According to a new Nexium kidney lawsuit, long term use of the PPI drug can cause acute kidney injury and other kidney problems.

Plaintiff Susan B. filed her Nexium kidney lawsuit after taking Nexium from 1998 to 2017 and later developing acute kidney injury. Susan’s Nexium kidney lawsuit, filed against AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, AstraZeneca LP, and Merck & Co. Inc., alleges that PPI drugs such as Nexium can cause serious kidney damage when used long term.

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs are popular medications used to treat GERD, acid reflux, stomach ulcers, and more. PPI drugs shut down acid production in the stomach’s acid pumps by binding to proton pumps.

PPI drugs are one of the most commercially successful medications in pharmaceutical history. With prescription PPI drugs alone, not including over the counter options, made over $50 billion in sales between 2008 and 2013. Considering the popularity of both prescription and over the counter PPI medications, it is safe to say that these drugs provide a hefty profit for pharmaceutical companies.

Although PPI drugs are popular, the Nexium kidney lawsuit alleges that use of the drugs can cause acute interstitial nephritis, acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and end-stage renal failure. Studies published as early as 1992 have shown the link between PPI drugs and kidney injury.

Acute interstitial nephritis is a sudden decline in kidney function which can prelude acute kidney injury. Acute kidney injury, sometimes referred to as acute kidney failure, is an episode of kidney damage which happens within a few hours or days. The condition causes a build up of waste products in the blood due to compromised kidney function. Although this condition may be able to be managed via hospitalization and treatment, it increases the chance of developing chronic kidney disease.

Chronic kidney disease occurs on a longer timeline and is the gradual loss of kidney function. During chronic kidney disease, the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste from the blood which leads to a buildup of fluid, electrolytes, and wastes in the body.

Although chronic kidney disease is treatable through dialysis, it often has no cure. If chronic kidney disease is allowed to progress, it can lead to end-stage renal failure, a fatal condition. At that point, the only option is a kidney transplant.

The Nexium kidney lawsuit claims that the defendants knew or should have known that their PPI drugs may lead to acute kidney injury and other problems, but chose not to warn customers in order to protect the lucrative profits that PPI drugs bring.

Susan brings claims against AstraZeneca and Merck of strict product liability, design defect, failure to warn, negligence, breach of warranties, negligent misrepresentation, fraud, fraudulent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, and violation of Pennsylvania consumer protection laws. The Nexium kidney lawsuit seeks compensatory damages, punitive damages, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

The Nexium Kidney Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-16134-CCC-MF and is part of the Nexium MDL, In re: Proton-Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation (No. II), Case No. Case 2:17-md-02789-CCC-MF, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.