Parents of Children with Birth Defects Considering Prilosec Lawsuit

Prilosec (omeprazole) is a popular antacid prescription drug used to treat heartburn, stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and erosive esophagitis, a condition in which stomach acids inflame and erode the esophagus. Introduced in 1989 as the first prescription proton pump inhibitor (PPI)—a type of drug that inhibits the production of stomach acid—it has enjoyed a history of success in helping treat heartburn in millions of patients.

After Prilosec had been on the market a few years, however, some patients began turning to a Prilosec lawyer for help because of severe side effects like hip, wrist, and spine fractures, as well as bacterial infections. The FDA warned that those taking Prilosec may suffer not only osteoporosis and bone fractures, but low magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia). They also cautioned that Prilosec can reduce the effectiveness of blood thinner Plavix.

More recently, studies have found that PPIs like Prilosec may increase the risk of congenital heart defects, which has encouarged devastated parents to file a Prilosec lawsuit holding the manufacturer responsible.

FDA Warns of Potential Prilosec Birth Defects

Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs work by blocking what are referred to as “tiny pumps” in the lining of the stomach that produce acid to break down food. By blocking these pumps, Prilosec stops acid before it starts, helping to reduce heartburn and other acidic conditions.

Pregnant women, since they often suffer from acid reflux during pregnancy, have taken drugs like Prilosec to help manage the condition and to prevent long-term damage to the esophagus. The FDA has assigned Prilosec (omeprazole) to a Category C, however, which means that animal studies that tested with doses similar to those used in humans have shown Prilosec can harm an unborn fetus.

Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) Drugs Linked with Birth Defects

A 2010 study by University of Pennsylvania researchers found that women taking PPIs during early pregnancy increased by two-fold their chances of having a baby with a heart defect. The scientists looked at data from over 200,000 pregnancies, out of which 2,500 resulted in babies with heart defects such as ventricular septal defect.

Another 2010 study published in The New England Journal of Medicine found no such increased risk in women taking a PPI, but they did determine that mothers who took a PPI drug like Prilosec four weeks prior to conception had a significantly greater risk of giving birth to a baby with heart and urinary tract defects.

Prilosec Lawsuit May Help Parents Pay for Medical Expenses

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