A Georgia woman has filed a new lawsuit against AstraZeneca, joining the growing pile of litigation against the company over side effects related to its Nexium PPI medication. The Nexium kidney lawsuit alleges that the PPI medication caused significant and lasting kidney injuries.

The plaintiff, Kathryn N., says she has taken a few proton pump inhibitor (PPI) medications over the years, including Nexium, Dexilant, and Protonix. Kathryn began using PPI drugs in 2003, and continued regular usage through 2016.

Unfortunately, the use of these drugs did not come without serious consequences. According to Kathryn’s lawsuit, her use of Nexium and other PPI drugs has caused some significant kidney problems, including Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), and End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).

Kathryn alleges that these injuries were a direct result of her exposure to various PPI medications, including Nexium, and that the drugs’ manufacturers failed to adequately warn her of the risk.

Kathryn filed her Nexium kidney lawsuit on Jan. 23, 2019, in New Jersey. Her lawsuit was filed on multiple counts, including design defect, failure to warn, negligence, and breach of express and implied warranties, among others. The lawsuit is part of a larger piece of proton pump inhibitor product liability litigation filed over a slew of drugs from a number of manufacturers, including Pfizer, Takeda, AstraZeneca, and more.

Background of Nexium

According to Medicinenet.com, Nexium is part of a class of heartburn drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Proton pump inhibitors like Nexium are used to reduce acid production, reducing the risk of heartburn and ulcers and helping heal ulcers that have already formed. PPI drugs work to prevent and treat ulcers by blocking out the enzyme in the stomach wall that produced acid.

Besides Nexium, other major PPI drugs include Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix, and Zegerid. Millions of Americans use prescription PPI drugs like these each year—as of 2009, the number was approximately 21 million. This made up nearly $11 billion in annual sales for drug manufacturers.

Nexium Complications

Unfortunately, Nexium and other PPI medications have been associated with some serious risks, including significant kidney injuries.

For years, PPI drugs like Nexium have been linked with an increased risk of kidney problems, according to including Acute Kidney Injury, Chronic Kidney Disease, and more.

The link between PPI medications and kidney problems is not new. In fact, researchers from the University of Arizona Health and Sciences Center published an article reporting an increased risk of kidney injury with PPI drugs in October 1992. Since then, many other studies have also seen evidence of this link. However, many PPI users allege that they were not adequately warned of this risk.

Nexium and other PPI drugs have also been associated with an almost doubled risk of stomach cancer. For those who took the drug for longer periods of time or at higher doses, the risk was even greater, according to a study published in October 2017.

Filing a Nexium Kidney Lawsuit

A growing number of lawsuits are being filed over Nexium side effects. Plaintiffs like Kathryn allege that PPI manufacturers failed to give adequate warning about the risks associated with their PPI drugs.

If you or a loved one have suffered from these or other kidney side effects after using Nexium, you may be able to file a Nexium kidney lawsuit and pursue compensation.

The Nexium Kidney Lawsuit is Case No. 2:19-cv-00958-CCC-MF, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.