By Joe Fantini June 11, 2019

Millions of Americans take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to treat heartburn and other health issues. Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid, to name a few, are touted as cures for these debilitating conditions. Studies now show that long-term PPI use can cause acute and chronic kidney injuries.

Thousands of PPI users have filed lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies. The lawsuits accuse the companies of selling a defective product and failing to warn consumers about known health risks. Several PPI injury lawsuits have already yielded positive results for injured plaintiffs.

What Are Proton Pump Inhibitors?

Stomach acid is vital to our health and wellbeing. It’s critical in many bodily functions and helps to neutralize dangerous bacteria. However, too much of a good thing can be a bad thing, especially outside of the stomach. Excess stomach acid can cause painful heartburn, ulcers, acid reflux, GERD, and even intestinal bleeding.

Proton pump inhibitors prevent the stomach from secreting gastric acid. This gives the body time to heal and recover. Unfortunately, suppressing stomach acid for too long comes at a cost. Studies have revealed that many parts of the body, particularly the kidneys, can suffer when the body lacks gastric acid.

Kidney Injuries Linked to PPIs

Proton pump inhibitors are only intended to be used as a short term treatment. Unfortunately, drug companies didn’t disclose the dangers of taking a PPI for too long. Studies have revealed that taking a PPI for an extended period of time is associated with severe kidney injuries. In fact, PPIs are believed to be the “most common cause” of drug-related kidney damage.

You’re more likely to develop these kidney injuries while taking a proton pump inhibitor:

Kidney injuries can be painful, emotionally traumatizing, and financially burdensome. Some harm is irreparable and can be fatal.

Other Health Conditions Caused By PPIs

Proton pump inhibitor patients have also suffered other adverse health issues while taking the medication. Reported injuries include:

Talk to your doctor immediately if you notice any unusual side effects while taking a proton pump inhibitor drug.

Lawsuits Accuse Drug Companies of Failing to Disclose PPI Health Risks

Proton pump inhibitors are the most widely prescribed medication in the United States. They’re also available over the counter (OTC), making them available to every adult in the country. However, it’s believed that half of all people who use a PPI don’t even need it.

Drug companies, including Pfizer and AstraZeneca, pour billions of dollars into PPI marketing campaigns. You’ve probably seen Larry the Cable Guy telling you the benefits of Prilosec or at least heard of Nexium, the purple pill. What you don’t learn from these ads are the serious and genuine health risks associated with the drugs.

Thousands of injured PPI patients have filed product liability lawsuits against various drug companies. The lawsuits claim that PPIs are defective and the companies failed to provide patients with all of the information they needed to make an informed decision. Drug companies can be liable for injuries caused by defective drugs under state product liability laws.

Do I Have a Proton Pump Inhibitor Lawsuit?

You may have the right to file a lawsuit if you’ve developed health complications while taking any of the following proton pump inhibitors:

An experienced PPI injury lawyer can tell you if you have a legitimate case. You’ll only have a limited period of time to file a lawsuit, so don’t hesitate to ask for help.