What is Protonix?
Protonix is used to treat peptic ulcer disease and certain esophageal problems such as acid reflux by decreasing the amount of acid the stomach makes. The drug relieves symptoms such as heartburn, difficulty swallowing and persistent cough. Protonix is made by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories, and was approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in February 2000.
What’s the Problem?
To relieve the symptoms of gastric reflux, many patients are prescribed Protonix for several months or more. However, mounting evidence and numerous case studies have linked Protonix and other proton pump inhibitors to an increased risk of serious side effects. Our lawyers are reviewing potential lawsuits for people who suffered kidney damage after taking Protonix or other PPI heartburn medication.
PPIs Could Increase Kidney Disease Risk: JAMA Study
The incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has grown far more rapidly than many of its common comorbidities such as type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure (hypertension), and prescription medications like Protonix may be an underlying cause.
In 2013 alone, more than 15 million Americans filled a prescription for a proton pump inhibitor heartburn medication. PPIs are often used inappropriately and frequently taken for indefinite durations. The drugs have previously been linked to bone fractures, community-acquired pneumonia, Clostridium difficile infection, acute interstitial nephritis and acute kidney injury. And now a new study published in JAMA Internal Medicine has bolstered the evidence that PPI use is associated with an increased risk of long-term kidney damage.
For the study, researchers looked at data on more than 10,000 adults in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, and found that PPI use was associated with a 20-50% increased risk of developing CKD. The link was confirmed after adjusting for confounding variables such as demographics, socioeconomic status, clinical measurements, prevalent comorbidities, and concomitant use of medications. The study also determined that PPI users were more likely to have hypertension, be obese, and take numerous prescription medications.
Kidney Disease Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of CKD include:
Appetite loss
General ill feeling (malaise) and fatigue
Headaches
Itching (pruritus) and dry skin
Nausea
Weight loss without trying to lose weight
Precautions When Taking Protonix
Since Protonix contains sodium, patients on salt restricted diets should avoid using the medicine. Because it may cause bleeding, patients taking blood-thinners should exercise caution while taking Protonix. Additionally, the safety of this drug when used during pregnancy has not been established, and is not recommended for women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
Protonix Side Effects
Acute interstitial nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys)
Acute kidney injury
Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
Kidney failure (renal failure)
Heart attack
Bone fractures (hip fracture, wrist fracture, spine fracture)
Broken bones
Low magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia)
Gut infections
Dementia
And more
Is There a Class Action?
No class action lawsuit has yet been filed over injuries allegedly caused by Protonix or any other PPI heartburn. Instead, our lawyers are investigating individual claims on behalf of people who suffered kidney damage after taking the drugs.
The law offices of Schmidt & Clark, LLP, specialize in helping victims of defective medications file individual complaints against major pharmaceutical companies. When drugmakers fail to warn about side effects, it is not uncommon for hundreds or even thousands of people to file lawsuits. Instead of a class action, these individual cases are often centralized at the federal or state level.
Do I Have a Protonix Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Protonix lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new injury and death cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you suffered a kidney injury and you believe Protonix may be the cause, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit and our lawyers can help.
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