Heartburn is an unpleasant symptom of a condition called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). It involves a painful burning sensation felt in the chest, neck, throat, and jaw when gastric acid is regurgitated into the esophagus due to a relaxing of the lower esophageal sphincter.
Because heartburn and GERD are so common, there are many prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications designed to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. And while those medications are well-tolerated by many patients, they have been linked to serious health problems, including kidney disease and kidney failure.
The medications, which belong to a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), include the following common OTC drugs:
- Nexium®
- Prevacid®
- Prilosec®
- Losec®
- Protonix®
- Zegerid®
A study published in February 2016 found that patients who took PPIs once per day increased their risk of developing kidney disease by 15 percent, while patients who took those drugs twice per day increased their risk by 46 percent.
If you or someone you love developed an illness or injury after taking PPIs, the drug injury lawyers at Ferrer Poirot Feller Daniel are here to help. It’s our goal to help you get the compensation you deserve. Call today for a free consultation.