AstraZeneca and a multitude of other pharmaceutical companies are facing a new Prevacid-Prilosec-Nexium lawsuit from a woman alleging she developed chronic kidney failure.

This Prevacid-Prilosec-Nexium lawsuit is joining a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL), which consists of other claims from patients alleging chronic kidney problems.

Plaintiff Elma S. filed this claim soon after she discovered that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) had a strong association with chronic kidney complications. Proton pump inhibitors are acid reducing medications which work by limiting the amount digestive acids produced in the stomach.

This makes PPIs good treatment choices for patients suffering from acid reflex, heartburn and other similar conditions. Proton pump inhibitors are one of the most widely used medications, with over 15 million prescriptions across the United States. However, the number is expected to be higher because of the availability of over the counter medications.

With how commonplace these medications are, Elma alleges she had no reason to believe she was in danger of any serious health complications. Furthermore, the proton pump inhibitors mentioned in this Prevacid-Prilosec-Nexium lawsuit were recommended by Elma’s physician and were presented as effective treatment methods for heartburn and acid reflux.

With these benefits in mind, Elma used a number of PPIs beginning on June 21, 2002 including Dexilant, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix and Aciphex.

According to the complaint, Elma used these medications until March 12, 2016 and developed chronic kidney disease at some point during the course of her treatment.

Elma opted to file this Prevacid-Prilosec-Nexium lawsuit after discovering that recent studies indicated that PPIs presented a significant risk of kidney failure and chronic kidney disease.

Overview of PPI Kidney Problems

According to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, patients prescribed PPIs faced a significantly higher risk of chronic kidney problems.

The study found that PPI patients faced a 96 percent increased risk of kidney failure and 28 percent increased risk of chronic kidney disease, compared to patients who were prescribed histamine H2 receptor blockers.

Another study to indicate a correlation between PPIs and chronic kidney disease was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in February 2016, which conducted to further investigate the alleged correlation between PPIs and acute interstitial nephritis.

This condition is known to lead to kidney failure which was recently added to Nexium’s warning label in late 2014. Even though chronic kidney disease can be potentially fatal, AstraZeneca and other PPI manufacturers allegedly failed to disclose this information to the general public.

At all times relevant, Elma says, she relied on the product information and marketing materials provided by AstraZeneca and other manufacturers, each of which allegedly failed to mention the possibility of chronic kidney disease. Elma states she would not have used Prevacid, Nexium, Prilosec or other PPIs, if she had known about the increased risk of chronic kidney problems.

Elma’s claim is joining MDL No. 2789, where it will stand alongside other claims alleging similar instances of chronic kidney problems. Elma is raising claims including counts of negligence and failure to warn.

This Prevacid-Prilosec-Nexium lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-12160-CCC-MF, in the U.S. District Court of New Jersey.