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Prilosec Lawsuits

Prilosec Lawsuits

The heartburn drug Prilosec has been linked to a risk of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), nephritis, kidney failure, stomach cancer, and other side effects.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Prilosec induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with kidney failure or other side effects, 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.

Omeprazole and NDMA Carcinogens

In December 2019, the FDA issued an alert about possible NDMA contamination in some heartburn drugs, diabetes drugs, and blood pressure drugs. NDMA is a toxic chemical that causes cancer in humans. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed after these medications were recalled due to unacceptable levels of NDMA.

Prilosec and Stomach Cancer

In November 2017, a study published in the journal Gut found a doubled (2X) higher risk of stomach cancer for people who were on long-term treatment with heartburn medications in the Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) class, which includes popular antacids like Prilosec.

Prilosec Lawsuits Centralized in MDL

August 2017 — Judges have centralized 161 lawsuits involving kidney injuries from Prilosec and other PPI heartburn drugs into Multi-District Litigation (MDL No. 2798) under Judge Claire C. Cecchi in the District of New Jersey — In RE: Proton-Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation (No. II). Drug-makers are accused of failing to warn that Prilosec can cause kidney injuries, Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), acute interstitial nephritis, end-stage kidney disease, or kidney failure.

Study: Heartburn Drugs Increase Risk of Death

July 2017 — Researchers have linked the use of PPI heartburn drugs with up to a 50% increased risk of death compared to H2-blocker heartburn drugs, according to a study published in the journal BMJ Open. The researchers estimated 1 excess death per 500 people who take a PPI. Click here to read more.

Heartburn Drugs Causing Massive Health Problems

Study Links Prilosec and Kidney Failure

April 2016 — The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology has published a study linking long-term use of PPI antacid medications like Prilosec with a 96% increased risk of kidney failure and a 26% increased risk of chronic kidney disease. Click here to read more.

What is Prilosec?

Prilosec is a heartburn drug that was approved by the FDA in 1989. It is a Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI), a medication that decreases the amount of stomach acid to prevent Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) or acid reflux disease). Common symptoms of GERD include heartburn and damage to the esophagus (the tube between the throat and stomach). Prilosec is also prescribed to treat certain stomach/intestinal ulcers and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Side Effects

  • Kidney failure
  • Acute interstitial nephritis
  • Chronic Kidney Disease
  • Nephritis (kidney inflammation)
  • Bone fractures
  • Low magnesium levels
  • Tetany (muscle spasm)
  • Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat)
  • Seizure
  • Stomach cancer
  • And more

PPIs and Chronic Kidney Disease

In January 2016, JAMA Internal Medicine published a study linking PPIs with a 20-50% increased risk of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). The conclusions were based on more than 13 years of data on 10,500 patients who used PPIs or non-PPI heartburn drugs.

Researchers found that twice-daily use of a PPI was associated with a 46% increased risk of CKD, while a once-daily dose was associated with a 15% increased risk. The researchers cautioned that the study does not prove cause-and-effect, but may suggest that blood tests to check kidney function are a good idea for patients on high doses.

Study Finds PPIs May Triple Risk of Nephritis

Long-term use of PPIs was associated with a 2.5-fold increased risk of acute kidney injury and a 3-fold increased risk of nephritis in a study published by CMAJ Open in April 2015. The conclusions of the study were based on data from nearly 300,000 people in Canada over 66 years old who started taking a PPI between 2002 and 2011.

Study Links Prilosec and Hip Fractures

In January 2012, a study published in the British Medical Journal has found that the use of PPIs increases the risk of hip fractures. The researchers found that women who regularly used these medications for at least two years were 35% more likely to suffer a hip fracture. The risk was greatest for post-menopausal women who smoked.

Bone Fractures

In May 2010, the FDA warned doctors and consumers that PPI use could lead to the increased risk of hip, wrist and spine fractures. The FDA warned that patients who had received high doses of Prilosec and other PPI medications for longer than one year or more were most at risk.

The report cited a 2006 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In the study 135,000 people at least 50 years or older were interviewed. The study found patients who took PPIs for longer than one year at a high dose (defined as more than one dose daily) were 2.65 times more likely to break a hip. The likelihood of fracture was also proven to increase with the length of time the PPI was taken.

Because of this study’s results, as well as the findings from several other similar studies, the FDA is requiring all PPIs to add a new warning label about the potential risk of bone fractures. This warning will not be included on over-the-counter (OTC) versions of these drugs because the FDA determined short-term use (14 days or less) at a low dose was not linked to bone fractures.

Fractures are caused by a low calcium levels in the body, caused by PPIs. When stomach acid is reduced, the body experiences a gradual decrease in health because essential nutrients are not being absorbed. For example, when low stomach acid levels limit the body’s ability to absorb calcium, it may lead to a softening of the bones.

Low Magnesium

In March 2011, The FDA issued a safety alert that Prilosec usage may lead to a rare condition called hypomagnesemia, which is characterized by low serum magnesium levels in the body. Patients who developed hypomagnesium had taken Prilosec or other PPIs for an extended period, usually longer than one year, although there were cases in patients who had only taken the drug for three months. Low magnesium levels are dangerous because they may lead to seizures, muscle spasm or an irregular heartbeat.

Some patients with this condition required a magnesium supplement to normalize magnesium body levels. However, in a few cases, the supplement was not effective and the patient had to discontinue Prilosec use.

Due to the risk of hypomagnesemia, the FDA has required Prilosec and other PPIs to include additional information in the Warning and Precautions section of the medication label. Over-the-counter versions of the drugs have shown no relationship with lower magnesium levels and are not required to update their labels.

Studies Linking PPIs and Heart Problems

  • June 11, 2015 — PLOS One has published a study of 2.9 million people that found a 16-21% increased risk of heart attack associated with the use of heartburn medications in the proton pump inhibitor (PPI) class, such as Prilosec and Prevacid.
  • July 12, 2013 — Researchers have published a study linking all drugs in the PPI class, including Prilosec, to a potential risk of heart problems.

Do I have a Prilosec Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Prilosec induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with kidney failure or other side effects, 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.

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