Update: PPI Acid Reflux Drugs Increase Stomach Cancer Risk by up to 250%, Study Finds
December 1, 2017 – Extended use of PPIs (3 years or more) can elevate your risk of stomach cancer by up to 250%, a new study has found. For short-term treatment, the drugs have proved safe for blockinh stomach acid production. However, for a small percentage of people who carry a bacterium called Helicobacter pylori, the risk of developing stomach cancer increases dramatically when they take a PPI for an extended period of time, the researchers found.
What is Dexilant?
Dexilant is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used to treat stomach and esophageal problems such as acid reflux. The drug works by stopping cells in the lining of the stomach from producing too much acid, which helps prevent ulcers from forming and reduces acid reflux-related symptoms such as heartburn. Dexilant is made by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, and is available in 30 mg and 60 mg dose capsules.
PPIs Linked to Chronic Kidney Disease: JAMA Study
Regular use of proton pump inhibitor heartburn medications like Dexilant appears to be tied to an increased risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Researchers looked at more than 10,000 adults who were followed for a median of 14,000 years, and found that baseline use of PPIs was independently associated with a 20-50% increased risk of CKD.
In a replication cohort, PPI use was linked to an increased risk for kidney damage in all analyses, and twice-daily dosing was associated with an elevated risk (adjusted HR 1.46; 95% CI 1.28-1.67) compared to once-daily dosing (adjusted HR 1.15; 95% CI 1.09-1.21).
“The risk was specific to PPI medications because the use of H2 receptor antagonists, which are prescribed for the same indication as PPIs, was not independently associated with CKD,” the study’s authors concluded.
What’s the Problem?
Proton pump inhibitors are among the most widely prescribed and overprescribed medications in the U.S. Up to 70% of prescriptions written for the drugs do not have appropriate medical indications, according to the JAMA study.
The researchers noted that since their introduction over 2 decades ago, PPIs have been linked to adverse health complications including pneumonia, C. difficile infection, acute interstitial nephritis and acute kidney injury.
“When PPIs first came out they were thought of as a miracle drug with no associated side effects,” said Adam Jacob Schoenfeld, MD, who wrote an editorial accompanying the study. “Over the years evidence has emerged which shows pretty convincingly that their use is probably associated with a number of side effects, even though these side effects are rare. There is no doubt that people with severe GERD benefit, but there is also no doubt that these drugs are overprescribed.”
Dexilant Side Effects
Proton pump inhibitors have been linked to the following serious side effects:
- Acute interstitial nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys)
- Acute kidney injury
- Chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Kidney failure (renal failure)
- Cardiac disorders
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Bone fractures (hip fracture, wrist fracture, spine fracture)
- Broken bones
- Low magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia)
- Gut infections
- Clostridium difficile infection
- Community-acquired pneumonia
- Dementia
- Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Severe allergic reactions
Other, less severe PPI side effects may include:
- Headache
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Decreased appetite
- Constipation
- Dry mouth
- Abdominal pain
- Allergic reactions
- Chest pain
- Dark urine
- Fast heartbeat
- Fever
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 its 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. 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. 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.
PPIs linked to Stomach Infections, Study Finds
January 6, 2017 – People who take proton pump inhibitors like Dexilant may be at an increased risk for developing severe gut infections, according to a new study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. The researchers found that among a cohort of 565,000 adults, patients who used PPIs had higher rates of infection with C. difficile and Campylobacter bacteria compared to those who didn’t take the medications.
Protonix Side Effects May Include Rhabdomyolysis, Case Report Finds
September 26, 2016 – A recent case report published in the journal Medicine suggests that an intravenous dose of the PPI heartburn drug Nexium (esomeprazole) may have caused a patient to develop rhabdomyolysis. Over time, this serious muscle disorder can lead to kidney damage and renal failure, side effects that have been repeatedly linked to the use of proton pump inhibitors.
Acid Reflux Meds Linked to Brain Problems, Study Finds
September 1, 2016 – PPIs may increase the risk of loss of brain function (hepatic encephalopathy or “HE”) and fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites), according to a recent study published in Hepatology. The researchers found that the drugs’ mechanism of action in decreasing gastric acid production and increasing the pH of the stomach can cause gut bacteria to overpopulate and pass into the blood or lymph nodes. PPI-induced bacterial overgrowth may cause hepatic encephalopathy, according to the study.
Study Shows Heartburn Drugs Linked to Cardiovascular Complications
August 19, 2016 – Add cardiovascular complications in patients with heart disease to the growing list of potential health risks associated with proton pump inhibitors like Dexilant. A recent study published in the International Journal of Cardiology linked prolonged proton pump inhibitor use to a worsening of red blood count indexes, lower weight and underutilization of cardioprotective medications. The research strengthened early studies which connected PPIs to poor cardiovascular outcomes.
Can I File a Class Action?
There is currently no class action lawsuit involving injuries allegedly caused by Dexilant side effects. Instead, our law offices are accepting potential individual claims on behalf of injured parties. At some point, a multidistrict litigation (MDL) may be established for pretrial discovery and investigation in these cases. In an MDL, each complaint is separate, and clients are not required to settle their case as part of a class action group. Each client gets to make their own decision as to whether to take their case to trial or not.
Do I Have a Dexilant Lawsuit?
The Class Action Litigation Group at our law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Dexilant lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new kidney damage cases in all 50 states.
Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you suffered a kidney injury and you think Dexilant may be to blame, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a lawsuit and we can help.