Glossary
Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI)
A class of drugs that reduce stomach acid, including Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, and Protonix, used for heartburn, acid reflux, and ulcers. Lawsuits claim long-term use caused serious kidney disease.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) block the "proton pumps" in the stomach lining that produce acid. They include esomeprazole (Nexium), omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), pantoprazole (Protonix), rabeprazole (Aciphex), and dexlansoprazole (Dexilant). Several are sold over the counter, and many people take them daily for years.
Their labels now carry a list of warnings. The current Nexium prescribing information warns about acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (a kidney inflammation), Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea, and an increased risk of osteoporosis-related fractures of the hip, wrist, or spine with long-term and multiple daily dose PPI therapy. Labels also warn about low magnesium and other effects.
The kidney warnings drove thousands of lawsuits. Plaintiffs claim that long-term PPI use caused chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, or kidney failure, and that the manufacturers should have warned sooner. Federal cases were consolidated as In re Proton Pump Inhibitor Products Liability Litigation, MDL 2789, in the District of New Jersey. In October 2023, AstraZeneca announced a $425 million settlement resolving claims over Nexium and Prilosec, and other manufacturers have also settled.
A claim generally requires records showing PPI use over time and a diagnosed kidney injury. Because many of these cases have settled, anyone considering a claim now should check filing deadlines carefully. Do not stop a prescribed medicine without your doctor. See what is MDL and class action vs. mass tort.
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