Proton Pump Inhibitors Lawsuit

Have you or a loved one developed chronic kidney disease or other side effects after taking Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid or Protonix?  You may have a claim against the manufacturer and be entitled to financial compensation.  Call us today to get the facts.  Toll Free 1-866-777-2557 or use our online contact form and a lawyer will respond within 24 hours to discuss your possible claim.

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are drugs that are provided to patients in order to reduce their symptoms and suffering from such gastrological conditions as heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). There are several PPIs on the market, and they are recognizable by name: Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid. The purpose of these PPIs is to reduce the excess stomach acid that the patient may be experiencing that causes the pain in the chest and acid splash-back into the esophagus that are standard for such conditions as heartburn and GERD.

The main concern with excess stomach acid is that the patient could potentially develop an ulcer. Doctors will often prescribe PPIs to either treat ulcers or to prevent them from happening. Ulcers typically occur most often in the patient's duodenum, followed by the stomach.

The PPI industry is a billion-dollar one, with billions being spent annually on these sorts of drugs. Just one year's supply in the U.S. of one of the popular over-the-counter PPIs can run a patient about $200. Stronger PPIs that are prescribed by a doctor can cost at least ten times more than that. 

In order to save money and reduce the necessity for a proton pump inhibitor, patients can take the following precautions to prevent or control their heartburn or GERD:

• Eat smaller portions to reduce the amount of food that the stomach needs to digest at one time.

• Lose weight to reduce the amount of pressure that excess abdomen weight can place on the stomach

• Stay away from foods that are notorious for causing heartburn, such as chocolate or onions

• Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption to reduce the amount by which the esophageal muscles relax, which encourages GERD and heartburn.

• Don't lie down after eating. Eating a big meal and then going straight to bed or taking a nap puts a lot of pressure on the stomach to digest smaller portions, and it does so at a slower rate.

Of course, in some cases a PPI is still necessary, no matter what the patient does to combat his or her condition on their own. However, taking the above precautions may help the condition get better over time, and so a PPI may only need to be a temporary fix while the patient's stomach acids get back on track.

While PPIs are generally considered safe, some studies have shown that they may have such side effects as altering the bacteria of the gastrointestinal system, impairing the patient's ability to absorb nutrients, and increasing the patient's risk of suffering from heart and kidney issues and dementia.