Proton pump inhibitors like PrevAcid have been tied to a wide range of side effects, including B12 deficiency, low magnesium levels and certain types of bone fractures. Recent research also suggests that these drugs may be linked to serious kidney complications, including chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, as well as an increased risk of dementia, and heart attacks.
PrevAcid belongs to a class of heartburn medications called proton pump inhibitors, which are indicated to treat certain ailments related to the overproduction of gastric acid. While PrevAcid is only sold via prescription, an over-the-counter version called PrevAcid 24HR is also available. In 2010, an estimated $11.4 billion worths of prescription proton pump inhibitors were sold .That figure does not include sales of over-the-counter versions.
PrevAcid and other proton pump inhibitors are only intended for short-term use ranging from 4 to 8 weeks. But research suggests that many people are using proton pump inhibitors, especially over-the-counter versions, for long-term relief of symptoms and for conditions for which they were never approved. Unfortunately, this can have serious consequences for an individual’s health.
Potential side effects associated with PrevAcid include:
Recent research suggests that proton pump inhibitors may pose other serious risks. For example, a study published in the May 2016 issue of Circulation Research suggested that long-term exposure to the drugs may accelerate blood vessel aging, which could open the door to a host of side effects including heart attacks and strokes. Read More
In June 2015, research published in PLOS One suggested that people who take proton pump inhibitors were at an increased risk of heart attacks. And a study that appeared in in JAMA Neurology in April 2016 found that seniors who use proton pump inhibitors were 44% more likely to suffer from dementia compared with those not receiving the medications.
Some of the most concerning PrevAcid side effects could turn out to be renal complications seen in a number of recent studies. It was already known that patients who use proton pump inhibitors sometimes develop a serious kidney injury called acute interstitial nephritis. However, new research has found that these drugs might also increase the risk for chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
There is legal help available for victims of kidney side effects that may be associated with PrevAcid. To learn more, please contact Bernstein Liebhard LLP today at (888) 994-5118.
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