AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP and AstraZeneca LP face a recent chronic kidney disease lawsuit filed by a woman who says that she suffered severe injuries after being prescribed the proton pump inhibiting drug, Nexium.

According to the chronic kidney disease lawsuit, plaintiff Margie H. files the complaint in New Jersey federal court. The lawsuit was filed on June 18, 2018.

Margie is a resident and citizen of Hamilton, Ala. She says that she took Nexium between January 2003 and June 2016. However, allegedly as a result of taking the medication, she suffered from chronic kidney disease (CKD).

The chronic kidney disease lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including strict products liability, design defect, failure to warn, negligence, negligence per se, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, negligent misrepresentation, fraud and fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, violation of state consumer protection laws of the state of Alabama and throughout the United States.

Margie demands a trial by jury.

Overview: Chronic Kidney Disease Lawsuit

Several reports have suggested a link of kidney disease to heartburn medications such as Nexium and Prilosec. These heartburn medications are part of a class of medications known as proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs. They are prescribed to treat acid reflux, ulcers and heartburn.

There are almost 15 million Americans who, because of these conditions, are prescribed heartburn medications. However, patients who took these medications report unexpected adverse side effects and complications.

Researcher say that these heartburn medications should only be used for a short amount of time. PPI medications include some of the following:

• Nexium, Nexium IV, Nexium 24 HR
• Prilosec, Prilosec OTC
• Prevacid, Prevacid IV, Prevacid 24-Hour
• Protonix
• Zegerid, Zegerid OTC

In fact, in a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, researchers reported that these heartburn medications are linked to kidney failure and other kidney problems. The researchers discovered that for patients prescribed heartburn medications, they had a 28 percent increased risk for developing chronic kidney disease.

Additionally, another study reported there is a significant link between chronic kidney disease and PPIs. In a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in February 2016, the study correlated the link between acute interstitial nephritis, a condition known to cause kidney failure, and heartburn medications.

Results of a separate study discovered that in 96 percent of patients, those who were taking Nexium and Prilosec heartburn medications had an increased risk for conditions such as renal insufficiency, renal failure and kidney failure.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Nexium’s drug label change request to add acute interstitial nephritis as a possible side effect and complication of the drug.

It must also be said that despite the link of chronic kidney disease to PPIs and other heartburn medications, heartburn medications have also been linked to increased risks for the development of stomach cancer, as found by another published study in 2017. The longer a person takes the medication, the study found, the higher the risks.

If you or someone you know developed chronic kidney disease or suffered from any other adverse side effect and complication after taking heartburn medication, you may be eligible to file a claim or chronic kidney disease lawsuit.

The Chronic Kidney Disease Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-10732-CCC-MF, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark Division. The Nexium Lawsuit is MDL No. 2789, in re: Proton-Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation (NO. II), in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark Division.