Nexium Lawsuit

Nexium is a heartburn medication whose side effects include the risk of a number of serious bone fractures, especially when used for a year or longer or in high prescription doses. Due to this risk, the drug’s warning label indicates the ‘lowest dose‘ and ‘shortest duration of therapy‘ for most users. A number of lawsuits have been filed around the country on behalf of Nexium users who have suffered catastrophic bone deterioration and fractures because of the drug.

Nexium 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 Nexium Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has taken Nexium or other heartburn medication and suffered from a bone fracture, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.

Nexium: An Overview

Manufactured and marketed by AstraZeneca, Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) belongs to a group of medications known as proton pump inhibitors that are typically used for the short-term treatment of acid reflux disease, which can cause heartburn. The drugs work by decreasing the amount of acid in the stomach, thereby eliminating heartburn and decreasing the occurrence of ulcers. Nexium is also commonly used to reduce ulcers caused by taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).

Nexium Side Effects

Common Nexium side effects may include the following:

Headache
Diarrhea
Nausea
Decreased appetite
Constipation
Dry mouth
Abdominal pain
Allergic reactions
Chest pain
Dark urine
Fast heartbeat
Fever

Nexium Bone Fractures

Types of bone fractures most often reported in Nexium users include:

Hip fractures
Wrist fractures
Spine fractures

Nexium FDA Warning

Due to the strong link between heartburn drugs and various types of bone fractures, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) announced in May 2010 that the packaging of Nexium would be required to carry an enhanced warning regarding the risks of these side effects. Other heartburn medications required to carry the enhanced warning include:

The label change for the drugs came after the FDA looked at a number of studies that linked the medications to increased bone fracture risks. The warning on the FDA website states:

“Be aware that an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine has been reported in some studies of patients using proton pump inhibitors. The greatest increased risk for these fractures was seen in patients who receive high doses of these medications or use them longer (a year or more).”

Nexium Lawsuits

In April 2011, an Ohio woman filed a lawsuit against AstraZeneca claiming she had suffered severe bone fractures and deterioration from the drug. 58-year-old Ginny Begin of Toledo reportedly suffered a broken leg in 2005 and then again in 2007 due to rapid bone deterioration caused by Nexium. Begin claims to have taken Nexium for nearly eight years, and that the drug caused her bones to degenerate, resulting in multiple breaks.

Do I have a Nexium 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 Nexium lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new bone fracture cases in all 50 states.