Prilosec, Nexium and similar drugs may have a number of serious heartburn drug side effects, from abdominal pain to major kidney problems.

Prilosec and Nexium are just two of a number of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs used for the treatment of heartburn.

Prilosec and Nexium are two of the most widely used heartburn medications in the U.S. Indeed, millions of Americans fill out prescriptions for PPI drugs each year.

In 2013 alone, around 15 million prescriptions were filled for PPI drugs. Since Prilosec is available without a prescription, the actual number of Americans taking PPI drugs was much higher.

Despite its popularity, Prilosec and Nexium may actually offer more risk than reward due to serious heartburn drug side effects.

Recent research shows that the safety of these drugs may be questionable.

Heartburn Drug Side Effects

Most heartburn drug side effects are minor, and generally go away on their own. However, if any of these mild side effects worsen or persist, contact your doctor.

Minor heartburn drug side effects include:

• Headache
• Abdominal pain
• Chest pain
• Constipation
• Cough
• Diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Dizziness
• Unusual drowsiness

More serious heartburn drug side effects can be signs of danger, so patients should seek medical attention if they develop any of these heartburn drug side effects:

• Irregular heartbeat
• Persistent muscle spasms
• Seizures
• Persistent diarrhea
• Abdominal or stomach pain/cramping
• Persistent fever
• Blood/mucus in stool
• Vitamin B-12 deficiency (weakness, sore tongue, numbness)

Heartburn drug side effects may also include a severe allergic reaction. Symptoms of such a reaction include:

• Rash, itching/swelling (especially in the face, tongue, or throat)
• Dizziness
• Trouble breathing
• Kidney problems

Heartburn Drug Kidney Problems

Heartburn drug side effects have included a high risk of developing serious kidney problems, including kidney damage and kidney failure.

One study from the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology showed that 15 percent of PPI patients were later diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, an increase from 11 percent of patients who used H2-blockers instead of PPI drugs.

After accounting for outside factors that may have influenced these findings, the study indicated a 28 percent rise in kidney problems for PPI users when compared to patients who used other methods of heartburn treatment.

The researchers noted that, in the grand scheme of things, the risk of suffering from kidney failure or kidney damage because of PPI drugs is still relatively low.

However, researchers said, patients who need not take Prilosec when there are safer alternatives available should avoid these drugs altogether to simply avoid this risk.

While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering of those who have experienced extreme side effects from Prilosec, it can help to compensate for the financial expenses generally incurred through medical bills.

If you or someone you love has taken a heartburn drug like Prilosec or Nexium and have since suffered from kidney failure or other serious heartburn drug side effects, you may be able to file a Prilosec lawsuit.