Nexium Side Effects | Nexium Lawsuit- No Class Action!

Nexium is one of the highest-selling drugs in the United States. Used to treat gastrointestinal reflux, certain doses of Nexium are available over-the-counter. It acts as a protein pump inhibitor to inhibit and reduce stomach acids. However, Nexium has been known to have certain side effects that can make it a dangerous drug. Specifically, Nexium has been associated with nexium side effects such as higher risk of kidney failure and stroke. Additionally, there has been some connection between use of Nexium and stomach cancer. As a results, the manufacturer of Nexium medication is facing a large number of Nexium lawsuits, some of which have already settled.  If you have taken Nexium and have suffered a side effect that has caused you injury, you should immediately contact a Nexium lawsuit lawyer to discuss your legal options.

Update- October 3, 2023- “Britain’s AstraZeneca (AZN.L) has agreed to pay $425 million to settle about 11,000 lawsuits in the United States that claimed its heartburn drugs Nexium and Prilosec caused chronic kidney disease. AstraZeneca did not admit wrongdoing under the settlement, part of broader litigation against makers of a class of heartburn drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). Its shares dipped 0.4%.” Reuters

-8-11-22- “The U.S. District Judge presiding over all Nexium lawsuits, Prilosec lawsuits, Prevacid lawsuits, Protonix lawsuits and Dexilant lawsuits has issued a new pretrial schedule leading up to the start of the first trial this fall, which is expected to begin in mid-November 2022 to help the parties gauge how juries will respond to certain evidence that will be presented throughout thousands of pending claims.”

10-20-2020-  “More than 15,000 PPI lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers of prescription versions of Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix and Dexilant — as well as over-the-counter Prilosec OTC, Nexium 24HR and Prevacid 24HR. The lawsuits argue that manufacturers didn’t do enough to warn patients and medical professionals about the possible risks as the companies became aware of them. Some Prilosec lawsuits allege that AstraZeneca knew of kidney risks for at least 10 years before warning the public. As of January 2020, there were 13,40 proton pump inhibitor lawsuits pending in federal court — out of a total of 15,164 that had been filed. A judicial panel combined the cases into a multidistrict litigation, or MDL, in August 2017. The number of lawsuits grew quickly, tripling during the first three months of 2019 alone. By mid-2019, it had become the second-largest mass litigation in the United States. Attorneys expect the MDL could include thousands more PPI lawsuits. The judge overseeing the litigation has scheduled the first bellwether trial for Sept. 21, 2020.” drug watch

7/19/2020- “The first bellwether trial for the multidistrict litigation (MDL) consolidating all federally filed proton pump inhibitor (PPI) lawsuits has been scheduled for November 15, 2021″  Injury Lawyer News “As of January 2020, there were 13,40 proton pump inhibitor lawsuits pending in federal court — out of a total of 15,164 that had been filed. A judicial panel combined the cases into a multidistrict litigation, or MDL, in August 2017. The number of lawsuits grew quickly, tripling during the first three months of 2019 alone. By mid-2019, it had become the second-largest mass litigation in the United States.”

“The Nexium and chronic kidney disease lawsuits brought against the manufacturer allege that the manufacturer knew or should have known about the severe risks of kidney injuries, including the link between Nexium and chronic kidney disease and in failing to warn potential users of the drug, put those users at risk for significant side effects and problems. These lawsuits consolidated in the MDL seek to hold the manufacturer accountable for the injuries sustained by the patients as a result of the failure to warn about the possibility that those patients could have developed chronic kidney disease and other symptoms. The Nexium and Chronic Kidney Disease Lawsuit is Case No. 2:18-cv-15124-CCC-MF, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.” Top class actions

It cannot be emphasized enough that there is no nexium class action lawsuit.

The Marketplace for Nexium

Nexium medication is manufactured by Astra Zeneca. It was approved by the FDA for medical use in 2000. After years of requiring a prescription for use, it was approved for over-the-counter usage in 2014.  According to Drugs.com, it is the second highest-selling medication in the marketplace in the U.S.  In 2013, sales of the drug reached nearly $6 billion.  However, there have been reports that the prescription version of the drug has been prescribed inappropriately, perhaps increasing the size of the market. Nexium competes with other protein pump inhibitors such as Prilosec and Prevacid. Many people are wondering is there a nexium class action lawsuit?

What is difference between Nexium and Prilosec?

