Emily Sortor  |  October 8, 2018

Category: Legal News

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what medications cause kidney failureSince new research suggests that popular heartburn medications may cause hard to detect kidney damage, lawyers are investigating patient claims as to what medications cause kidney failure.

Nexium, Prilosec, and Protonix are among a group of heartburn medications known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). The drugs treat heartburn by reducing the gastric acid produced by a person’s body. Though the drugs have been previously linked to kidney problems, new research suggests that the kidney damage may be hard to detect.

Many patients use PPIs for things other than heartburn. In fact, these drugs can be used to treat acid reflux, cardiovascular disorders like acute coronary syndrome, atrial fibrillation, or heart failure. In around 11 percent of off-label prescriptions of PPIs, patients were prescribed the drugs for neurological problems, and 10 percent of off-label prescriptions of the drugs were for trauma and respiratory ailments.

So, many Americans who use PPIs for a range of problems could be taking drugs that cause kidney failure.

Study of Medications and Kidney Issues

In February 2017, a study was published into what medications cause kidney failure, and what impact they have on patient health. The study suggests that more than half of patients who develop chronic kidney problems while taking PPIs don’t suffer from acute kidney problems before their issues become chronic. This can make diagnosing the problem and troubleshooting the impacts of the drug difficult.

Unfortunately, many people who take PPIs may not realize that the drugs are having an impact on their kidney health before the problems become severe.

Experts suggest that if a patient and their doctors find that a PPI is the right option for a patient’s health, both the patient and the doctor should carefully monitor the effect of the drug on the patient’s health. Additionally, Ziyad Al-Aly of Washington University School of Medicine, the senior author of the February study, stresses that patients should only use PPIs when necessary.

Reportedly, over 80 percent of people who were taking PPIs in the study did not develop acute kidney problems over five years of observation and more than half of the cases of chronic kidney problems in the study occurred in patients who had not previously suffered acute kidney problems.

However, more than 15 million Americans have prescriptions for PPIs, and millions more take over-the-counter heartburn drugs, not under a doctor’s care. As a result, the problem of kidney damage from PPI use may be a serious one for American consumers, as many Americans could be taking drugs that cause kidney failure. 

According to research, the longer a patient takes a proton pump inhibitor, the greater risk a patient has of developing kidney disease. Many Americans may have used these drugs that cause kidney failure for many years, believing them to be safe and effective for long-term use.

Many patients who use heartburn drugs may not be aware of what medications cause kidney failure. If you take a proton pump inhibitor like Nexium, Prilosec, and Protonix, and have experienced kidney problems you may have a legal claim. An experienced lawyer can help you determine if you could be eligible for a PPI lawsuit investigation.

If you or someone you know took PPI meds and suffered from Nexium stomach cancer or were hospitalized for Nexium kidney problems, you may qualify to file a Nexium lawsuit to pursue compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. See if you qualify for a Nexium lawsuit settlement by filling out the short form on this page. It’s absolutely free to participate, so act now!

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