Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI) Lawsuits: Prevacid, Prilosec and Nexium

Consumers have filed a growing number of lawsuits against the manufacturers of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a class of drugs commonly used to treat acid reflux and related conditions. Lawsuits claim that these heartburn medications may be linked to serious health conditions such as chronic kidney disease and dementia.

This article provides an overview of lawsuits involving proton pump inhibitors. You’ll find information on alleged health risks, claims against drugmakers, and your legal options. This article focuses on three specific heartburn drugs:

• Prevacid
• Prilosec
• Nexium

If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, kidney failure, or dementia after regularly taking Prevacid, Prilosec, or Nexium, you may have a legal claim under product liability law. To understand your rights and legal options, contact a personal injury attorney near you.

What Are Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)?

The class of drugs collectively referred to as PPIs works by reducing the amount of acid produced by the glands in the stomach lining, relieving the symptoms of acid reflux and heartburn. PPIs can treat gastric ulcers and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). They can also be used with antibiotics to treat certain infections in the gut, like helicobacter pylori (H. pylori).

PPIs are available in either tablet or capsule form. They are meant to be taken in short intervals, usually no more than 14 days at a time.

PPI Brand Names, Generics, and Drug Manufacturers

There are several PPI drugs on the market. This article discusses:

• Prilosec, produced by AstraZeneca (generic omeprazole)
• Nexium, produced by AstraZeneca (esomeprazole)
• Prevacid, produced by Takeda Pharmaceuticals(lansoprazole)

Prilosec, Prevacid, and Nexium are available over-the-counter (OTC). However, higher doses and certain forms of these drugs may require a prescription.

AstraZeneca originally developed and marketed Prilosec as a prescription medication. After its patent expired, the manufacturer transitioned it to an OTC product. As part of this effort, AstraZeneca partnered with Procter & Gamble to market and distribute Prilosec OTC in the United States. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved Prilosec OTC in 2003.

Other PPIs not discussed on this page include Dexilant (dexlansoprazole), Protonix (pantoprazole), and Aciphex (rabeprazole).

PPIs: Loss of Kidney Function and Other Serious Health Concerns

The most commonly cited medical study linking PPIs to chronic kidney disease (CKD) was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) in February 2016. The report, entitled “Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease,” analyzed data from 10,482 participants over a 15-year period. It concluded that patients taking Nexium had a 20% to 50% higher risk of developing CKD than those given alternative treatments.

One of the concerns about CDK is that it worsens over a period of months or even years, often without noticeable symptoms until the point of renal failure. At this point, called end-stage renal disease (ESRD), patients often require dialysis or a transplant in order to survive.

Another study published by JAMA in February 2016, entitled “Association of Proton Pump Inhibitors With Risk of Dementia,” linked the long-term use of PPIs by seniors 75 and older to a 44% increased risk of dementia when compared to those taking a placebo. However, the author of the study said more research is needed to make a definitive cause-and-effect conclusion.

Less-severe side effects such as diarrhea and increased risk of bone fractures are listed on the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) medication guide for Nexium. Lawsuits allege that drugmaker AstraZeneca failed to warn physicians and users about the drug’s more serious risks. Prilosec and Prevacid have also been blamed for these injuries.

Some other side effects of PPIs include:

• Headache and light-headedness
• Fever
• Abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, gas, nausea, and vomiting
• Low magnesium or vitamin B12
• Rash

Other side effects are possible as well.

Proton Pump Inhibitor Lawsuits and Claims

If you have been injured by an OTC or prescription drug, one of your options is to file a personal injury lawsuit against the drugmaker. Pharmaceutical companies often are held liable for:

• Failing to warn consumers about known risks or risks they should have known
• Negligence in the way the drug is tested or promoted
• Negligence in how the company responds to reports of serious side effects

In some cases, the physician may be held liable for malpractice for improperly prescribing the drug.

Nexium and Prilosec Lawsuits (AstraZeneca)

AstraZeneca, which originally sold Prilosec along with Nexium, has been sued by several plaintiffs claiming that the company failed to provide necessary warnings about the risk of kidney damage when using its heartburn drugs.

In 2024, AstraZeneca agreed to pay $425 million to settle thousands of U.S. lawsuits related to Nexium and Prilosec. The lawsuit settlements were part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL) centralized in New Jersey. This means each case was handled individually but coordinated for efficiency.

One plaintiff, Charles Bowers, took the drug for roughly five years and developed a condition that led to kidney disease and eventually end-stage renal failure. In his 2016 complaint, Bowers claimed AstraZeneca was negligent in “the design, development, manufacture, testing, packaging, promoting, marketing, distribution, labeling, and/or sale of the proton pump inhibiting drug known as Nexium.”

Bowers claimed he was forced to undergo kidney dialysis treatments three times per week and told he needed a kidney transplant. In addition to the costs related to the need for lifelong treatment, Bowers claimed his condition has caused him mental anguish and emotional distress.

According to the complaint, Bowers’ suit seeks compensatory and actual damages of more than $75,000. Bowers also seeks punitive damages for allegedly marketing a dangerous drug to millions of U.S. users.

Other lawsuits against PPI pharmaceuticals make similar claims. Thousands of these suits also involve Prevacid (Takeda Pharmaceutical) and Protonix (Pfizer).

As thousands of similar claims emerged, the courts organized these cases into multidistrict litigation. To help determine the viability of these claims and guide future proceedings, representative cases, known as bellwether trials, were selected to test key legal arguments and evidence.

Bellwether Trials

In mass tort litigation, a bellwether trial is a representative case selected from a larger group of lawsuits involving the same drug or medical product. These trials are used to test the strength of the plaintiffs’ claims, such as whether a drug caused serious side effects or whether the manufacturer failed to provide adequate warnings.

The outcomes help both sides assess how juries might respond to the evidence and arguments, and often influence settlement negotiations. In the context of PPI lawsuits, bellwether trials help streamline complex litigation involving thousands of patients harmed by the same drug.

Prevacid Lawsuits and Bone Fractures (Takeda Pharmaceuticals)

In 2014, Takeda Pharmaceutical agreed to settle lawsuits alleging that Prevacid was linked to an increased risk of bone fractures. While the company resolved the claims, the terms of the settlement, including the total amount paid, were not publicly disclosed.

Injured by a Proton Pump Inhibitor? Talk to an Attorney

When you take prescription or OTC medications, you trust that the drugs have been thoroughly tested and potential risks are clearly communicated. When pharmaceutical companies fail to meet these obligations, they may be held accountable under product liability laws. These are laws that allow victims to seek compensation for harm caused by defective or dangerous products.

If you have been using Prevacid, Prilosec, or Nexium and have developed kidney problems, dementia, or other serious side effects, your first priority should be getting the medical care you need. After that, seeking relief for your injuries is the next logical step.

You may be able to recover for your injuries, including ongoing medical costs and the general suffering that accompanies these types of health problems. Contact an injury lawyer with experience in product liability litigation for help. A skilled attorney can assess whether you have a valid claim for a PPI lawsuit and advise on next steps.