Kidney damage blamed on Nexium has sparked a legal claim against the drug’s manufacturer AstraZeneca.

According to the claim, the plaintiff allegedly developed serious permanent injuries that could have been avoided if the company had properly disclosed possible adverse side effects.

Plaintiff David F. was prescribed Nexium in 2008. During all times relevant, David says, he used Nexium for its intended purpose and did not deviate from FDA-approved uses. Even though David followed the prescription’s instructions and his doctor’s advice, he allegedly developed kidney damage from Nexium.

David reportedly experienced kidney damage from Nexium in 2009 when doctors diagnosed the condition as chronic kidney disease. Soon after, David suffered acute kidney failure.

David says he had no previous knowledge of the alleged association between Nexium or other proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and kidney damage.

Overview of Nexium Kidney Side Effects

Nexium belongs to the class of medications called proton pump inhibitors, which are commonly used to treat conditions involving an excess of stomach acid. Millions of patients use Nexium each year without major side effects, but alleged injury reports of kidney damage from Nexium have been emerging and have caused major concern in the medical community.

The FDA warned against potential Nexium kidney problems in late 2014 when the agency approved a label update for the medication. The new warning label contained precautions against acute interstitial nephritis, an inflammation of renal tissue that commonly leads to kidney disease or even kidney failure.

The agency implemented this warning after several scientific studies found an association between proton pump inhibitors and kidney problems.

The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology published a study that found a 96% increased greater risk of kidney failure development and a 28% increased risk of chronic kidney disease in PPI users when compared to H2 receptor blockers such as Zantac.

Even with other studies producing similar results, plaintiffs claim AstraZeneca allegedly failed to disclose this information until late 2014.

Patients say they had no way of knowing that kidney damage from Nexium was a possible side effect. David states that he never would have used the medication if he had known the dangers.

This Nexium Kidney Damage Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-02475-CCC-MF in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark Division.