The Dangers of Prilosec and PPIs

If you’ve ever had heartburn or acid reflux conditions, you may already be familiar with Prilosec. Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that is meant to treat conditions that are related to severe stomach acid. While it’s not meant to treat the occasional heartburn, many people may use it do so. Unfortunately, you may not be aware that several consumers have had to file a Prilosec lawsuit over the side-effects and injuries that occurred as a result of taking the drug. Read on to discover the risks associated with taking Prilosec. 

Prilosec and the Kidneys

There are now several studies that link PPIs to serious kidney damage. Prilosec and Prilosec OTC both have an increased risk of kidney damage and disease. Although the drug was initially approved in 1989, it took 26 years for the first study to come out on the connection between the PPI and kidney damage. 

In 2015, Canadian researchers took almost 300,000 people and reviewed their medical records. It was found people who used PPIs were more likely to develop an acute kidney injury than those who didn’t take a PPI.

The next year, in 2016, additional researchers discovered that the long-term use of PPIs nearly doubled the chances of a patient having kidney failure.

In 2017, yet another study looked at more than 120,000 PPI users over five years. Half of the people who ended up suffering from chronic kidney damage while taking PPIs had no reported kidney problems before taking the drugs. It was also discovered that most of the kidney problems developed during this time were considered “silent” since there were no signs that the kidneys were degrading. 

Prilosec and the Heart

Unsurprisingly, kidney problems aren’t the only reason for a Prilosec lawsuit. Prilosec has also been shown that it can negatively affect the heart. A study was published in 2017 and noted that the PPI may also increase the risk of developing heart problems. Anna Maria Pello Lazaro, along with other colleagues, examined over 700 patients who had coronary artery disease (CAD). Out of those patients, over half of them took PPIs, with Prilosec being the most common, to mitigate side effects resulting from CAD medications. 

Anna found that the patients who were taking PPIs had a 9.2% higher risk of heart failure and death compared to patients who did not take them. Based on their findings, the authors stated that PPI use can be taken as an independent predictor of heart failure or even death. 

If you are currently taking Prilosec, talk to your doctor immediately if you are experiencing problems with your kidneys or your heart.