Texas Dexilant Kidney Failure Lawyer

A growing number of studies have found that Dexilant and other heartburn drugs increase the risk of nephritis and other renal diseases that can cause kidney failure.

Need a Texas Dexilant 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 kidney failure, you should contact our lawyers immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit.

Overview

Dexilant contains dexlansoprazole, an anti-heartburn medication that treats gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) by decreasing the amount of stomach acid. It was formerly known as Kapidex.

Dexilant and Kidney Failure

Dexilant is a proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) that has been on the market since 2009. Before its approval, other PPIs were linked to dozens of case reports of acute interstitial nephritis, a type of kidney inflammation caused by an allergic reaction that can lead to kidney failure. In December 2014, the FDA issued warnings about nephritis from Dexilant.

Since then, evidence linking PPIs and kidney problems has grown substantially. In addition to dozens of case reports of nephritis, PPIs have been linked to Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury. Without treatment, all of these diseases can cause kidney failure.

Several recent studies have linked PPIs and kidney problems. One published in CMAJ Open in April 2015 found a tripled increased risk of nephritis and a 2.5-fold increased risk of acute kidney injury associated with PPIs. Another study published by JAMA Internal Medicine found a 20-50% increased risk of CKD associated with daily use of PPIs.

Study Links Dexilant and 96% Increased Risk of Kidney Failure

The use of PPI was associated with a 96% increased risk of kidney failure and a 26% increased risk of chronic kidney disease in a study published in April 2016 by the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. The conclusions of the study were based on data from over 170,000 veterans in St. Louis who used PPIs and 20,000 people who used non-PPI heartburn drugs.

Kidney failure occurred in only 0.2% of study participants, but twice as often in PPI users. After 5 years, 15% of PPI users had developed chronic kidney disease. The risk also increased over time. Researchers found a tripled increased risk of kidney failure in people who used PPIs for 1-2 years compared to people who used them for less than a month.

According to the lead author of the study, Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly:

“I think people see these medications at the drug store and assume they’re completely safe. But there’s growing evidence they’re not as safe as we’ve thought. [Patients should] use PPIs only when it is medically necessary, and should limit duration of exposure to the minimum necessary to treat the underlying medical condition.”

What is Kidney Failure?

The kidneys are two abdominal organs that clean the blood, remove extra water from the body in urine, make hormones, and perform other functions. Kidney failure occurs when the kidneys have less than 15% of normal function. When the kidneys can no longer keep up with the body’s needs, patients develop uremia, in which the body is poisoned by excess water and toxins in the blood.

Warning Signs & Symptoms

When the kidneys are failing, waste products (such as creatinine and urea nitrogen) accumulate and blood chemistry changes. Some patients also have high blood pressure, anemia (low red blood cell count), weak bones, and other problems. Symptoms of kidney failure may include:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Urinating more or less than normal
• Fluid retention
• Nausea and vomiting
• Loss of appetite and weight-loss
• Swelling in the legs and feet (edema)
• Persistent itching
• Insomnia
• And more

Treatment for Kidney Failure

The main treatments for kidney failure are hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, or a kidney transplant. These treatments have advantages and disadvantages. Patients who choose hemodialysis must go to a clinic every few days to have their blood cleaned with a machine. Many people undergo dialysis for several years while waiting for a donor kidney.

Need a Dexilant 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 Dexilant lawyers for a free lawsuit review.