The FDA has issued warnings about nephritis (kidney inflammation) from the anti-heartburn drug Aciphex. It may also increase the risk of kidney failure due to acute kidney injury or chronic renal disease.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Aciphex induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with kidney failure, 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.
Overview
Aciphex (rabeprazole) is an antacid medication that is now available as a generic. It works by decreasing the amount of stomach acid made by glands lining the stomach.
Aciphex and Kidney Failure
Aciphex and other anti-heartburn medications in the proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) class have been linked to a number of renal diseases that can cause kidney failure, including acute interstitial nephritis. Delayed diagnosis increases the risk of kidney failure.
One recent study published in CMAJ Open found that PPIs tripled the risk of nephritis and more than doubled the risk of acute kidney injury. Another study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that once-daily and twice-daily users of PPIs were 20-50% more likely to develop chronic kidney disease.
Researchers warn that PPIs can cause low magnesium levels, which is a risk-factor for kidney damage. It is also possible that repeated bouts of low-level inflammation (nephritis) can cause progressive kidney damage.
Aciphex Linked to 96% Increased Risk of Kidney Failure
April 2016 — The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology published a study linking PPIs like Aciphex with a 96% increased risk of kidney failure and a 26% increased risk of chronic kidney disease. The analysis included data from nearly 200,000 veteran in St. Louis, including 173,321 people who used PPIs and 20,270 people who used a non-PPI heartburn drug like Pepcid or Zantac (also known as H2-blockers).
After five years, 15% of people on PPIs were diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, compared to 11% of people who used H2-blockers. End-stage kidney failure only occurred in 0.2% of patients, but it occurred twice as often in PPI users. Compared to people who used PPIs for a month or less, people who used PPIs for 1-2 years had a 3-fold increased risk of kidney failure.
According to the author of the study, Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly:
“I think people see these medications at the drug store and assume they’re completely safe. But there’s growing evidence they’re not as safe as we’ve thought. [Patients should] use PPIs only when it is medically necessary, and should limit duration of exposure to the minimum necessary to treat the underlying medical condition.”
What is Kidney Failure?
Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys no longer work well enough to keep up with the body’s needs. An estimated 23 million Americans have chronic kidney disease. The only treatments are hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or a kidney transplant.
Health Problems Linked to Kidney Failure
Kidney failure can cause a wide range of health problems. Many people experience debilitating fatigue, loss of appetite, and leg cramps. These problems are caused by excess fluid and toxins in the body (uremia). Other health problems include:
- Swelling: Leg, ankle, or belly swelling may occur because the kidneys are not removing enough fluid from the body.
- Weight loss: Patients may lose weight because they are not eating due to loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, or bad taste in the mouth.
- Anemia: The kidneys may stop making a hormone that tells bones to make red blood cells, which can decrease the amount of oxygen that the blood is able to carry to the body.
- Cardiovascular events: Kidney failure increases the risk of heart attacks and blood vessel problems.
- Skin problems: Dry skin and persistent itching are caused by mineral imbalances and high levels of parathyroid hormones.
- Weak bones: High parathyroid hormone levels draw calcium from the bones into the blood, which can cause the bones to become brittle and thin.
Do I have an Aciphex Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Aciphex induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with kidney failure, 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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