Zegerid Lawsuit

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According to the FDA, the heartburn medication Zegerid raises the risk of bone fractures, especially when used for a year or more at high doses. Unfortunately, many patients taking Zegerid may be unaware of the potentially dangerous side effects associated with this medication. An ever increasing number of bone fracture cases have been reportedly linked to Zegerid.

Zegerid 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 Zegerid Case Evaluation: If you or a loved one has suffered from a bone fracture or other adverse event you feel may have been caused by Zegerid, 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?

Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) is a heartburn medication typically prescribed to treat acid reflux disease. It is also less commonly prescribed to treat erosive esophagitis, active duodenal ulcers and active benign gastric ulcers. A nonprescription version – Zegerid OTC – is also available for the short treatment of frequent heartburn. Prescription Zegerid capsules are made by Norwich Pharmaceuticals, Inc., for Santarus, Inc.

Side Effects of Zegerid

A number of Zegerid side effects have been reported in users including:

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

Zegerid should not be taken by people with a hypersensitivity to omeprazole or sodium bicarbonate. Women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant should discuss Zegerid with their healthcare professional prior to taking the medication. To date, there have been no clinical studies on the effects of Zegerid in pregnant women and nursing mothers.

Zegerid Bone Fractures

In May 2010, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) required that additional information be provided about the risk of Zegerid bone fractures on its packaging as well as the packaging of other similar heartburn medications. The Administration stated that all proton pump inhibitor medications will now include a warning that they may increase the risk of fracturing bones in the hips, wrist, and spine.

“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.”

Proton pump inhibitors required to carry the enhanced warnings include:

• Nexium
• Prilosec
• Aciphex
• Prevacid
• Protonix
• Vimovo
• Zegerid
• Dexilant

FDA’s decision to revise the labeling of proton pump inhibitors was based on the Agency’s review of several epidemiological studies that reported an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist and spine in patients using PPIs. Both the Warnings and Precautions section of the prescription labeling and the Drug Facts label on OTC proton pump inhibitors will address these findings.

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