PPI Kidney Injuries
Studies suggest that popular heartburn medications – known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) – can cause severe kidney damage. You may be at risk if you have used certain over-the-counter or prescription PPIs, including:
- Prilosec
- Prevacid
- Nexium
- Protonix
- Dexilant
- Nexium 24 HR
- Prevacid 24 HR, and
- Prilosec OTC.
Damage to your kidneys can happen right away or over time. It’s important to speak with an attorney if you’ve experienced any unusual or harmful side effects while taking a PPI. Contact Rosen Injury Lawyers for your free, no-obligation consultation today. We’ll help you understand your rights and fight for the money you deserve. You may be eligible to pursue a proton pump inhibitor lawsuit against the drug manufacturer.
Proton Pump Inhibitor Kidney Injury Lawsuits
Research suggests that taking a proton pump inhibitor can increase the risk of kidney damage by as much as 33 percent. Proton pump inhibitors may cause:
- Acute Interstitial Nephritis
- Acute Kidney Injury
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- End-Stage Renal Disease, and
- Kidney Failure.
Thousands of PPI injury lawsuits have been filed in state and federal courts across the country. In these lawsuits, injured PPI users claim that pharmaceutical companies failed to warn them about potential risks, including kidney damage. Now they’re demanding compensation for the injuries they’ve suffered because they simply tried to get some heartburn relief.
Acute Interstitial Nephritis
Interstitial nephritis occurs when certain areas of the kidney become inflamed. These spaces, known as interstitium, separate the tubes that carry urine into the kidneys. This inflammation can prevent your kidneys from functioning properly.
Interstitial nephritis can be acute or chronic. Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is typically a side effect of certain medications, including PPIs. Developing AIN can increase the risk of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.
Symptoms of Acute Interstitial Nephritis
You can begin to experience signs and symptoms of acute interstitial nephritis shortly after taking a PPI medication. Commonly reported symptoms of AIN include:
- Decreased urine output
- Blood in the urine
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Rash
- Swelling
- Fluid retention and weight gain
- Drowsiness
- Confusion, and
- Coma.
Do not hesitate to seek medical attention if you notice any signs of acute interstitial nephritis after taking a proton pump inhibitor. Early diagnosis and treatment of the injury are essential.
Diagnosing Acute Interstitial Nephritis
There are several ways to diagnose acute interstitial nephritis. Your doctor may perform any of the following tests if you exhibit signs of AIN:
- Blood chemistry panels
- Blood creatinine levels
- Complete blood count
- Urinalysis
- Ultrasound, or
- Biopsy.
Early diagnosis of AIN can help to prevent chronic and severe kidney damage.
Treating Acute Interstitial Nephritis
Treating acute interstitial nephritis can be fairly simple if it’s caused by taking heartburn medication. The inflammation in your kidneys should stop when you remove the cause of the injury. Stop taking PPI medication and AIN should clear up on its own.
Other treatments may be necessary if your kidneys become severely damaged because of AIN. These may include:
- Temporary dialysis
- Corticosteroids, and
- Diet modifications, such as reducing salt and protein intake.
Acute interstitial nephritis is usually a short-lived condition. However, it can cause permanent damage to your kidneys if it is not treated right away. You may be entitled to compensation if you have developed AIN because of a proton pump inhibitor. Contact Rosen Injury Lawyers to schedule a free case assessment with our legal team today.
Acute Kidney Injury
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined as a “sudden episode of kidney failure or kidney damage.” This typically occurs over the course of a few hours or days. Acute kidney injury can damage the kidneys, as well as other organs, including the heart, lungs, and brain.
When the kidneys function properly, they perform two vital functions. AKI prevents the kidneys from working properly.
First, the kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and toxins from the blood. These toxins are then removed from the body in your urine. Acute kidney injury prevents the kidney’s filtration system from working properly, leading to a toxic build-up of waste in the blood.
Second, the kidneys are responsible for regulating fluid levels in the body. When you develop AKI, your kidney function declines rapidly. As a result, fluid isn’t filtered or pumped through the body properly. This can result in a life-threatening build-up of fluids in certain organs, including the lungs.
Symptoms of Acute Kidney Injury
Signs and symptoms of acute kidney injury can include:
- Decreased urine output
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Chest pain
- Swelling in the legs or around the eyes
- Shortness of breath, and
- Coma.
AKI, and the build-up of waste and fluids in the body, can be fatal. Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any symptoms of acute kidney injury while taking a PPI.
PPI Use and Acute Kidney Injury
There are many reasons a person may suffer acute kidney injury. Research shows that taking a proton pump inhibitor, such as Nexium or Prilosec, can be a risk factor for AKI. PPIs can cause a severe allergic reaction in some individuals, leading to acute interstitial nephritis. Damage caused to the kidneys because of acute interstitial nephritis can cause acute kidney injury.
