In a recent Nexium lawsuit, a Kentucky woman says she should have been better warned about Nexium kidney risks.

Plaintiff Wanda S., of Kentucky, has filed a claim against AstraZeneca, the manufacturers of anti-stomach acid medication Nexium. Wanda says she was first prescribed Nexium in 2004 and took it on numerous occasions through 2009. She also reports taking other medications of a type similar to Nexium – medications known as proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs.

In 2009, Wanda was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. She now believes her kidney disease is a side effect of Nexium and the other PPIs she took. She alleges she would never have taken Nexium had she known about its associated kidney side effects.

The lack of a warning about Nexium kidney risks led Wanda to suffer severe and permanent personal injuries, pain, suffering, economic loss and emotional distress, she claims.

The plaintiff brings forth counts of strict products liability, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress, negligent infliction of emotional distress, and punitive damages.

Wanda’s Nexium Lawsuit is Case No. 2:17-cv-00100 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Nexium Kidney Risks

According to this Nexium kidney risks lawsuit, more than 15 million Americans in 2013 used prescription PPIs like Nexium. Due to these drugs’ extraordinary popularity, PPI manufacture and sales are now a $10 billion a year industry.

Nexium is AstraZeneca’s largest selling drug. Alone, Nexium’s sales reach $5.7 billion a year. Nexium works by inhibiting the secretion of stomach acid. It stops the acid pumps in the stomach from producing acid.

Despite the success Nexium, it has been associated with kidney side effects since its approval by the FDA. Hundreds of reports of injury have been submitted to the FDA including reports of several types of kidney injuries like acute interstitial nephritis, chronic kidney disease, renal/kidney failure as well as acute kidney injury.

However, according to this Nexium kidney risks lawsuit, AstraZeneca did not do enough to inform the medical community or the plaintiff of possible problems with Nexium. Instead, the plaintiff claims, the company continued to claim that Nexium did not pose any severe risks.

One possible dangerous side effect of Nexium is acute interstitial nephritis. This is an inflammation of the tubes and tissues of the kidneys. The most common symptoms of this condition are fatigue, nausea and weakness.

There have been numerous studies done that connect PPIs to kidney problems. According to Wanda’s Nexium lawsuit, recent studies indicate that PPI users have a three times greater risk of developing kidney problems like acute interstitial nephritis than the general population.

If left untreated, this condition can lead to chronic kidney disease, renal failure, the need for a kidney transplant, or death.

If you or someone you know experienced kidney problems after taking Nexium, you may qualify to file a Nexium lawsuit.