney side effects lawsuit says, “In February 2016, a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology found that PPI use including Nexium and Prevacid was independently associated with a 20 percent to 50 percent higher risk of incident chronic kidney disease, after adjusting for several potential confounding variables.”

As of 2013, more than 15 million Americans were taking prescription PPIs at a cost of more than $10 billion.

If you have taken Nexium or Prevacid and suffered PPI kidney side effects, you could benefit from speaking with a lawyer regarding your options for compensation through legal recourse.

The PPI Kidney Side Effects Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-09365-CCC-MF in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.