Treating Acute Kidney Injury
The best way to treat acute kidney injury is to remove the underlying cause. If a PPI is the cause of your AKI, you should stop using the drug immediately. This will not reverse the damage that’s been done. However, it will help to prevent additional harm. You may then require additional treatment to manage the problems caused by AKI: the build-up of fluid and toxins in the body.
Have you suffered acute kidney injury while taking a proton pump inhibitor? If so, you may be entitled to compensation. Call our experienced personal injury lawyers today to schedule a free consultation and learn more.
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the gradual and permanent loss of kidney function. New studies suggest that chronic kidney disease is simply a continuation of acute kidney injury. In other words, AKI becomes CKD. If acute kidney injury is unresponsive to treatment, kidney function will continue to decline. This continued decline becomes what is known as chronic kidney failure.
Chronic kidney failure means that your kidneys are permanently unable to perform their two main jobs: filtering waste and regulating fluids. The continued accumulation of waste and fluid can stress your body and cause extensive damage to your organs. Complications associated with chronic kidney disease include:
- Pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane surrounding your heart)
- Heart disease
- Nerve and muscle damage, and
- Vulnerability to infection.
PPIs and Chronic Kidney Disease
30 million people in the United States suffer from chronic kidney disease. Research now suggests that many of these cases may be related to PPI drugs. Using a proton pump inhibitor can increase the risk of developing CKD by 20 to 50 percent.
Symptoms of Chronic Kidney Disease
Since kidney function declines over time, you may not notice any signs or symptoms of chronic kidney disease right away. As the condition worsens, you may experience:
- Nausea
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Blood in urine
- Infections
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling
- Muscle cramps
- Chest pain
- Itching, and
- High blood pressure.
Seek medical attention immediately if you notice any signs of chronic kidney disease while taking a PPI drug.
Treating Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic kidney disease is irreversible. There is no way to stop the disease from progressing. However, certain treatments can help to slow things down. These treatments tend to focus on treating the underlying cause of the disease itself. If you are taking a PPI, the first step will involve discontinuing the usage of the medication immediately. Once you’ve stopped taking your PPI, your doctor can turn to other treatments.
Have you developed chronic kidney disease while taking Nexium, Prilosec,Prilosec or another PPI? You may have the right to file a lawsuit for compensation. Contact Rosen Injury Lawyers to learn about your legal options now.
End-Stage Renal Disease
End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is the final stage of chronic kidney disease. This occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to function and sustain life. End-stage renal failure is fatal unless you receive dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Dialysis involves the assisted filtration of blood to remove excess waste, toxins, and electrolytes. Your blood is typically run through a machine, cleaned, and then returned to your body. Dialysis is not a permanent solution. If you suffer from end-stage renal disease you will need dialysis for the rest of your life. Most patients require dialysis treatments three times a week, for around four hours every session.
Getting a new kidney is the only way to permanently resolve end-stage renal disease. Unfortunately, there’s no such thing as an immediate kidney transplant. There are more than 95,000 people on the waiting list for a new kidney. Most patients have to wait anywhere between 5 and 10 years to get a new kidney. It’s estimated that 13 people die every day while waiting for a kidney.
Signs of End-Stage Renal Disease
Once you notice symptoms of ESRD it might be too late to save your kidneys. The damage will already have been done. However, an early diagnosis of end-stage renal disease can save your life. Dialysis and/or a transplant can stop the disease from being fatal.
Signs of symptoms of end-stage renal disease include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Fatigue
- Weakness
- Decreased urine output
- Chest pain
- Swelling, and
- Difficulty breathing.
Always seek medical attention if you experience adverse health effects while taking a proton pump inhibitor drug.
PPIs and End-Stage Renal Disease
PPI use is associated with an increased risk of kidney damage, including acute interstitial nephritis, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease. If these conditions are not diagnosed and treated promptly, you may develop end-stage renal disease. Without dialysis or a kidney transplant, ESRD will be fatal.
Need Help?
Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Dexilant and other PPIs may increase the risk of kidney damage. Kidney damage can have life-changing and potentially fatal consequences. However, this isn’t information that drug companies believed you needed to know. PPIs have been sold without any warnings about the potential for kidney damage.
These drug companies are now facing thousands of PPI injury lawsuits in courts across the country. If you’ve suffered kidney damage while taking a PPI, you may have the right to file a lawsuit of your own. Our experienced PPI injury lawyers can help you fight for the money you deserve. Contact our law firm today for your free consultation. We’ll review your case and answer any questions you have.