Research shows heartburn drugs such as Nexium and Prilosec may cause permanent kidney damage.

Nexium and Prilosec are proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) that reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces. These medicines work by inhibiting the proton pump of a certain cell called the parietal cell, which is responsible for the final step of acid secretion in the stomach. This is how acid reflux, heartburn and GERD are controlled by PPIs.

A study published in the Jan. 11, 2016 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, however, says that patients taking PPIs show a risk of chronic kidney disease that is 20 to 50 percent higher than that of non-users.

While the study did not indicate a direct cause-and-effect, the study did show an increased risk of kidney disease associated with a higher dose of PPIs, said lead author Dr. Morgan Grams, assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

PPIs already have been linked to acute kidney injury and acute interstitial nephritis, which is inflammation of the kidney tissue. The possibility that Prilosec and Nexium could cause permanent kidney damage means that the kidneys could completely lose their capacity to filter blood.

Permanent kidney damage leads to kidney failure. At that point, a patient must begin dialysis and most likely, be placed on a kidney transplant list.

How Nexium, Prilosec Might Lead to Permanent Kidney Damage

The newest research compared patients who used PPIs once daily to those who took the medications twice daily. Those who took two doses a day showed a 46 percent increased risk of chronic kidney disease, while patients who took only one dose a day saw a 15 percent increased chance.

Researchers from the University of Findlay College of Pharmacy published a study in 2014 that warned of widespread overuse and abuse of PPIs. In addition, many people who take PPIs do so for more than four years. There are patients who have taken them for 20 years or more who are suffering the consequences.

Repeated acute kidney inflammation over time could be a cause of permanent kidney damage. Another theory is that the low magnesium levels caused by PPIs could damage the kidneys.

Many people use the medications to help them sustain poor dietary choices, and up to 70 percent of all PPI prescriptions are given inappropriately, says the John Hopkins study. About one-fourth of the population taking PPIs long term could stop taking their Nexium or Prilosec without falling victim to heartburn or acid reflux, added the study’s authors.

Patients might want to talk to their doctors about a prescription for an H2 blocker such as Pepcid, Tagamet or Zantac. These medications are not affiliated with permanent kidney damage.

If you or someone you love has taken Nexium, Prilosec or another PPI and suffered kidney damage, you could have a legal claim. Talk with a lawyer regarding your legal options for compensation for lost wages, hospitalization and other expenses.