The pharmaceutical industry is obligated to inform people who use their drugs about any possible side effects that may result from taking that drug, whether it is minor or a severe side effect. In some recent lawsuits, claims are made against drug manufacturer AstraZeneca that their proton pump inhibitor drug Nexium is responsible for harmful injury to users of that drug.

When someone is harmed by a drug, they will need an experienced legal professional to help them pursue justice for that harm and to recover fair monetary compensation for expenses related to their injury. With Nexium, a drug designed to reduce gastric acid, internal harm may result in kidney damage or failure, bone fractures and other problems that can be life-threatening. The overall costs of this type of injury can be devastating, well into the tens of thousands of dollars or more.

Nexium Lawyer for Lawsuit Recall Help

When people are suffering from side effects after taking the drug Nexium, they need to seek legal advice and representation from a personal injury attorney who is experienced handing similar cases involving Nexium. They will know about any recent recalls for this drug also. Recalls are issued either by the regulation agency, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or the drug manufacturer.

So far, AstraZeneca, the manufacturer of Nexium, has only issued one recall for Nexium, in 2015. In that instance, one lot of 20 mg Nexium contained in 35,000 bottles of capsules were accidentally mixed up with another drug, Seroquel XR, an atypical antipsychotic medication. People who took the wrong medication did suffer side effects. This recall was a Class II recall, which is common and used when adverse effects of the drug may be minimal, temporary or medically reversible.

Even though there have not been other recalls for Nexium, the drug has caused severe harm to some consumers because the manufacturer failed to disclose known side effects and risks. Some adverse side effects include chronic kidney disease, an illness that can also be fatal. There are many class action and individual lawsuit in legal channels initiated by people who have suffered injury due to side effects after taking Nexium for a long period of time. Your lawyer should be familiar with these past and present legal actions as well as being informed about any new lawsuits or recalls for Nexium.

Proton Pump Inhibitors – Hidden Risks

Nexium is a drug known for its effectiveness as a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Like other PPIs drugs, Nexium works in the digestive system to reduce the overproduction of gastric acid. When there is too much acid released, the results can include heartburn or the development of ulcers. Nexium is used to treat problems like gastroesphageal reflux disease (GERD), dyspepsia (indigestion) and other problems that occur when there is too much acid in the stomach.

These PPI drugs have many minor side effects, like nausea and abdominal pain. The product packaging has warnings about these and some more serious side effects, like deficiencies in Vitamin B-12 and low magnesium levels that can occur with use over a year or more. The most serious possible side effects were not included on packaging or marketing materials. This was negligent behavior by the manufacturer, because they knew that the drug could cause kidney disease or failure, dementia and other very serious problems. They chose to not disclose the potential dangers from long term use of Nexium. They also kept the pricing high and worked through marketing to boost the demand for Nexium over another cheaper but identical drug they also make.

Recalls & Lawsuits – Nexium

As a result of personal injury to consumers who suffered serious side effects after using Nexium for a period of time, multiple proton pump inhibitor lawsuits and class action lawsuits were filed against the manufacturer, AstraZeneca. The drug was not recalled in general, primarily because studies did not show a direct link between Nexium and development of life-threatening diseases. Still, people did die and many suffered problems that lead to bone fractures, kidney dialysis treatment and kidney transplants.

  • Damage Claims – People who suffer additional medical problems as side effects of their use of Nexium have a broad number of damage claims to put forward. The medical costs for treatment, care and follow-up care are very high. They may need additional medications and special treatments, like dialysis, which can cost the patient $50,000 a year or more. In addition to the medical costs, people may lose income because they are unable to continue working, temporarily or permanently. If they lose their life, survivors claim expenses of the funeral and burial, and other personal losses.
  • Negligence – The worst thing about negligence is that it causes harm that could be prevented. This places responsibility and liability for harmful injury and related expenses upon the person or company that was negligent.
  • Fair Compensation – When a life is changed drastically by a personal injury event, it can be difficult to calculate fair compensation, but that is always a goal in these lawsuits. An attorney may bring in expert witnesses to support claims.

Class Action Lawsuits & Settlements

These drugs do work for many people. They are among the most popular medicines on the market today. It is estimated that about 20 million people each year in this country suffer from heartburn and turn to proton pump inhibitors for relief. Side effects also have caused problems for a large number of users, and they have sought justice by filing individual and class action lawsuits against the manufacturer, AstraZeneca.

Due to negligence in not disclosing adverse side effects that the manufacturer knew about, AstraZeneca has lost many class action and individual lawsuits. They have paid out Nexium lawsuit settlements of $20 million, $55 million and more in some notable recent class action lawsuits. Despite these hefty penalties, the drug continues to be popular and a real money-maker for AstraZeneca. They have improved their warning labels, but this problem continues, as do the lawsuits.

Best Personal Injury Attorney for Nexium Injury

If you or a loved one is taking Nexium, it is important to keep up to date on any new information that may result from legal cases or new recalls. Your personal injury attorney is an excellent resource to consult with about these matters. If you or your loved one does experience adverse side effects after using Nexium, you want to get legal advice and representation immediately. There are time limits that may apply to your case. Your attorney also will know about any class action lawsuits against AstraZeneca that you may be eligible to join.