Proton Pump Inhibitor Side Effects
If you’re like millions of other Americans and suffer from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), you may have been prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) like Nexium, Prilosec, or Prevacid. Gastroesophageal reflux disease is basically severe, sometimes debilitating, heartburn caused by stomach acid entering the esophagus. These PPI medications work by blocking the production of stomach acid, thereby preventing the discomfort of GERD. An estimated 15 million American use either prescribed or over the counter PPIs to control their GERD symptoms.
PPI use has been linked to some serious side effects, such as kidney problems, heart attacks, muscle weakness, leg cramps, and other maladies associated with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. This is because stomach acid is a vital element of digestion, in that it helps break down food so that nutrients can be efficiently absorbed into the body. A recent National Public Radio (NPR) report revealed that PPIs may also increase risk of salmonella, pneumonia, Clostridium difficile (a life-threatening digestive tract disease), heart disease, chronic kidney disease, and dementia.
But avoiding these side effects may be quite a bit more difficult than just quitting the PPIs. Patients who have tried to quit have found they’ve developed a dependency for the medications and report that GERD symptoms often return with a vengeance when people stop taking PPIs. Many patients say that their heartburn is much worse after they have used PPIs and then stopped.
If you have been treated with PPIs and experienced any side effects, you may be able to pursue compensation from the medication’s manufacturer. But, pharmaceutical litigation is complicated, and pharmaceutical companies have deep pockets and retain powerful lawyers. In order for you to have a successful claim against a pharmaceutical corporation, you’ll need an aggressive pharmaceutical litigation attorney on your side.
To find out more about your legal rights and options, call the legal team at Farah & Farah for a free consultation. We can be reached at (800) 533-3555.
