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Aciphex Lawsuit

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Aciphex lawsuits involving acute interstitial nephritis, renal (kidney) failure and chronic kidney disease are now being investigated, amid evidence suggesting that regular, long-term use of proton pump inhibitors may harm the kidneys.

Aciphex Legal Reviews

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is offering free legal reviews to individuals who suffered serious kidney complications that may be linked to the use of Aciphex, including nephritis, kidney failure and chronic kidney disease. To learn more, please call (888) 994-5118.

Aciphex: What’s the Problem?

Aciphex is part of a drug class called proton pump inhibitors. While it is only available via prescription, several other proton pump inhibitors are also sold over-the-counter. These medications are intended for the short term treatment of heartburn, GERD, ulcers and other gastric ailments. They work by inhibiting the stomach pumps that produce gastric acid.

Proton pump inhibitors have been around since the late 1980s, and are now used by millions of people. Because they are such common drugs, few question their safety. However, proton pump inhibitors have been associated with some very serious side effects, including certain types of fractures, low magnesium levels, B12 deficiency, C. diff infections and more. In recent years, the drugs have been linked to a serious kidney injury called acute interstitial nephritis, while new research has also suggested an association with renal failure and chronic kidney disease.

Aciphex and Acute Interstitial Nephritis

In December 2014, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) ordered that new information regarding acute interstitial nephritis be added to the labels of all proton pump inhibitors. This inflammatory kidney disorder is characterized by the following symptoms:

• Reduced urination
• Blood in urine
• Malaise (generally feeling sick all the time)
• Poor appetite
• Nausea, occasional vomiting
• Swelling due to fluid retention
• Confusion
• Coma
• Fatigue and weakness

It is important that acute interstitial nephritis be recognized and treated promptly. Roughly 50% of those who experience the condition will develop kidney failure. In fact, about 15% of hospitalizations for renal failure are the result of nephritis.

In 2016, a study published in the International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology suggested that the risk of acute interstitial nephritis increases when proton pump inhibitors are taken with other medications that can be toxic to the kidneys. The authors of the study treated rats with Aciphex or another proton pump inhibitor for 28 days. Some of the rats also received the painkiller Voltaren or the antibiotic Floxin. Rats who received only Aciphex exhibited structural changes and vascular damage that could progress to acute renal failure. Those that received both the proton pump inhibitor and the other drugs had an increased rate of acute interstitial nephritis.  Read More

Aciphex and Chronic Kidney Disease

In 2016, two studies indicated that people who use Aciphex and other proton pump inhibitors may be more likely to develop chronic kidney disease or experience kidney failure:

• April 2016: Scientists writing in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology reported that proton pump inhibitors appeared to increase the risk of kidney failure by 96% when compared to alternative heartburn medications. The same study indicated that patients taking Aciphex and similar drugs where 28% more likely to develop chronic kidney disease. The authors of the paper also noted that kidney risks associated with proton pump inhibitors seemed to increase with higher doses and longer duration of use. Read More
• January 2016: A paper in JAMA: Internal Medicine reported that patients who use proton pump inhibitors might face a 20 to 50% higher risk of kidney disease. Those who used the medications twice per day had a 46% increased risk, while once per day use was linked to a 15% higher risk. Drugs like Aciphex were also associated with a 39% greater chance of chronic kidney disease compared to H2 blockers like Zantac. Read More

Learn More about Filing an Aciphex Lawsuit

Bernstein Liebhard LLP offers free legal reviews to individuals who may have suffered serious kidney damage, including nephritis, renal failure and chronic kidney disease, due to their use of Aciphex. To schedule your review, please call (888) 994-5118.