AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and several other pharmaceutical companies are facing a new Nexium kidney disease lawsuit, alleging their proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) caused the plaintiff long term health complications.

This Nexium kidney disease lawsuit was filed by a man from Kentucky, alleging AstraZeneca and the other companies failed to warn him against the potential correlation between PPIs and kidney damage.

Plaintiff Hubert H. filed this kidney disease lawsuit soon after discovering that there were several studies suggesting the link and that other patients suffered similar injuries.

Like millions of other patients in the United States, Hubert had used Nexium, Prilosec, and Protonix to treat uncomfortable conditions related to problems in the digestive tract.

Proton pump inhibitors are medications typically used to treat an excess of stomach acid. They are available in either prescription or over the counter variants. These medications work by limiting the amount of digestive fluids emitted in the stomach, which helps mitigate these symptoms.

Proton pump inhibitors are among the most widely used medications in the United States, with over 15 million users and experts believing the number to be much higher due to over the counter availability. According to the Nexium kidney disease lawsuit, Hubert began using PPIs on Aug. 22, 2012 on a regular basis as according to prescription instructions.

Even with this diligence, Hubert says he still developed chronic kidney disease and is currently contending with the condition. Hubert opted to file this Nexium kidney disease lawsuit soon after, alleging the pharmaceutical companies did not disclose this vital safety information.

Overview of Nexium and Kidney Disease Correlation

The alleged correlation between Nexium and kidney disease recently came into public light when a study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, which observed patients who were either prescribed PPIs or histamine H2 receptor blockers.

According to the results of the study, patients prescribed PPIs had a 96 percent increased risk of developing kidney failure and 28 percent greater risk of chronic kidney disease when compared to the control group.

Another study published in the February 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Association (JAMA), which also indicated a correlation between Nexium and kidney disease. This study was reportedly conducted to see if PPIs increased the risk of interstitial nephritis, a condition known to cause kidney failure.

The alleged correlation between Nexium and kidney disease was further increased in late 2014 when the FDA issued a label change for Nexium to include acute interstitial nephritis. The authors of the study further stated that Nexium and other PPIs are overprescribed and should only be used on a short term basis.

Even though the alleged correlation between Nexium and kidney disease is devastating, patients like Hubert claim they were not warned of this for years. Hubert states he would not have agreed to take Nexium or other PPIs, if he knew about the potential long term side effects.

Hubert’s Nexium kidney disease lawsuit is joining MDL No. 2789, where it will join other claims alleging similar injuries. By joining and MDL, Hubert’s claim will be streamlined through the litigation process and will avoid problems like conflicting rulings from different judges.

This Nexium Kidney Disease Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-14238-CCC-MF, in the United States District Court of New Jersey, Newark Division.