Dangers of taking omeprazole, found in PPI drugs like Prilosec and Nexium, may include heart disease, kidney failure, Nexium stomach cancer, and more, according to recent studies.

What is Omeprazole?

Omeprazole is a proton pump inhibitor drug that is used to treat various gastrointestinal conditions. The drug is also sold under the brand name Prilosec.

Proton pump inhibitors have been used to treat acid reflux and related issues for decades now. Conditions treated by omeprazole and other proton pump inhibitors include:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): Acid reflux caused by stomach acid washing backwards into the esophagus.
• Ulcers: Sores in the stomach that can cause pain. Omeprazole may be used with antibiotics to treat ulcers caused by H. pylori bacteria.
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: A condition involving the overproduction of stomach acid.
• Dyspepsia: A condition involving sour stomach, belching, heartburn, and indigestion.
• Upper gastrointestinal bleeding: Omeprazole is only used to treat this condition in seriously ill patients.

Omeprazole and other PPI medications are some of the most common drugs prescribed in the U.S., with about 15 million Americans using prescription PPIs each year.

How Does Omeprazole Work?

Omeprazole works by reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. In order to do so, the drug blocks the cells in the stomach, called “proton pumps”, which are essential in the last step of acid production. By reducing the amount of acid in the stomach, omeprazole helps to reduce symptoms of various conditions.

Recent studies have shown, however, that a great many of the people taking PPIs actually get no benefit from them—somewhere around 70%. Suggested alternatives to PPIs can include lifestyle changes or another popular type of medication known as H2 blockers.

What are Common Omeprazole Side Effects?

Common side effects of omeprazole may include:

• Headache
• Stomach pain
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Gas

What Are the Dangers of Taking Omeprazole?

Although omeprazole helps manage many gastrointestinal conditions, there are serious risks associated with the medication and other proton pump inhibitors.

According to Healthline, dangers of taking omeprazole may include:

• Low magnesium levels (seizures, abnormal heart rate, tremors, weakness, cramps, spasms, and more)
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency (nervousness, nerve inflammation, numbness in hands and feet, poor coordination, and menstruation changes)
• Severe diarrhea caused by clostridium difficile (watery stool, stomach pain, fever)
• Stomach lining inflammation (stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss)
• Bone fractures
• Cutaneous lupus erythematosus (skin rashes, raised rashes, and more)
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (fever, tiredness, weight loss, blood clots, heartburn)
• Growths (polyps) in the stomach lining

The drug may also be associated with serious complications involving the heart, stomach and kidneys. Studies have shown that patients on all proton pump inhibitors, including omeprazole, may be at risk for these conditions.

A 2017 study showed that proton pump inhibitors may increase the risk of developing stomach cancer by two to eight times, depending on the amount of time the drugs are taken.

A 2016 published in JAMA showed that patients who took proton pump inhibitors may be more likely to develop kidney problems such as acute interstitial nephritis and chronic kidney disease.

A study of 200,000 U.S. veterans, conducted by a Washington University School of Medicine professor, showed that proton pump inhibitor patients were also tied to an increased risk of cardiac death. Specifically, patients who use proton pump inhibitors are have an 18% higher risk of cardiac death when compared to other patients.

Unfortunately, many patients on proton pump inhibitors may be exposing themselves to unnecessary risks. The study reportedly showed that many of the prescriptions were given to patients without any documented need.

“That’s unsettling,” assistant professor at Washington University School of Medicine and lead researcher Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly told WebMD. “It suggests a lot of people were using a PPI without actually needing one. They could be taking a risk without deriving any benefit.”

Filing an Omeprazole Side Effects Lawsuit

More and more patients taking omeprazole and other PPI drugs are turning to litigation. Lawsuits allege that use of PPI drugs has led to serious side effects such as kidney damage, stomach cancer, and more. There has also been ties between PPI use and COVID risks.

Plaintiffs claim that the manufacturers of these drugs either knew or should have known about the serious side effects associated with these medications, yet failed to adequately warn patients and the medical community about these risks.

If you or someone you love has suffered from these or other side effects of omeprazole or other PPIs, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by these side effects, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.