Nexium Lawsuit May Involve Serious Birth Defects

Plaintiffs filing a Nexium lawsuit against manufacturer AstraZeneca have so far complained mostly about bone fractures. In fact, in 2010, the FDA warned about the increased risk of osteoporosis and fractures for those taking heartburn drugs like Nexium (esomeprazole magnesium) and Prilosec. New studies, however, now suggest a possible link between these types of medications—called proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs—and birth defects, including serious heart defects. It may be only a matter of time before devastated parents turn to a Nexium lawyer for help.

Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) Drugs Linked with Birth Defects

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs, which reduce stomach acid by blocking the enzyme that produces it, are often prescribed to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach ulcers, and other similar health issues. Pregnant women, in particular, since they often suffer from acid reflux during pregnancy, are often prescribed drugs like Nexium to not only gain relief, but to prevent long-term damage to the esophagus.

So far, the FDA has assigned Nexium a “Category B” designation, which means that adequate human studies have not yet shown any tendency for the drug to cause birth defects. Recent research, however, has raised a red flag on the issue, and has a lot of parents and healthcare professionals paying attention.

University of Pennsylvania Study Suggests Possible Nexium Birth Defects

Researchers from the University of Pennsylvania published a study in 2010 that found that women taking PPIs during the first three months of their pregnancies were twice as likely to have a baby with a heart defect. After examining data from over 200,000 pregnancies, they determined that about 2,500 had babies with heart defects such as ventricular septal defect, with those who had taken drugs like Nexium at a higher risk.

Later that same year, a Dutch study published in The New England Journal of Medicine seemed to contradict these results, as they found no such increased risk in women taking a PPI. They did find something else, however. Those who took the Nexium-like drug before conceiving, specifically in the four weeks prior to conception, had a significantly greater risk of having a child with major birth defects, including heart and urinary tract defects.

“Further study is needed to address the safety of PPIs with regard to perinatal outcome,” the researchers wrote, “…and to address specific birth defects and potential long-term risks associated with individual PPIs.”

Nexium Lawsuit May Result in Compensation for Parents

If your child was born with a birth defect, particularly a heart defect, and you took Nexium either before or during your pregnancy, a Nexium lawyer can help determine the potential for your claim in a Nexium lawsuit.  Contact Chaffin Luhana LLP today for a confidential case evaluation at 1-888-480-1123.