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Understanding the Dangers of PPIs and What You Can Do About Them

Written by Berkowitz

medications and inhibitors

Connecticut Attorneys Serving those Harmed by PPIs

Over the past few months, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have come under scrutiny and are now being associated with serious side-effects and complications. They have been associated with a variety of medical issues, and manufacturers of these medications did not properly warn patients or physicians about the potential risk.

Why Are PPIs Prescribed?

A physician prescribes a PPI for patients who have reflux or erosive esophagitis. These occur when stomach acids are produced in excess and affect the esophagus. If the acid is allowed to continue, it can corrode the esophagus and lead to cancer, as well as other serious complications.

The PPI is specifically designed to reduce gastric acid production in the body. It brings instant relief from acid irritation to the patient, while protecting the esophagus from future damage and giving it time to heal from the damage done.

Even though these have been prescribed for years, only recently was it discovered that PPIs used for the long-term could lead to devastating results. New research has revealed that these drugs are prone to causing heart attacks, bone fractures, dementia, and kidney failure.

The evidence is quite convincing, but manufacturers failed to warn the public or tell physicians about these potential risks; therefore, physicians continue to prescribe PPIs.

A lawsuit has already been filed against one manufacturer – AstraZeneca – by a patient who suffered from severe kidney failure and had to have a kidney transplant in order to recover.

The Risk of Kidney Disease and Renal Failure

The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology reported in 2016 that excessive use of PPIs could increase the likelihood of kidney failure by 95 percent. End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), as well as chronic kidney disease (CKD), were the two commonly reported conditions associated with PPI use.

Treatments for these conditions require long-term medical therapies, and sometimes a kidney transplant. The patient could encounter thousands of dollars in medical costs, require long-term rehabilitative care, and potentially lose the ability to work or function as he or she did prior to taking the medications.

Were You Injured by a Serious, Unreported Side-Effect? You May Have a Case

Side-effects occur, but when they are severe enough to threaten a patient’s life, the physicians and manufacturers recommending these medications must warn the public. If you were injured by a defective or dangerous drug, you may be entitled to compensation.

Contact Berkowitz and Hanna LLC today to schedule a no-obligation case evaluation. Call 866-479-7909 or contact us online to get started.

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