A 2016 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) shows that people who were taking the anti-ulcer medication Prevacid may be 20 to 50 percent more likely to experience chronic kidney disease than those not taking the medication. The study indicated that taking the medication more than once daily or for longer periods of time, increased the risk.
Concerns about Prevacid and other Proton Pump Inhibitor medications reach back to 2006 or before but the new results indicate that the risk of kidney failure is higher than previously thought. Researchers indicate that many patients taking the medications could have been discontinued without any adverse effects and that many prescriptions may have been given without a clear, medical diagnosis.
In addition to chronic kidney disease, Prevacid has been linked increase the risk of:
- bone fracture
- heart attack
- birth defects, and
- hypomagnesemia or low magnesium levels.
Some people who experienced adverse kidney issues after taking Prevacid, Nexium or Prilosec may be eligible for compensation by filing a lawsuit. Each case is unique and must be evaluated separately by legal experts but past drug related lawsuits have resulted in compensation for:
- pain and suffering
- future medical costs
- lost wages
- medical costs
Drug manufacturers in the past have been accused of failure to provide adequate warning, illegal marketing practices, and for producing dangerous medications. Some manufacturers may have knowingly hid the risks of medications and may also be subject to punitive damage awards.
If you or a loved one suffered from kidney complications after taking Prilosec, Nexium, or Prevacid, contact us immediately. Our office is currently handling these lawsuits from across the country.