Nexium & Prilosec Bone Fracture Lawsuit Filed Against AstraZeneca

A lawsuit has been filed against AstraZeneca on behalf of a woman who allegedly suffered catastrophic foot fractures after taking Nexium and Prilosec. According to the claim, the side effects of the popular heartburn drugs made her bones brittle after long-term use, resulting in multiple breaks and a lifetime of expensive medical treatment. This latest case is just one of a multitude of similar lawsuits filed around the country in recent months, all of which claim that AstraZeneca failed to adequately warn the public about the risk of Nexium and Prilosec bone fractures.

Free Nexium / Prilosec Bone Fracture Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has suffered a bone fracture or other serious side effect after taking Nexium or Prilosec, 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?

July 14, 2011 – The new product liability claim, which was filed against AstraZeneca on behalf of Susan A. Poznavich in New Jersey Superior Court in Bergen County, alleges that the woman suffered a number of severe foot fractures after taking Nexium and Prilosec, popular heartburn drugs that have garnered extensive media coverage recently after being linked to an increased risk of bone problems.

Poznavich’s claim is just one of a growing number of lawsuits filed by Nexium and Prilosec users in recent months. In May 2011, a claim was filed on behalf of 35 people in Texas who allegedly suffered bone deterioration and fractures after taking Nexium. The lawsuit was filed in Harris County District Court against AstraZeneca and a Houston-area sales manager, claiming that despite having knowledge of the side effects associated with the drug, Nexium was marketed and sold to the public without adequate warnings for consumers. According to the suit, Nexium caused various injuries to the plaintiffs including fractures of the foot, ankle, leg, arm, hand, knee and vertebrae.

Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs)

Nexium (esomeprazole) and Prilosec (omeprazole) belong to a class of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), whose main action is a pronounced and long-lasting reduction of gastric acid production. PPIs are extremely popular and widely used, with doctors writing nearly 115 million prescriptions for the medications each year nationwide. Nexium is AstraZeneca’s best selling prescription drug, as well as the third best-selling medication in the world, with over $5.2 billion in sales in 2008 alone. In addition to Nexium and Prilosec, other drugs in the PPI class include:

In May 2010, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) warned that there may be an increased risk of bone fractures from these drugs. In March 2011, the administration updated its Nexium bone fracture warning, highlighting the fact that the risk of broken bones appears to be linked to high doses of the drugs used over an extended period of time.

Side Effects of Nexium & Prilosec

Studies have shown that the use of PPI medications like Nexium and Prilosec 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)

Nexium & Prilosec FDA Warning

In May 2010, the FDA issued a press release stating that it was requiring the labels of PPI drugs like Nexium and Prilosec to be revised. The press release informed the public that PPIs may increase the risk of wrist, hip and spine fractures. In the announcement, the FDA advised users and doctors to weigh the benefits vs. risks of these medications closely before beginning a regimen. The following statement illustrates the dangers associated with PPIs:

“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.”

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