Lawsuits regarding PPI and kidney disease argue that consumers were not sufficiently warned about the potential risks associated with the long term use of heartburn meds.

Plaintiff Alma F. recently filed a lawsuit against AstraZenca, Merck, Pfizer, and Takeda, alleging that usage of Nexium and Protonix caused her to sustain acute kidney injury.

“As a result of using PPI products, [Alma] suffered pain and suffering, emotional distress, mental anguish, and personal and economic injur(ies) that are alleged to have been caused by the use of PPI products,” the PPI and kidney disease lawsuit claims.

PPI drugs, or proton pump inhibitors, are heartburn meds which treat acid reflux, heartburn, and ulcers. There are prescription versions of the drug available as well as over the counter options. Common heartburn meds include Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, and Zegrid.

Numerous studies have allegedly provided evidence for the link between PPI and kidney disease. A study, which was published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, showed that patients taking heartburn meds had a 96 percent greater chance of developing kidney failure and a 28 percent greater chance of developing chronic kidney disease. These statistics were based on comparison with patients on histamine H2 receptor blockers, a different type of heartburn medication.

Following further research linking PPI and kidney disease, including acute interstitial nephritis, regulatory bodies took action. In 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a label change for Nexium, expanding side effects to include acute interstitial nephritis.

These drugs have not only been linked to kidney problems, but also to stomach cancer. An October 2017 study allegedly increase a patients’ risk of stomach cancer anywhere from two to eight times, depending on how long the drugs are taken. It is thought that H. pylori, a bacteria associated with an increased stomach cancer risk, may contribute to the risk when the patient eradicates the bacteria and later used heartburn meds.

Across numerous studies, researchers have critiqued how often heartburn meds are prescribed for long term use. An estimated 15 million Americans have been prescribed a heartburn med, not including those who use over the counter versions of the medications. Researchers warn that these drugs are overprescribed and should not be taken any longer than necessary.

The PPI and kidney disease lawsuit aims to hold the defendants accountable for not warning consumers like Alma of the risks associated with their products. Alma argues that they defendants knew or should have known about the PPI and kidney disease risk but instead concealed this information and portrayed their products as safe.

Alma accuses the defendants of strict product liability, design defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranties, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and violation of state consumer protection laws. The PPI and kidney disease lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

The PPI and Kidney Disease Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-11327-CCC-MF and is part of the PPI MDL, In re: Proton-Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation (No. II), Case No. 2:17-md-2789-CCC-MF, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.