Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) including Nexium and Prilosec are some of the most commonly used heartburn medications on the market today.

Over the last decade, doctors prescribed these drugs to millions of patients under the belief that there was no risk in taking the medications, only to find out serious side effects such as kidney failure exist.

What are PPIs?

PPI medications Nexium and Prilosec
have been touted as miracle drugs for some people who suffer serious heartburn, indigestion, gastritis, and acid reflux. These medications ease acid reflux by reducing the amount of stomach acid produced by the glands in the lining.

Too much acid can result in gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which the contents of the stomach can move back into the esophagus, causing discomfort, heartburn, and even damage to the esophagus in extreme cases.

Nexium (Esomeprazole), known as the “purple pill”, is the leading prescription for heartburn and acid reflux. Nexium is the third most prescribed drug in the U.S., with over 13 million prescriptions annually, generating $4.7 billion in sales for drug maker AstraZeneca.

Prilosec (Omeprazole) is available over the counter as a treatment for frequent heartburn or GERD. With annual U.S. sales exceeding $350 million (2013), Prilosec is the leading over the counter proton pump inhibitor (PPI).

However, Nexium side effects and Prilosec side effects have been associated with a variety of serious kidney complications, including kidney failure.

Studies Links PPI Use to Kidney Failure

Long-term PPI use may lead to an increased risk for kidney disease and kidney failure, according to a study published in April 2016 in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

Researchers found that 15 percent of PPI users were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to 11 percent of patients who took histamine H2 receptor blockers (Pepcid, Tagamet, Zantac).

After calculating for variables, this translated to a 28 percent increased risk of CKD associated with proton pump inhibitor use. Only a few patients in the study — <0.2 percent — developed end-stage renal disease (ESRD), but the risk was 96 percent higher for those on PPIs.

Another study, conducted in 2016 and published in the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA)  involved more than 250,000 patients and reported that there is a significant increased risk to patients taking proton pump inhibitors of developing acute kidney failure and chronic kidney disease.

Other PPI Side Effects

Additionally, users of PPIs might experience Nexium side effects or Prilosec side effects, including acute kidney injury (also called acute renal failure) and/or nephritis (kidney inflammation).

These related conditions occur when kidneys stop filtering waste from the body, often due to inflammation of tubes surrounding the kidneys.

The onset can be quick and the results can be fatal. Symptoms include limited or no urination, blood in urine, swelling due to fluid buildup, and nausea. In worst-case scenarios, patients might depend on the use of dialysis or kidney transplants for survival.

If you were diagnosed with kidney failure as the result of taking PPIs, like Nexium or Prilosec, an experienced drug injury attorney can work with you to explore your legal options and give you a thorough evaluation of your case at no cost.