“Prilosec, also known by its generic name omeprazole, is a proton-pump inhibitor developed by manufacturer AstraZeneca to block excess stomach acid from flowing into the esophagus and causing painful heartburn. The delayed-release drug with active ingredient omeprazole was the first of its kind approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 1989 for prescription use, and it also became the first in its class to be approved for over-the-counter sale in 2003, under the name Prilosec OTC.” Consumer safety

“Nexium, a second-generation heartburn drug from the same manufacturer, was FDA approved and introduced to the market in 2001. Instead of using omeprazole, AstraZeneca used esomeprazole, which is very closely related chemically. Reports have shown the manufacturer likely developed the drug to stay in the billion-dollar heartburn medication industry and maintain profits, as their patent for Prilosec ran out in 2002.” Id.

Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor

“Heartburn is a feeling of burning pain in your lower chest, behind the breastbone. It comes from acid backing up from your stomach to your throat. You may have seen ads for heartburn drugs, such as Nexium, Prilosec or Prevacid. These drugs are called PPIs (proton pump inhibitors). They keep the stomach from making too much acid. They have been shown to heal irritation of the tube between the throat and the stomach (the esophagus).” Choosing Wisely 

How Does Nexium Work?

Heartburn and other reflux illnesses are caused by the production of excess stomach acid. The pumps are present in parietal cells that are responsible for acid secretion. Nexium acts to block the acid pumps that produce the acid.  These “pumps” are cells in the stomach walls that secrete stomach acid. This reduces or eliminates acid production in the stomach.  Nexium also is used to treat ulcers and erosive esophagitis.

The specific mechanism of the drug is that it acts on hydrogen potassium ATPase. The protein pump inhibitor will bind to the pump and reduce the amount of acid that it produces by preventing the transport of protons that cause stomach acid.  Nexium is intended to reduce the secretion of stomach acid by as much as 99 percent.

At the same time, stomach acid still has some necessary functions. The average human stomach will secrete approximately a liter and a half of stomach acid each day. Stomach acid aids in the absorption of vitamins and nutrients. It also kills bacteria in the food and neutralizes other harmful enzymes. If stomach acid is completely eliminated, it can lead to infection in the stomach tract or various other types of diseases. It follows that while stomach acid will need to be reduced to treat certain maladies, it may not be beneficial to eliminate the acid entirely, and there can be side effects from eliminating or overly reducing the production of stomach acids.

Side Effects of Nexium

Like any medication, Nexium can have common side effects of usage, including headache, nausea, constipation and diarrhea. However, Nexium has also been associated with much more serious side effects that can result from extended usage of the drug. These side effects have led to a large number of lawsuits against Astra Zeneca.

Linkage between protein pump inhibitors such as Nexium and kidney damage

There has been some linkage between protein pump inhibitors such as Nexium and kidney damage. There was a study that was released in January 2016 that stated that there may be a connection.  There is not necessarily a causal connection between the use of Nexium and renal damage, but there are statistics that show that those who use the drug suffer kidney damage at a higher rate than those who do not.  The risk of kidney damage escalates along with the amount of the dose. Specifically, those who use Nexium twice daily increase their risk of kidney damage by 46 percent, as opposed to the 15 percent increase associated with use once per day. However, this study solely addressed statistics as opposed to being a clinical study. The initial study has been followed by several other studies that have reached the same result.

Nexium side effects liver

In addition to kidney failure, Nexium has also been associated with an increased risk of stomach cancer, which is one of the more deadly types of cancer. Although stomach cancer is a relatively rare type of cancer, there are studies that detail that those who take protein pump inhibits such as Nexium, experience stomach cancer at higher rates.  According to one of the studies, patients who use protein pump inhibitors for more than three years increase their risk of stomach cancer by more than eight-fold. This linkage was not found among patients who take H-2 blockers as opposed to protein pump inhibitors. The possibility of a linkage comes from the fact that Nexium may suppress certain acids that can be beneficial in suppressing the development of cancer. As mentioned above, stomach acid can have some helpful effects in combating bacterias and sicknesses.

Lawsuits Against Astra Zeneca

Astra Zeneca has been hit with a number of lawsuits relating to Nexium. In 2015, the company settled for $20 million a lawsuit that alleged improper sales practices of the drug. Now, the company is facing a large number of lawsuits emanating from side effects that have been associated with the drug. There are lawsuits about both claims of stomach cancer as well as those relating to kidney damage.  The amount of lawsuits against Astra Zeneca relating to Nexium has risen steadily, and many new lawsuits were filed in 2018. Many victims are wondering , will there be a nexium lawsuit payout?

