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Protonix Lawsuit

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Protonix lawsuits are now being investigated on behalf of patients who may have suffered serious kidney complications allegedly related to the use of proton pump inhibitors. Recent studies and reports have linked these popular heartburn drugs to acute interstitial nephritis, chronic kidney disease and renal (kidney) failure.

Protonix Legal Reviews

Bernstein Liebhard LLP is offering free, no-obligation legal reviews to anyone diagnosed with nephritis, chronic kidney disease or renal failure that may be related to the use of Protonix. To learn more, please call (888) 994-5118.

Protonix Litigation and Settlement News

• April 2016: Wyeth agreed to pay $784.6 million to settle claims involving Medicaid rebates for Protonix. Read More
• December 2012: Wyeth agreed to pay $55 million to settle allegations that it had improperly promoted Protonix for off-label, or unapproved, uses. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Wyeth had told customers that the drug could be used for all types of GERD, even though it was only approved to treat the condition when it had caused esophageal erosions. The government also claimed that Wyeth touted Protonix as “the best [proton pump inhibitor] for nighttime heartburn,” even though there is no evidence to support this claim. In agreeing to the settlement, Wyeth and its parent company, Pfizer, did not admit to any wrongdoing. Read More

Protonix: What’s the Problem?

Protonix is a proton pump inhibitor marketed by Pfizer, Inc.’s Wyeth subsidiary. The drug is used to relieve erosive esophagitis and certain other ailments related to excess stomach acid. Unlike other proton pump inhibitors, Protonix is not indicated to treat recurring heartburn. It is also not available over-the-counter, while a number of other proton pump inhibitor are. It is only recommended that Protonix be used for a total of 8 weeks, after which the drug should be discontinued.

Protonix and other proton pump inhibitors have been linked to wide range of serious side effects, including certain types of bone fractures, B12 deficiency, low magnesium, and C. diff infections. Emerging research also suggests that long-term use of Protonix and other proton pump inhibitors may harm the kidneys.

Protonix and the Kidneys

In 2014, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) ordered manufacturers of prescription proton pump inhibitors, including Protonix, to add information about acute interstitial nephritis to their product labels. Interstitial nephritis is an acute inflammation of the kidneys that, if left untreated, can also lead to renal failure. As such, it must be recognized and treated promptly. Symptoms of acute interstitial nephritis include:

• Decrease in urine output
• Fever
• Blood in the urine
• Exhaustion or fatigue
• Confusion
• Nausea and/or Vomiting
• Rash
• Water retention, swelling, weight gain or feeling bloated
• High blood pressure (hypertension)

New research has also tied  the use of proton pump inhibitors to an increased risk of kidney complications:

• April 2015: A Canadian study involving data on 300,000 older patient found that those who had used proton pump inhibitors had a 2.5 fold increased risk of acute kidney injury, and a 3-times higher risk of acute interstitial nephritis compared to non-users.
• January 2016: A study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that the medications may increase the risk of chronic kidney disease by as much as 50%
• April 2016: Research that appeared in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology suggested that patients who used proton pump inhibitors had a 96% increased risk of developing kidney failure compared to patients who used another class of heartburn drugs. The same study also suggested that the use of proton pump inhibitors were associated with a 28% increased risk of chronic kidney disease versus the other medications.
• July 2016: A study published in the International Journal of Basic & Clinical Pharmacology suggests 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 Protonix or another proton pump inhibitor for 28 days. Some of the rats also received the painkiller Voltaren or the antibiotic Floxin. “PPI alone are prone to cause AIN but the incidence of AIN increases with addition of other nephrotoxic drugs,” the study authors concluded. “All the samples showed variable degree of inflammation followed by structural damage.” Read More

Are You a Candidate for Protonix 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 Protonix. To learn if you are eligible to file a claim, please call (888) 994-5118.