Prevacid vs Prilosec vs Nexium Which Is Worst?

When faced with a physical ailment like heartburn, many people are not sure which drug will be best for their ailment. Of course, they are exposed to heavy advertising, especially for popular over-the-counter (OTC) versions. Their doctors may prescribe a particular drug, but it remains to the consumer to gain some knowledge about what they are taking, before they take it.

In the case of heartburn drugs, three popular ones produced by a global company, AstraZeneca, are at the top of the list of favorites. Prevacid (lansoprazole), Prilosec (omeprazole), and Nexium (esomeprazole ) all are designed to provide relief from gastric acid aliments, such as heartburn. While they have some similarities, they also have differences.

When making a choice of which drug to select and use, consumers want the best. At the same time, they also want to avoid the worst. To make an informed decision, people need to do a little research prior to using any drug. Of great concern are any potential side effects. This is an area where people have been harmed by using a drug for one condition, but the side effect of that drug use resulted in even worse medical problems.

Prevacid, Prilosec and Nexium all belong to a class of proton pump inhibitor drugs. In general, they all are very similar. Prevacid was a follow-up drug to Nexium, the first introduced to the market by AstraZeneca around 1989. All three drugs have similar functions, but are priced differently. They may be different in how they are broken down by the liver and how they interact with other drugs. Some of these PPIs may be effective over a longer period of time, and thus can be taken less frequently.

It is possible that one of the three may be the worst, but this would have to be determined by research studies comparing those three drugs. There have already been many lawsuits involving each brand and their side effects. All remain popular and on the market, despite major lawsuit losses.

Proton Pump Inhibitors – Hidden Risks

A proton pump inhibitor (PPI) is a substance that works to reduce excessive production of gastric acid by the body’s natural proton pump. Gastric acid is useful in the processing and digesting of food. If there is more acid produced than needed, the excess acid may cause internal harm in the stomach and digestive track system. Typical problems from too much gastric acid are heartburn and ulcers.

Previous studies have revealed many problems with proton pump inhibitors, including adverse side effects that are hidden. Side effects from a drug should be detailed on information labels and literature, but in some instances, the drug manufacturer decided to omit serious potential side effects. This leaves the consumer in the dark unless they take time to do their own research to see if there are any cautions known about their drug of choice.

Some known adverse and hidden risks involved with these proton pump inhibitors include development of kidney disease, kidney failure, the development of dementia, lowering of magnesium levels in the blood, pancreatitis and allergic reactions.

Choosing a PPI Drug

First, consult with your physician and pharmacist about any drugs you are taking before you make a choice of any proton pump inhibitor drug. They should have the current information about a particular drug plus any others you might be also taking that could pose a risk for an adverse drug interaction. An experienced personal injury attorney who has handled other PPI lawsuits would also have access to much in-depth information about drugs and their side effects.

Lawsuits – Prilosec Nexium Prevacid

There have been many lawsuits filed for damage claims due to PPI drug side effects and negligent behavior of drug manufacturers. Many issues are involved in these cases, including trust of information that may not be complete. Not including warnings of all possible adverse side effects is a major point made in these lawsuits.

One of the first lawsuits was over the original name of the drug now known as Prilosec. It was first named Losec, which became confused with another drug, Lasix. The wrong drug was given to patients and they suffered physical harm. A more recent class action involving Prilosec featured claims that the OTC version resulted in side effects of increasing the chances of the user contracting food poisoning. This adverse side effect was not included in warning literature.

Recent lawsuits focused on price fixing and that the manufacturer hid information and made claims to promote their more expensive version of a proton pump inhibitor, Nexium, over its almost identical but cheaper drug Prilosec. Litigation in that class action case lasted ten years and ended in a $20 million settlement.

• Damage Claims – In these lawsuits, damage claims are made for medical costs, recovery and rehabilitation, income loss, lifestyle alterations and more. Survivors of people who died from use of these drugs through kidney failure or damage or heart attack also have options to make claims for funeral and burial costs and other personal losses, such as companionship or guardianship.
• Negligence – The core claim in personal injury lawsuits is generally that negligent behavior led to personal injury or death. If the company knows about an adverse side effect that may occur over long-term use of a drug, it needs to make the consumer aware of that potential.
• Fair Compensation – Fair compensation may include much more than just medical care. If someone’s lifestyle is forever altered, if they cannot work due to temporary or permanent disability from their injuries, those are claims to be made.

PPI Class Action Lawsuits & Settlements

Class action lawsuits allow large groups of people with the same issue to participate in a group action to address their problem. This may result in a faster legal procedure, but some class action lawsuits have lasted a decade or longer in the case of PPI lawsuits. Individuals may also file their own lawsuit to recover fair compensation. Recently, settlements & lawsuit payouts for Prilosec and Nexium for example, have been extremely high, as seen in some of these PPI lawsuits where the manufacturer was hit with a $55 million judgment over pricing schemes.