Nexium side effects

Lawsuits have alleged that those who have taken Nexium have had to undergo kidney transplants as a result of the damage to their kidneys that have been suffered while taking the drug.  Nexium side effects is a a very serious matter.One fact that plaintiffs have pointed to is that there have been fewer side effects associated with H2 blockers which are a different kind of medication to treat stomach acid. This could point to the fact that there is a less dangerous alternative. None of the lawsuits alleging Nexium’s connection with renal failure have yet gone to trial. Will there be a Nexium lawsuit payout?

AstraZeneca the maker of Nexium

• “…Nexium products are sold at  local and national pharmacies, including, but not limited to Wal-Mart, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Schnuck’s and Dierberg’s,,,” Stephanie Ideus Complaint
• “AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP is a Delaware corporation with its corporate headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.”
•  “…AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP was engaged in the business of designing, developing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, promoting, marketing, distributing, labeling, and/or selling Nexium products.”Id.
• AstraZeneca LP is, and at all times relevant to this action was, a Delaware corporation. AstraZeneca LP is the holder of approved New Drug Applications (“NDAs”) 21-153 and 21-154 for Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium), and it manufactures and markets Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) in the United States. AstraZeneca LP was engaged in the business Case  of designing, developing, manufacturing, testing, packaging, promoting, marketing, distributing, labeling, and/or selling Nexium products.” Id.

Will there be a Nexium lawsuit payout?

There are also Nexium side effects lawsuits relating to the connections between Nexium and stomach cancer. There is a multi-district litigation against Astra Zeneca in federal court in New Jersey for the stomach cancer lawsuits. This type of litigation combines cases for purposes of discovery and pre-trial motions as well as selects some bellwether cases to be tried first. These cases are proceeding through the discovery tract and new cases are being filed to join the litigation. Some of these lawsuits have alleged that Astra Zeneca had the knowledge that Nexium can cause stomach cancer, but took steps to conceal this fact.  As of now, these cases against Astra Zeneca are scheduled to start going to trial in September 2020.  After the Nexium side effects bellwether cases are tried, the other cases will begin to go to trial assuming Astra Zeneca does not elect to settle these cases.

What is the ‘purple lawsuit’

“The generic drug maker last week agreed to change the color of its new version of the Nexium heartburn medicine from purple to blue in order to settle a lawsuit that was filed by AstraZeneca. For more than two decades, AstraZeneca has capitalized on a marketing campaign that labeled its two widely prescribed heartburn drugs — first, Prilosec and then Nexium — as “the Purple Pill.” But after Dr. Reddy’s last September began selling a lower-cost generic version, which resembled the brand-name drug, AstraZeneca claimed the Indian drug maker was ripping off its trademark look.” Stat News  

Esomeprazole (Nexium) vs. Omeprazole (Prilosec): Which is Better for Acid Reflux?

“Esomeprazole (Nexium) and omeprazole (Prilosec) and are two of the most popular prescriptions for GERD (gastroesophageal reflux or acid reflux), but which one is better? Many insurance plans don’t cover esomeprazole and instead want patients to use omeprazole. But is esomeprazole actually worth fighting for? Turns out, many clinical trials over the years have asked this question: is esomeprazole (Nexium) better for acid reflux symptoms compared to omeprazole (Prilosec)?” https://www.goodrx.com/blog/esomeprazole-vs-omeprazole-for-acid-reflux/

Contact a  Nexium lawsuit lawyer

If you or a loved one has taken Nexium  medication and experienced either renal failure or stomach cancer, you should immediately contact a Nexium side effects attorney to discuss your legal rights and the possibility of filing a nexium lawsuit payout against Astra Zeneca. A Nexium lawsuit lawyer can give you an assessment of your case and can inform you whether your claim for compensation against Astra Zeneca is viable. Your case will be handled on a contingency basis, meaning that you will not be obligated to pay anything to the attorney unless you are successful in obtaining some sort of financial recovery. It is essential to contact the nexium lawsuit attorney immediately as statutes of limitations apply.

Sources:

Drugs.com

GoodRX

CBS News- Common heartburn drugs linked with Kidney disease

Heartburn and Acid Reflux Drugs Double Risk of Stomach Cancer

Science Daily

Nexium Complaint

Bonner Complaint