Proton Pump Inhibitors

Proton pump inhibitors (sometimes called “PPIs”) are widely prescribed to treat people with heartburn and similar medical issues. While some such medications seem to be effective in treating these medical conditions, many have been shown to pose a substantial risk to patients. If you or someone close to you has suffered injuries due to side effects from a proton pump inhibitor (such as Nexium, Prilosec, Zegerid, Protonix, Dexilant, AcipHex, or Prevacid), you should talk to a lawyer about filing a claim seeking compensation for what your loved one or you have endured. The Grand Rapids and Traverse City proton pump inhibitor lawyers at Neumann Law Group help individuals and families seek justice after injuries caused by proton pump inhibitors and other potentially dangerous drugs, such as diabetes medications.

Some PPIs require a prescription, but others are available over the counter. Proton pump inhibitors such as esomeprazole, omeprazole, pantoprazole, dexlansoprazole, rabeprazole, and lansoprazole are supposed to reduce stomach acid, providing relief for conditions like heartburn, acid reflux, gastroesophageal reflex disease (GERD), stomach ulcers, and others. However, as with many drugs, the side effects can be substantial – headaches, nausea, and diarrhea, just to name a few of the more common patient complaints. While patients with severe heartburn or related issues might be willing to endure these minor side effects in order to gain relief from a more troublesome and painful medical condition, there are also other, more dangerous side effects that may result from using a PPI.

Some of the more serious conditions possibly linked to PPI use include kidney disease, heart attack, and an increased incidence of fractures and infections. A proton pump inhibitor attorney in Grand Rapids or Traverse City can help you determine whether your condition resulted from one of these drugs. Birth defects, renal failure, dementia, hypomagnesemia, stroke, and Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD) have also been reported. If you have taken a PPI and suffered from any of these conditions, or another debilitating medical problem that you believe may be related to a proton pump inhibitor, you should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Product liability lawsuits, including those arising from dangerous drugs, are subject to a strict statute of limitations (and possibly a statute of repose as well), which sets forth the time during which a claim may be filed.

In some cases, a medical malpractice claim could also be appropriate against a doctor who inappropriately prescribed a proton pump inhibitor. Again, time is of the essence, since there are deadlines and filing requirements that, if not met, can result in the dismissal of an otherwise viable case against a health care provider or drug manufacturer. Assuming that a timely claim is made, the plaintiff and their Traverse City or Grand Rapids proton pump inhibitor attorney then has the burden of proving that the defendant is liable for the plaintiff’s injuries. For medication-related injuries arising in the state of Michigan, this can be a challenging endeavor. Unfortunately, the state’s product liability laws can make it especially difficult for the plaintiff to prevail in a dangerous drug lawsuit. However, there are some situations in which a finding of liability is possible, so it is important to consider your options if you or a family member has been a victim of an unreasonably dangerous medication.

If you are successful in a personal injury or wrongful death case, substantial damages, including compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and loss of consortium, may be awarded. At Neumann Law Group, our proton pump inhibitor lawyers represent people in Traverse City and Grand Rapids as they seek fair compensation from the makers of dangerous drugs, medical devices, and consumer products. We also assist people in Muskegon, Midland, Ann Arbor, Flint, Lansing, Kalamazoo, Detroit, Holland, Wyoming, Saginaw, Warren, Petoskey, and communities throughout the Upper Peninsula. Call us at (800) 525-6386 or contact us online to schedule a free, completely confidential case evaluation.