Aciphex is an anti-heartburn medication that has been linked to acute interstitial nephritis, a type of kidney inflammation that can lead to kidney failure.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Aciphex induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with acute interstitial nephritis, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Aciphex and Nephritis
Aciphex is the brand-name for rabeprazole, an antacid medication that was first linked to acute interstitial nephritis in 2005. The case report described a 63 year-old man who required long-term dialysis. In 2008, another report described an 84 year-old woman who rapidly developed kidney failure.
FDA Updates Label on Aciphex
In December 2014, the FDA updated the label on Aciphex to include acute interstitial nephritis. The agency said nephritis is generally caused by an allergic reaction. It can occur at any time during treatment.
What is Acute Interstitial Nephritis?
Acute interstitial nephritis is a sudden inflammation in the kidneys that is usually caused by a hypersensitivity reaction to medications in the bloodstream. It causes enlargement of the kidneys due to swelling in the spaces between tubules.
Studies linking PPIs and Nephritis
The Canadian journal CMAJ Open published a study linking the use of PPIs with a tripled increased risk of acute interstitial nephritis among older adults.
Symptoms of Nephritis
Nephritis can occur at any time during treatment with Aciphex, but it usually takes a few weeks before patients are sick enough to go to the hospital. They may have the following symptoms:
- Enlarged kidneys
- Urine is bloody or cloudy
- Urine output increases or decreases substantially
- Fever
- Unusual fatigue
- Confusion
- Nausea, vomiting
- Rash
- Swelling due to fluid retention
Nephritis and Kidney Failure
Nephritis is responsible for about 15% of all patients who are hospitalized with acute kidney failure. Over 100 medications are known to cause nephritis, and patients must stop taking the medication before they will get better.
The longer diagnosis is delayed, the higher the risk of kidney failure. The problem is that many patients do not have classic symptoms like fever, rash, and joint pain.
Unfortunately, it is very common for people with nephritis to develop long-term kidney problems. They may never recover normal kidney function. In severe cases, long-term dialysis is necessary when the kidneys can no longer keep up with the body’s needs.
Do I have a Aciphex Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Aciphex induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with acute interstitial nephritis, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Defective Drug Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
Attention Lawyers: We consider a referral from another law firm to be one of the greatest compliments. If your firm is interested in referring us a case or for us to send you a list of previous award judgments and/or average referral fees, please visit the Lawyer Referral section of our website.
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC has been recognized as one of the nation’s leading plaintiffs' law firms and handles cases in all 50 states. We are very proud of our legal achievements, but equally self-respecting of our firm's reputation for providing personal attention to each and every client we represent.
