The popular drug Nexium is among a group of heartburn drugs known as proton pump inhibitors to be associated with dangerous—and potentially fatal—diseases, including cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and Nexium stomach cancer.

Basics of Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a class of drugs used to treat a variety of acid-related conditions. According to MedicineNet, PPIs reduce the body’s acid production by blocking the enzyme in the stomach wall that produces it. Reduction of acid helps to both prevent ulcers and also to help heal any ulcers that may already exist.

Around 15 million Americans have prescriptions for PPIs, and many others take PPIs over the counter. Nexium is one of the more popular PPI options. Other PPIs include Prevacid, Protonix, Prilosec, and Zegerid, among others.

Risks of PPI Usage

Unfortunately, PPI drugs like Nexium have been connected with a number of serious side effects, including cardiovascular disease, kidney problems, and stomach cancer.

A recent study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, along with Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System, found that cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, and Nexium stomach cancer were all significant risks for patients who took PPIs—in some cases, leading to death.

Among those involved in the study, 15 out of 1,000 PPI users died from heart disease, four per 1,000 died from chronic kidney disease, and two per 1,000 died from stomach cancer.

In many cases, those taking PPIs do so without actually having a medical need, the study found. For these people, PPI-associated deaths were even more common.

Other Studies Link PPIs and Major Risks

A February 2016 study found that those who took PPI drugs like Nexium faced a 96 percent increased risk of kidney failure. On top of this, the study also showed a 28 percent increased risk of chronic kidney disease for patients who took Nexium and other PPIs when compared to those who took another heartburn medicine known as histamine H2 receptor blockers.

“Given the millions of people who take PPIs regularly, this translates into thousands of excess deaths every year,” said Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine.

Another recent study of Nexium usage, published in October 2017, found that Nexium, along with other PPI drugs, doubled patients’ risk of developing Nexium stomach cancer. This risk varied depending on the length of time the patient took the drug. Some patients faced twice the risk of developing stomach cancer, while others faced up to eight times the risk.

In some cases, side effects caused by taking Nexium can be alleviated simply by being taken off the medication. For others, however, these effects may unfortunately be long lasting or even permanent in nature. In the worst cases, complications may ultimately prove fatal.

Filing a Nexium Lawsuit

More and more users of Nexium and other PPI drugs are choosing to pursue litigation, alleging that their use of this drug has led to serious side effects such as kidney damage, cardiovascular issues, or stomach cancer, among others.

Lawsuits allege that the PPI manufacturers either knew or should have known about the serious risks associated with these drugs, yet failed to give adequate warning to patients and the medical community.

If you or someone you love has suffered from these or other side effects of Nexium, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation. While filing a lawsuit cannot undo the pain and suffering caused by Nexium complications, it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.