A new study examines possible Nexium kidney side effects and other potential, dangerous complications associated with PPI drugs.

Proton Pump Inhibitors, or PPI drugs, are a class of heartburn drugs that work by blocking the enzyme that creates stomach acid. Drugs in this class include Nexium (esomeprazole), Prevacid (lansoprazole), and Prilosec (omeprazole).

A number of studies have suggested that there may be a link between common heartburn drugs and an increased risk for developing various diseases including stomach cancer, kidney problems, and heart problems. Unfortunately, research suggests that in some cases, these conditions may be fatal.

The latest study examined the effect of PPIs on more than 200,000 U.S. veterans who used the drugs for a long period of time, says Health24. 

Health24 reports that 13 percent of PPI users died as the result of a heart problem, including heart disease or stroke. This indicated a higher risk than what is associated with H2 blockers, another type of heartburn medication. For their part, only 11 percent of H2 blocker users died of similar heart problems.

However, this number was discovered in an isolated context. When other factors like a patient’s age and overall health were taken into account, PPI users were shown to have around an 18 percent higher risk of death from cardiovascular problems than other people.

Health24 notes that an expert who did not participate in the study did stress that this information does not establish that PPIs can cause death from cardiac problems.

Dr. Lawrence Kim of the American Gastroenterological Association noted that the recent study only used medical records of patients to investigate the effects of various drugs on patients, so the study could only be considered “observational.” He went on to say that “there’s insufficient evidence to conclude that these adverse outcomes are likely to be an effect of the PPI therapy,” reports Health24.

Other than the risks of the drugs, the study did point to another possible problem — that many patients may be using PPI drugs without needing them. That means, patients could be incurring the risks of the drugs “without deriving any benefit,” says lead researcher in the veterans study, Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, according to Health24.

According to the study, many patients who had been prescribed PPI did not have a documented need for one.

Most PPI users are only on the drugs for a short period of time. MedlinePlus notes that acid reflux occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. 

As acid reflux can cause damage to the esophageal tissue, taking these drugs can allow that tissue to heal. Then, once the tissues heal, patients can be switched to another heartburn drug, like H2 blockers, says Dr. Al-Aly.

The observation that patients may be taking PPIs longer than necessary is concerning because research indicates that the risks of cardiac problems, possible stomach cancer, and possible kidney problems associated with PPI use may go up with prolonged use.

The National Kidney Foundation stresses that it has not been proven that PPIs like Nexium cause chronic kidney disease, just that some studies that Nexium kidney problems are a possibility. 

According to the National Kidney Foundation, both chronic kidney disease and acute interstitial nephritis, a condition that causes swelling of the inside of the kidney, may be among Nexium kidney problems.