If you or someone you love have taken Prevacid 24HR or Prevacid and have experienced serious side effects such as bone fractures and kidney diseases, you might be eligible to file a claim with an Atlanta Prevacid claims lawyer. Please contact our dangerous drugs attorneys in Atlanta to get your free case review scheduled and to determine whether or not you have a valid Prevacid case.
Prevacid lawsuits arise from patients who experience a high risk of severe side effects such as bone fractures and kidney disease. Patients claim that they were not warned of the side effects by the manufacturer and over 14,500 lawsuits have been filed against Prevacid as well as other proton-pump inhibitors.
What Are The Reasons For The Prevacid Lawsuits Being Filed?
Prevacid is a very popular type of proton pump inhibitor, which is also referred to as PPIs. Takeda Pharmaceuticals is the manufacturer of Prevacid. The active ingredient lansoprazole is used to create the drug and then used for treating different conditions that are caused by the stomach having too much acid. The product comes in the form of either a tablet or slow-release capsule which is taken once per day over two weeks. This treatment method can be repeated once every four months, depending on the patient’s health condition.
Prevacid is used for treating the following conditions:
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Frequent heartburn
- Erosive esophagitis
- Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
- Ulcers that are caused by an H. pylori bacterial infection (used in combination with antibiotics)
- Ulcers in the lining of the intestine or the stomach
The drug was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1995 and grew in popularity very quick – especially in 2009 when an over-the-counter version was released called Prevacid 24HR. However, in recent years, researchers have found a link between severe health issues and this medication. Prevacid on its label just warns consumers of potential hypomagnesemia, bone fracture, constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. However, much more serious risks have been found in recent studies.
What is the Link Between Kidney Problems and Prevacid?
Most of the Prevacid lawsuits as well as other PPI lawsuits are being filed because consumers are facing various chronic and short-term kidney diseases after having taken the medication, whether in over-the-counter or prescribed forms. Many studies have emerged that link Prevacid, along with Prilosec, Nexium, and Astrazenca’s, to increased risk for developing kidney problems. Consumers have experienced a spectrum of various minor injuries such as interstitial nephritis (where kidney tubules swell that have become more serious) as well as chronic kidney disease, which can cause kidney failure or even death in some cases. JAMA published a recent study which showed that participant how took Prevacid or similar drugs on a regular basis had a 20% to 50% higher risk than nonusers to develop chronic kidney disease.
It was found in a related study that even acute or short-term kidney injury caused by taking Prevacid might not be the entire picture of kidney function that continues to decline. It was noted by the researchers that patients who were part of the study gradually and silently developed worsening kidney issues, which resulted in some patients facing renal failure or chronic kidney disease. Despite the fact that 80% of individuals who used PPI were not diagnosed with having acute kidney disease over five years of their follow-ups, over half of the cases of kidney failure or chronic kidney disease were found in those patients without any acute kidney issues.
In cases of renal or kidney failure, patients might experience abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, swelling, and weakness. The condition might be fatal unless the patient receives a kidney transplant or goes on dialysis. Researchers encourage doctors to monitor kidney function closely on all patients who are taking Prevacid as well as similar medications, particularly those taking the drug for one year or longer periods of time.
What are some of the Other Health Risks That Associated with Taking Prevacid?
A link has been found between Prevacid as well as its competitors to many other serious health issues. Although further study is necessary in order to understand these risks better, there is sufficient evidence already to cause concerns.
Prevacid is linked to a 21% increased risk of heart attacks and stroke, an increased risk for stomach or gastric cancer, and low magnesium levels. Proton pump inhibitors also have been links with increased risk for bone fractures, especially in the hip, wrist, or spine.
Lansoprazole, the main ingredient in Prevacid, also has been linked with several skin conditions, which include exfoliative dermatitis, rashes, and itching. Also referred to as erythroderma, is exfoliative dermatitis is a condition where the skin becomes irritated and red and starts peeling off over large pars of the body. This is an uncommon condition but in the most serious cases can be life-threatening.
Researchers have also examined the possibility of early and sudden death as a result of taking these drugs. There was one startling study that compared patients who took proton pump inhibitors over one to two years versus patients who took H2 blocker, which is another kind of drug treating conditions that are caused by excessive stomach acid. It was found by researchers that PPIs consumers faced a 50% higher chance of death with 5 years compared to people on H2 blockers due to the serious side effects that they are faced with, such as gradual kidney damage.
The researchers calculated further for every 500 consumers who rely on Prevacid or a different proton pump inhibitor for a period of one year, there is an additional death that would not have occurred otherwise. With millions of individuals use these drugs regularly, that can translate into thousands of deaths every year that are entirely preventable.
Takeda – Pharmaceutical Negligence
Like with many other product liability lawsuits, there are plaintiffs who are also targeting the manufacturer’s false advertising and apparent negligence. Some risks associated with Prilosec, Prevacid, and other heartburn drugs is because it is difficult to be monitored by doctors if patients are taking the medication according to the directions and for the duration of the treatment. Part of this problem also is due to both patients and doctors not understanding fully all of the risks.
It has been claimed by many cases that Takeda should have conducted more tests of the drug and informed the public of the potential risks, particularly for those rely on the drug for longer time periods. Ultimately, Takeda and numerous drug manufacturers often are accused of pushing the sales of dangerous or defective produce since it helps with their profits. However, with serious risk factors being uncovered, the company has experienced a decrease in their Prevaci sales over the past several years.
What is the History Regarding The Prevacid Lawsuits?
Over the past few years that has been a significant increase in Prevacid lawsuits, in addition to other proton pump inhibitor lawsuits. The most recent report shows that there are currently over 13,300 lawsuits pending under MDL 2789 IN RE: Proton-Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation (No. II).
In August 2017 MDL 2789 was established, which transferred 161 lawsuits against proton pump inhibitors over to the U.S. District Court of New Jersey. Those cases are being overseen by Judges Mark Falk and Claire Cecchi. The initial bellwether trial is scheduled to start in September 2020; they will act as test runs to improve the understanding of the complexities involved in these cases and help make the process for other remaining lawsuits smoother.
Although there have been class-action lawsuits that have been filed against AstraZeneca related to Prilosec and Nexium, there are not any class action lawsuits currently against Prevacid.
What Compensation Am I Eligible To Receive in a Prevacid Lawsuit?
You can be awarded damages for your medical expenses that relate to your condition, for your pain and suffering, and also for the funeral costs of Prevacid-related death of a family member.
How Can I Pay for the Services of a Prevacid Attorney?
A majority of these cases are accepted on a contingency basis, which means you won’t need to pay any upfront legal fees.
Contact a Prevacid Lawsuit Attorney at Schneider Hammers
If either you or a loved has developed kidney disease or serious kidney injury after taking Prevacid, Prilosec, or Nexium, you might be eligible to obtain financial compensation for the injuries you have sustained.
For more information, please contact Schneider Hammers. If you do contact us, there is no obligation or cost to you – we want to help you and ensure you have the best legal representation that is available. Call a Atlanta Prevacid claims lawyer today to get started.
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