Nexium caused acute interstitial nephritis, says a Tennessee man in a lawsuit filed against drug manufacturer AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals. The man is on dialysis and is awaiting a kidney transplant as a result of Nexium, he alleges.

The third best-selling drug in the world, Nexium is a prescription drug taken to treat digestive issues such as acid reflux and ulcers.

It is in a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), which stop acid from being pumped into the stomach. With acid reduction, patients often experience relief from heartburn, difficulty swallowing and any irritating cough.

Recent research shows that Nexium and other PPIs can prematurely age the cells that line the blood vessels. This damaging side effect is likely the reason PPIs have been linked to an increased risk of kidney damage.

What Is Acute Interstitial Nephritis?

The kidneys contain tubules that reabsorb water and organic substances and also secrete materials the body doesn’t need into the urine to be expelled. When the tubules are swollen, the condition is called interstitial nephritis. The condition can be sudden (acute) or chronic, and symptoms can range from mild to severe.

The most common symptom of Nexium caused acute interstitial nephritis is reduced urine output. Other symptoms can include fever, bloody urine, confusion, water retention, bloating and elevated blood pressure.

Nexium Caused Acute Interstitial Nephritis

In 2014, the FDA mandated that a warning label about the risk of acute interstitial nephritis from Nexium and other PPIs be included on packaging.

Plaintiff Charles B. began taking Nexium in July 2003 for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and duodenal ulcer disease. Five years later, he was told he had severe, Nexium caused acute interstitial nephritis, which was deemed chronic in 2009. The lawsuit indicates he endures dialysis treatments three days a week and will need a kidney transplant.

Evidence of Kidney Problems

The FDA warns that Nexium caused acute interstitial nephritis and the following:

• Acute kidney injury
• Chronic kidney disease
• End-stage kidney failure

The risk of kidney problems such as chronic kidney disease is up to 50 percent higher in those who take Nexium or other PPIs, according to the JAMA Internal Medicine medical journal.

PPI users were up to 96 percent more apt to develop kidney failure and 28 percent more likely to develop chronic kidney disease after five years of use, according to a study conducted by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Too many patients rely on the medications for too long a period of time, according to researchers at the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy.

“Often times proton pump inhibitors are prescribed and overused without documented valid indications,” the study noted. “This inappropriate use comes with a cost that rapidly accumulates over time.”

Even the over-the-counter Nexium is designed to be used for only four to eight weeks, according to the dosage directions. A doctor may recommend a second course of treatment if symptoms persist, but the daily use of Nexium for years on end is not intended to be a lifestyle choice.

Kidney Side Effects Prompting Lawsuits

Makers and marketers of Nexium and other PPIs are facing lawsuits from patients who are suffering kidney damage after taking these drugs. Sufferers say the manufacturers neglected to warn the medical community and consumers that Nexium caused acute interstitial nephritis and other kidney ailments.

Many Americans take PPIs, which means that many more lawsuits could be filed. A class action lawsuit could be the best way to receive compensation for kidney problems that you or a loved one have suffered after relying on Nexium and other proton pump inhibitors.

The Nexium Acute Interstitial Nephritis Lawsuit is Case No. 2:16-cv-02549 in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.