Proton Pump Inhibitor | Esomeprazole | Lawsuit, Lawyer | Side Effects : Bone Fractures, Bone Breaks, Hip, Wrist, Spine, Hypomagnesemia | AstraZeneca’s Nexium | Takeda’s Prevacid | Prilosec OTC Procter & Gamble | Other PPI’s: Aciphex (rabeprazole) Protonix (pantoprazole) Dexilant (dexlansoprazole) Vimovo (combination of esomeprazole and the painkiller naproxen) Zegerid (combination of omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate)
Gilman Law LLP, a leading national law firm with over 40 years of experience protecting the rights of victims, is now accepting claims for lawsuits involving side effects, including bone fractures and hypomagnesemia, associated with the use of Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid and other heartburn drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). In addition to Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid, prescription PPIs include those sold under the names Aciphex, Dexilant, Protonix, Vimovo and Zegerid.
PPI Side Effects and Symptoms
Broken bones: By lowering stomach acid levels, PPIs like Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid may affect the body’s absorption of calcium, which in turn could lead to osteoporosis and fractures, especially of the hip, wrist and spine.
Hypomagnesemia: Low serum magnesium levels can result in serious adverse events including muscle spasm, irregular heartbeat, and convulsions.
PPIs and Bone Fractures
In May 2010, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced it was revising the safety labeling for PPIs to warn that they might be associated with a higher risk of hip, wrist and spine factures. The new safety information was based on the FDA’s review of several epidemiological studies that reported an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine with PPI use. Most of the PPI users who sustained fractures were older than 50, and the greatest fracture risk was faced by those who received high doses of PPIs or used them for one year or more. The agency advised that healthcare professionals and users of PPIs be aware of the possible increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine and weigh the known benefits against the potential risks when deciding to use them.
In March 2011, the FDA announced the bone fracture warning was not applicable to over-the-counter PPIs because they are low dose and meant only to be used for 14 days, no more than three times a year.
Since the FDA issued its May 2010 PPI bone fracture warning, more research has confirmed a possible association between PPIs and broken bone. For example, a meta-analysis of 11 studies published in the May-June 2011 issue of Annals of Family Medicine found that patients taking PPIs long-term were 40 percent more likely to suffer fractures than patients who did not. The same study also found that patients who used high doses of the medications had a 53 percent higher risk of suffering a hip fracture. “Widespread use of PPIs with the potential risk of fracture is of great importance to public health,” researchers concluded. “Clinicians should carefully consider their decision to prescribe PPIs for patients already having an elevated risk of fracture because of age or other factors.”
PPIs and Hypomagnesemia
In 2011, the FDA warned that PPIs may cause low serum magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia) if taken for longer than one year. Hypomagnesemia can result in serious adverse events including muscle spasm, irregular heartbeat, and convulsions; however, patients do not always have these symptoms. In one-quarter of the cases reviewed, magnesium supplementation alone did not improve low serum magnesium levels and the PPI had to be discontinued, the FDA said.
What are PPIs?
PPIs are a group of medications that reduce the production of stomach acid by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces it. PPIs are approved for the treatment of ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. PPIs currently on the market include:
Nexium (esomeprazole)
Prilosec (omeprazole)
Prevacid (lansoprazole)
Aciphex (rabeprazole)
Protonix (pantoprazole)
Dexilant (dexlansoprazole)
Vimovo (a combination of esomeprazole and the painkiller naproxen)
Zegerid (a combination of omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate)
Legal Help for Victims of PPI Side Effects
If you or someone you know suffered a bone fracture or hypomagnesemia following the use of a PPI, including Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Aciphex, Dexilant, Protonix, Vimovo or Zegerid, Gilman Law is here to help. For a free evaluation of your case, please fill out the online form on the left or call Toll Free at 1-888-252-0048.
