Users of the heartburn medication Zegerid may be at an increased risk of developing serious side effects including kidney failure, heart attack, stomach cancer, bone fractures and more.
Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one was injured by Zegerid side effects, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and our lawyers can help.
Update: Zegerid May Double Your Risk for Stomach Cancer, Study Finds
December 1, 2017 - Proton pump inhibitors like Zegerid have been linked to a more than doubled risk for stomach cancer [1], a new study published in the medical journal Gut has found. A link between PPIs and a higher stomach cancer risk has previously been identified by academics – but never in a study that first eliminates Helicobacter pylori, the type of bacteria suspected of fueling the illness’s development.
Overview
Zegerid (omeprazole / sodium bicarbonate) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) heartburn medication used 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.
Proton Pump Inhibitors Linked to Kidney Disease: JAMA Study
The use of PPI heartburn medications like Zegerid is associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a study published Jan. 11, 2016 in JAMA Internal Medicine [2]. Among 10,482 test subjects, PPI use was associated with a 45% increased risk of CKD compared to patients who did not take the medications. When the figures were adjusted for demographics, socioeconomic and clinical variables, a 50% increased risk was detected.
Zegerid Side Effects
- Acute interstitial nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys)
- Acute kidney injury
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Kidney failure (renal failure)
- Heart attack
- Stomach cancer
- Bone fractures (hip fracture, wrist fracture, spine fracture)
- Broken bones
- Low magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia)
- Gut infections
- Dementia
- And more
Also read: Prilosec kidney disease lawsuit
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.
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 [3] 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.”
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.
PPI Kidney Injury Suits Centralized in New Jersey
August 4, 2017 - The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) on Wednesday ordered that all federally-filed lawsuits involving kidney injuries from PPI heartburn drugs will be consolidated in the District of New Jersey for pretrial handling. The panel's ruling marked an about-face from it's previous opinion on the matter, having in February rejected a bid to create an MDL. The reason for the change was due to the litigation's substantial increase in size since the initial ruling, and because 2 defendants who previously opposed centralization -- AstraZeneca and Pfizer -- are now in support of it, according to JPML.
Study Finds Increased Risk of Death with PPI Heartburn Medications
July 5, 2017 - Proton pump inhibitors have been linked to a 25% greater risk of death compared to patients who took H2 blockers, according to a study published Monday in BMJ [4]. The study also found that PPI use was linked to a 15% increased death rate compared to patients who took another kind of acid suppressor other than H2 blockers, and that the death rate was 23% higher among PPI users compared to people who took no such medications.
PPIs Linked to Increased Risk of Pneumonia in Dementia Patients
April 5, 2017 - Dementia patients who take proton pump inhibitors have an 89% increased risk of developing pneumonia compared to dementia patients who don't use the medications, according to a study published last month in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Independent risk factors for pneumonia included age, male gender, underlying cerebrovascular disease, chronic pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, and antipsychotic use.
PPIs Linked to Increased Risk for Heart Failure, Death
March 23, 2017 - Proton pump inhibitor heartburn medicines have been linked to an increased risk for heart failure and death in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), according to a recent study published in PLOS ONE [5]. The researchers found that PPIs are commonly used to prevent complications in CAD patients treated with chronic antiplatelet therapy (aspirin, Plavix, Effient); however, when used in this capacity, proton pump inhibitors may increase the risk of adverse health consequences including pneumonia, micronutrient deficiencies, and osteoporosis-related fractures.
Heartburn Drugs linked to Stomach Infection
January 6, 2017 - People who take proton pump inhibitor heartburn medications may be at an increased risk of developing stomach infections, according to a new study. The research, published Thursday in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, found that among a cohort of 565,000 adults, patients who took PPIs had higher rates of infection with C. difficile and Campylobacter bacteria than those who did not take the medications.
Zegerid Lawsuits May Be Consolidated in Multidistrict Litigation
October 20, 2016 - Enough lawsuits alleging kidney damage from Zegerid and other proton pump inhibitors have been filed to warrant consolidation into a multidistrict litigation (MDL), according to a Motion for Transfer issued Monday. Plaintiffs allege that PPI manufacturers failed to adequately warn about the risk of acute interstitial nephritis, chronic kidney disease and renal failure associated with use of the medications.
PPI Side Effects May Cause Rhabdomyolysis After One Dose, Study Finds
September 26, 2016 - Side effects of the proton pump inhibitor Nexium (esomeprazole), applied intravenously in a single dose, caused a man to develop a debilitating muscle problem known as rhabdomyolysis, according a case report published last month in Medicine [6]. Doctors from Gyeongsang National University Hospital in South Korea report that the 45-year old patient suffered signs of muscular breakdown after being given an intravenous dose of Nexium. If untreated, rhabdomyolysis can quickly lead to kidney failure, a side effect that has been repeatedly linked to the use of PPIs.
Study Links PPI Heartburn Drugs to Brain Problems, Fluid Buildup
September 1, 2016 - PPIs like Zegerid may cause loss of brain function (hepatic encephalopathy or "HE") and fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites), according to new research published in the journal Hepatology [7]. In the study, 52% of patients took proton pump inhibitors during clinical trials, and they had a 31% cumulative 1-year risk for HE. Patients who did not use the medications had a 25% increased risk, the study found.
Chronic PPI Use Linked to Increased Heart Risk
August 19, 2016 - Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Zegerid appear to have a negative effect on vascular function in patients with heart disease, according to a new study published in the International Journal of Cardiology [8]. Results showed that PPI users were 6x more likely to suffer from anemia, as well as have a worsening metabolic profile. The researchers concluded that patients and doctors should think twice before using PPIs drugs long-term.
Kidney Damage, PPIs Linked in New Study
April 14, 2016 - Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) acid reflux drugs like Zegerid could be increasing rates of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal failure, according to a study published today in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) [9]. The researchers looked at data from the Department of Veterans Affairs national databases. They found more than 170,000 new users of PPIs and compared them to over 20,000 new users of histamine H2 receptor blockers, another class of medication used to reduce stomach acid.
Over 5 years of follow-up, the results showed that 15% of PPI users were diagnosed with kidney disease, compared to 11% of those on H2-blockers. After controlling for other factors, including age and other diseases, this translated to a 28% increased risk of CKD for proton pump inhibitor users.
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Do I Have a Zegerid Lawsuit?
The Pharmaceutical 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 investigating potential settlements in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you were injured by the side effects of a heartburn medication, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a lawsuit and we can help.
