Protonix was first associated with acute interstitial nephritis (sudden kidney inflammation) over a decade ago, but warning labels were not updated until recently.
What You Can Do & How We Can Help
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Protonix induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with acute interstitial nephritis, 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
Protonix, also known as pantoprazole, is a prescription medication that reduces stomach acid. Pfizer updated the label on Protonix to include acute interstitial nephritis in December 2014.
What is Acute Interstitial Nephritis?
Nephritis is a medical term for kidney inflammation. Acute interstitial nephritis occurs suddenly and causes swelling in between tubules, which are structures in the kidneys that clean the blood.
What is the problem?
All anti-heartburn drugs in the Proton-Pump Inhibitor (PPI) class are associated with nephritis, which is almost always caused by an allergic reaction to medications in the blood.
Hundreds of people on PPIs have been diagnosed with acute interstitial nephritis over the last two decades. In fact, a study recently published in CMAJ Open found that older adults on PPIs had a tripled increased risk of nephritis compared to non-users.
Case Report of Protonix Acute Interstitial Nephritis
In 2003, researchers published a case report of a 77 year-old woman who was diagnosed with acute interstitial nephritis after taking Protonix (40-mg/day).
The woman stopped taking Protonix after five weeks because she felt sick. Her condition worsened over the next three weeks and she developed fever, fatigue, and pain. She was hospitalized for two weeks and a biopsy confirmed a diagnosis of acute interstitial nephritis.
Symptoms of Nephritis
- Fever
- Joint pain
- Flank pain (usually both sides)
- Rash
- Kidney swelling
- Increased or decreased urination
- Fatigue
- Confusion
- Fluid-retention
- High blood pressure
- And more
Complications
The kidneys are primarily responsible for cleaning the blood, removing toxins, and making urine. Unfortunately, it is very common for nephritis to cause scarring (fibrosis) in the kidneys. This can permanently decrease kidney function and cause Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD).
Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys lose 85% of their normal function. The only treatment is dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Do I have a Protonix Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting Protonix induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know has been diagnosed with acute interstitial nephritis, 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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