PPI (Heart Burn Drug) Lawsuits

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) are a class of drugs that decrease gastric acid secretion. They actually shut down the proton pumps that produce the stomach acid necessary to digest food.

The body cannot digest and assimilate food properly without stomach acid. It is an essential function of our physical anatomy. Presently there are five PPIs being widely used as antisecretory agents-omeprazole (Prilosec), esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), and rabeprazole (Aciphex). According to recent studies, some believe that PPIs should only be taken for eight weeks. However, many doctors have prescribed these drugs for long term use. The package inserts for these drugs have this information but many medical professionals knowingly allow, if not encourage patients to continue taking these drugs on a permanent basis.

If you or any of your loved ones is suffering from a hip fracture after long term use of PPIs, you may be entitled to compensation. Speak with Barry Hill, a West VA PPI Drug Lawyer at Anapol Schwarz.

Proton-pump inhibitors that block stomach acid production increase the risk of an increasingly common infectious form of diarrhea. Recent studies suggest that long-term use of proton pump inhibitors increases the risk of hip fractures in adults over 50. PPIs are effective treatments for gastroesophageal reflux. But when they fail to bring relief, persistent heartburn may be the result of an increase in non-acidic reflux. Heart attack patients taking a combination of PPIs and the anti-platelet drug Plavix experience an increased risk of suffering a second heart attack versus patients not treated with PPIs. The most common side effects are headache, abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea and nausea. Other side effects include (source: DrugLib.com information portal):

• Body as a Whole: abdomen enlarged, allergic reaction, asthenia, back pain, chest pain, chest pain substernal, facial edema, peripheral edema, hot flushes, fatigue, fever, flu-like disorder, generalized edema, leg edema, malaise, pain, rigors;
• Cardiovascular: flushing, hypertension, tachycardia; Endocrine: goiter;
• Gastrointestinal bowel irregularity, constipation aggravated, dyspepsia, dysphagia, dysplasia GI, epigastric pain, eructation, esophageal disorder, frequent stools, gastroenteritis, GI hemorrhage, GI symptoms not otherwise specified, hiccup, melena, mouth disorder, pharynx disorder, rectal disorder, serum gastrin increased, tongue disorder, tongue edema, ulcerative stomatitis, vomiting;
• Hearing: earache, tinnitus; Hematologic: anemia, anemia hypochromic, cervical lymphoadenopathy, epistaxis, leukocytosis, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia;
• Hepatic: bilirubinemia, hepatic function abnormal, SGOT increased, SGPT increased;
• Metabolic/Nutritional: glycosuria, hyperuricemia, hyponatremia, increased alkaline phosphatase, thirst, vitamin B12 deficiency, weight increase, weight decrease;
• Musculoskeletal: arthralgia, arthritis aggravated, arthropathy, cramps, fibromyalgia syndrome, hernia, polymyalgia rheumatica;
• Nervous System/Psychiatric: anorexia, apathy, appetite increased, confusion, depression aggravated, dizziness, hypertonia, nervousness, hypoesthesia, impotence, insomnia, migraine, migraine aggravated, paresthesia, sleep disorder, somnolence, tremor, vertigo, visual field defect;
• Reproductive: dysmenorrhea, menstrual disorder, vaginitis;
• Respiratory: asthma aggravated, coughing, dyspnea, larynx edema, pharyngitis, rhinitis, sinusitis;
• Skin and Appendages: acne, angioedema, dermatitis, pruritus, pruritus ani, rash, rash erythematous, rash maculo-papular, skin inflammation, sweating increased, urticaria;
• Special Senses: otitis media, parosmia, taste loss, taste perversion;
• Urogenital: abnormal urine, albuminuria, cystitis, dysuria, fungal infection, hematuria, micturition frequency, moniliasis, genital moniliasis, polyuria; Visual: conjunctivitis, vision abnormal.

Pharmaceutical products are by nature thought to be safe and effective for their intended use. It is assumed that all necessary testing has been done by the pharmaceutical company before the product is released for sale to public. Pharmaceutical products, especially those sold by prescription have to pass a rigorous pre-market approval process by the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA). Once it passes through the approval process, the public assumes that the pharmaceutical product can be safely used for the purpose for which it is intended. If the pharmaceutical product has defects or is contaminated or does not contain warnings about possible adverse effect, it amounts to negligence on the part of the manufacturer. The medical professional is under an obligation to inform the patient about the risks of the drug before prescribing the drug to the patient.

If you or any of your loved ones is suffering from a hip fracture after long term use of PPIs, you may be entitled to compensation.