Users of popular heartburn medication Prilosec may find relief from their heartburn, but some patients have reported concerning Prilosec kidney side effects.

Prilosec is in a class of heartburn medications called proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs. PPIs work by lowering acid in the stomach and are sold in pharmacies either by prescription or over-the-counter. When stomach acid is lowered, it is less likely that heartburn will occur.

Prilosec has been made by AstraZeneca since 1989. In 2002, an over-the-counter version was approved – the first PPI to be released to the public over-the-counter.

Since this time, over 27 million people have used over-the-counter Prilosec for their heartburn symptoms.

Prilosec, or omeprazole, is used to treat GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease, or acid reflux disease. People who have GERD suffer from a malfunctioning lower esophageal sphincter. When this happens, corrosive stomach acid can move into the esophagus and injure it.

Prilosec, however popular and successful, has several serious side effects connected with its use.

Prilosec kidney side effects include interstitial nephritis, kidney failure and kidney disease. Many studies link Prilosec and other PPI use with kidney disease. In fact, a 2015 study published by the Pharmaceutical Journal noted that all PPIs are associated with acute interstitial nephritis.

In 2013, a study that looked at nearly 200,000 users of PPIs, found that patients with kidney disease were two times more likely to have used proton pump inhibitors in the past.

But even more recently, another study done in early 2016 published in JAMA found that PPI users had a 15.9% risk of developing kidney disease and those who had not taken PPIs had only a 13.9% risk.

Researchers think that the reason Prilosec kidney side effects occur is because of recurrent acute kidney injury. Prilosec kidney side effects also include acute kidney injury. Kidney injury can mean the loss of kidney function and may lead to kidney failure and the need for a kidney transplant.

This is especially true in older patients who use PPIs. A study was done that looked at 600,000 older patients. In the group who took PPIs, versus the control group who did not take PPIs, the incidence of acute kidney injury was more than double that of the control.

If you or someone you love has suffered from Prilosec kidney side effects including acute kidney injury, kidney disease or kidney failure, you may benefit from speaking to an experienced Prilosec attorney.