Dexilant Lawsuit

The link between bone fractures and ingestion of the popular heartburn medication Dexilant has been the basis for an increasing number of lawsuits being filed around the country. Dexilant is an FDA-approved drug normally prescribed to treat gastroesophageal disease (GERD) and other conditions involving excess stomach acid. Nationwide, lawsuits are emerging claiming that Dexilant’s manufacturer Takeda did not provide adequate warnings about the possibility of bone fractures.

Dexilant Update 4/25/12: U.K. health regulators have issued two new warnings to the public stating that the use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI) heartburn drugs may cause bone fractures, and have the potential to lead to dangerously low levels of magnesium in the body. According to the warnings, these risks are increased if high doses of PPIs are taken over long periods of time, and appear to primarily affect the elderly. Click here to learn more.

Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) Update 2/8/12: The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) issued a warning today stating that the use of proton pump inhibitor heartburn drugs may increase the risk of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea. FDA’s warning came in response to a safety review from its Adverse Event Reporting System that suggested such a link. Click here to learn more.

Free Dexilant Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has been injured by Dexilant, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.

What’s the problem?

Dexilant is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drug whose main function is to reduce the production of gastric acid in the stomach. These medications are among the most widely prescribed drugs in the world, and are generally considered very effective. PPI medications have largely replaced the use of H2-receptor antagonists, which work by blocking the action of histamine on parietal cells in the stomach. Dexilant has been approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of the following conditions:

Dyspepsia;
Peptic Ulcer Disease;
Gastroesophageal disease (GERD);
Laryngopharyngeal Reflux;
Barrett’s Esophagus;
the prevention of stress gastritis;
Gastrinomas;
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome.

Despite their widespread use, the effectiveness of proton pump inhibitors has not been demonstrated in all of the above conditions. For example, PPIs do not change the length of Barrett’s esophagus. Other PPI medications in the same class as Dexilant include:

Side Effects of Dexilant

Unfortunately, studies have shown that the use of proton pump inhibitor drugs like Dexilant may greatly increase the risk of a number of side effects including:

Hip fractures
Wrist fractures
Spine fractures
Abdominal pain
Constipation
Nausea
Diarrhea
Stroke
Allergic reactions
Heart attack
Weight loss
Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

Dexilant Bone Fractures

According to new data from an ongoing Nurses’ Health Study, the side effects of Dexilant and other PPI drugs increase the risk of bone fractures, particularly among women who smoke. The study began focusing on bone fractures in 1982, and includes some 238,000 participants. Researchers found that women who smoke or used to smoke and regularly took a PPI had a 51% increased risk of suffering a hip fracture. Women who did not smoke only had a 6% increased risk when taking a PPI. The new study is just the latest in a series of independent and government research that has linked an increased risk of bone fractures to PPI medications like Dexilant.

The severity of the bone fracture depends on a variety of factors including the propensity to fall, visual acuity, response to falling and bone strength. Bone mass is the single most important factor in determining bone strength, and accounts for up to 80% of its variance. Fracture sites, on the other hand, are typically age related. Wrist fractures are common for people in their fifties, while those in their sixties are most susceptible to spine fractures. By the time an individual reaches their seventies, the hip becomes the most common site of osteoporotic fracture.

Dexilant FDA Warning

In May 2010, the FDA issued a safety announcement stating that it was revising the labels of PPI drugs. The warning alerted patients that this class of drugs may increase the risk of wrist, hip and spine fractures. In the press release, the administration advised users and their doctors to weigh the known benefits of these medications against the significant risks. The following statement illustrates the dangers associated with Dexilant and other PPI’s:

“Epidemiology studies suggest a possible increased risk of bone fractures with the use of proton pump inhibitors for one year or longer, or at high doses,” said Dr. Joyce Korvick, FDA’s Division of Gastroenterology Products deputy director for safety. “Because these products are used by a great number of people, it’s important for the public to be aware of this possible increased risk and, when prescribing proton pump inhibitors, health care professionals should consider whether a lower dose or shorter duration of therapy would adequately treat the patient’s condition.”

If You Are Taking Dexilant

Since heartburn is often confused with the first symptoms of a heart attack, seek immediate medical attention if you have chest pain or pain spreading to the arm or shoulder. You should not take Dexilant if you have a family history of liver disease or low levels of magnesium in your blood. Tell your doctor if you have osteoporosis or osteopenia (low bone mineral density). Dexilant is currently classified as a Pregnancy Category B medication, meaning that it is not expected to cause birth defects. Do not use Dexilant if you are breast feeding a baby, as the drug may pass into breast milk and could harm a nursing child.

Do I have a Dexilant Lawsuit?

The Product Liability & Defective Drug Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Dexilant lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new bone fracture cases in all 50 states.