Kidney Failure Lawsuit

Kidney failure is a severe, life-threatening side effect that has been linked to a growing number of medications. In some cases, lawsuits have been filed by people who accuse drug-makers of failing to warn about the risk.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting medication 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.

What Are the Kidneys?

The kidneys are two bean-shaped, fist-sized organs that are located in the middle of the back below the ribs. The kidneys filter about 120-150 quarts of blood per day and produce 1-2 quarts of urine. In addition to cleaning the blood and making urine, the kidneys also make hormones, regulate blood pressure, make red blood cells, keep bones strong, balance blood chemistry, and perform other essential functions.

What is Kidney Failure?

Kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease (ERSD), occurs when the kidneys are no longer able to keep up with the body’s needs. Harmful toxins, waste products, and excess fluids accumulate in the body and cause health problems.

Symptoms of Kidney Failure

When the kidneys suddenly stop working, symptoms may include:

Swelling in the hands, feet, face (edema)
Sudden weight gain due to fluid retention
Confusion
Seizures
Coma
Nausea and vomiting
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Decreased urine output

Complications of Kidney Failure

Chronic kidney disease is a long-term health problem that can cause complications in nearly every part of the body. However, symptoms may not appear until the kidneys have lost 80% or more of their normal function. This can cause many health problems, including:

High blood pressure
Anemia (low red blood cell count)
Loss of appetite
Chest pain
Seizures
Persistent itching and dry skin
Weak bones
Trouble sleeping
And more

How is Kidney Failure Diagnosed?

The stage of kidney failure is usually diagnosed with a blood test. It will show elevated levels of creatinine, which is a molecule made by the muscles that is normally removed by the kidneys in urine. Another sign of kidney failure is a low Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) and a high Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN).

Treatment for Kidney Failure

When kidney function falls below 15% of normal, the only treatments are dialysis or a kidney transplant. Each treatment has risks and benefits, and many people undergo dialysis for years while awaiting a healthy donor organ.

Treatments for kidney failure include:

Hemodialysis: Blood is pumped to a dialysis machine and filtered through an artificial kidney to remove toxins and extra fluid. It can be performed at home or in a dialysis center.
Peritoneal dialysis: Blood is cleaned inside the body. A cleansing solution (called dialysate) flows into the abdomen and is naturally filtered by the peritoneum. This is a home-based treatment.
Kidney transplant: Surgery to place a healthy kidney from another person. After the transplant, patients will need to take special anti-rejection medications for as long as they have the transplant.

SGLT2 Diabetes Drugs and Kidney Failure

Janssen Pharmaceuticals is facing a growing number of lawsuits from people who took the diabetes drug Invokana and developed kidney failure. The label warns that “kidney problems” are a “possible side effect,” but does not mention the risk of kidney failure.

In December 2015, the FDA issued a Safety Communication about kidney problems from diabetes drugs in the SGLT2 inhibitor class. The agency reported that some patients developed kidney failure as a complication of urinary infections that spread and became life-threatening.

In June 2016, the FDA strengthened warnings about acute kidney injury from Invokana, Invokamet, Farxiga, and Xigduo XR. The agency received 101 confirmed cases of acute kidney injury from March 2013, when Invokana was approved, until October 2015.

Risk-factors include decreased blood volume, chronic kidney insufficiency, congestive heart failure. Medications like diuretics, blood pressure drugs (ARBs and ACE inhibitors), and NSAID painkillers like ibuprofen also increase the risk of kidney injury.

SGLT2 inhibitor diabetes drugs include:

DPP4 Diabetes Drugs and Kidney Failure

The FDA is also investigating the risk of kidney failure from diabetes drugs in the DPP-4 inhibitor class based on a “potential signal of a serious risk” identified in the agency’s adverse event database from July—September 2015.

DPP-4 inhibitor diabetes drugs include:

PPI Heartburn Drugs and Kidney Failure

Recent studies have linked anti-heartburn medications in the proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) class to a number of renal diseases that can cause kidney failure, especially when they are not diagnosed and treated promptly.

One study published in CMAJ Open found that patients on PPIs were 2.4-times more likely to develop an acute kidney injury and 3-times more likely to develop acute interstitial nephritis.

Another study published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that PPI users were 20-50% more likely to develop Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

In April 2016, the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology has published a study linking the use of PPIs with a 96% increased risk of kidney failure and a 26% increased risk of chronic kidney disease. Click here to read more.

List of PPI Heartburn Drugs

Do I have a Kidney Failure Lawsuit?

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