Protonix and Interstitial Nephritis

Protonix is an anti-heartburn medication that was linked to reports of nephritis (kidney inflammation) over a decade ago, but warning labels were not updated until 2013. The longer nephritis goes undiagnosed, the higher the risk of kidney failure.

Need a Texas Protonix Lawyer? Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with interstitial nephritis, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

Overview

Protonix (pantoprazole) is an intravenous antacid medication that reduces stomach acid. It belongs to a class of drugs known as Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs).

Protonix and Nephritis

In November 2003, researchers published the first known case report linking Protonix and nephritis. The victim was a 77 year-old woman who was on 40-mg Protonix for two months before she was hospitalized with nephritis. Her symptoms included fever, back pain, fatigue, joint pain, low urine output, and elevated serum creatinine.

FDA Updates Nephritis Warnings

The label on Protonix was updated to include acute interstitial nephritis in December 2013. According to the FDA, nephritis can occur at any time and is generally caused by a hypersensitivity reaction. Patients should stop taking Protonix if they develop nephritis.

Study Links PPIs and 3X Risk of Nephritis

In April 2015, CMAJ Open published a study involving 290,000 older adults in Canada and found a tripled increased risk of nephritis among those who started PPIs.

What is Interstitial Nephritis?

Acute interstitial nephritis causes sudden inflammation in the kidneys and swelling in the spaces between tubules, which are tiny structures in the kidneys that clean the blood. It is almost always caused by an allergic reaction to medications in the bloodstream.

Symptoms of Nephritis

• Blood in the urine
• Fever
• Increased or decreased urine output
• Mental status changes (drowsiness, confusion, coma, etc.)
• Nausea, vomiting
• Rash
• Swelling of the body
• Weight gain from retaining fluid
• Kidney enlargement

Permanent Kidney Problems are Common

Patients will need to stop taking any medication that might be causing kidney problems, and there are over 100 medications known to cause nephritis. With early diagnosis, most patients can recover near-normal kidney function within a few months.

However, severe cases are likely to cause permanent kidney problems, including kidney failure. About 15% of all people who are hospitalized with kidney failure have nephritis.

In studies of nephritis, researchers observed rapid improvement for 6-8 weeks followed by months of slow improvement. However, they said “permanent impairment of renal function is rather common in the disease.”

Need a Protonix Lawyer in Texas?

Collen A. Clark is a true advocate for his clients and is passionate about helping Texans that have been injured or wronged.

Collen’s amazing success in the courtroom and well known dedication to his clients has earned him the recognition of his peers as one of The Top Trial Lawyers in Texas.”

The Clark Firm has assembled a team of trial lawyers with more than 100 years experience, participation in over 600 jury trials and $260 million in verdicts and/or settlements. Please use the form below to contact our Texas Protonix lawyers for a free lawsuit review.