Nexium® and Wrist Fracture
If you've had a wrist fracture while taking Nexium®, we may be able to help you get compensation for your injury. Contact us to schedule an evaluation of your case.
Nexium® is a commonly prescribed drug designed to treat acid reflux and chronic heartburn. The generic name for Nexium® is Esomeprazole Magnesium and it is a PPI (proton pump inhibitor). PPIs work by shutting off the acid producing cells within the lining of the stomach thereby decreasing the overall amount of acid in the stomach itself. This decreases the risk of that acid flowing back up into the esophagus and creating the sensation known as heartburn or damaging the lining of the esophagus (erosive esophagitis).
PPIs have been linked to various life threatening side effects including:
- Allergic reactions
- Adverse drug reactions
- Swelling of the airways
Nexium® Bone Fracture Risk
In addition, recent studies have found that all patients using any PPI on a regular or extended basis are at greater risk of experiencing instances of bone fracture and osteoporosis fracture of the wrist, hip, and spine.
Studies have found that these Nexium® related bone fractures are more common in:
- Patients over fifty years old
- Both men and women (no correlation has been found between gender and risk of fracture)
- Patients who have used Nexium® for over 1 year
- Patients who have been prescribed multiple doses per day
- Patients who take a higher dosage than the normally prescribed 40 mg tablet
No danger of fracture has been reported for those who only use the drug for a limited time (such as patients using the drug to combat H. Pylori infections).
Can Nexium® Increase Risk of Wrist Fracture?
As of this writing, no experimental research has been conducted which can conclusively state that Nexium® is the cause for these increased rates of bone fracture. However, FDA researchers reviewed several observational studies and found that 6 out of 7 of them reported that patients taking proton pump inhibitors (such as Nexium®) do indeed suffer from an increased risk of bone fracture.
The most common fractures reported in correlation to Nexium® use are fractures of the wrist, hip, and even spine — which could lead to infection and prove deadly for elderly or infirm patients with preexisting conditions.
This has prompted the FDA to require all producers of PPI medications to revise warning labels informing their users of the increased risk they face.
Also, as a result of these studies and the FDA's precaution, AstraZeneca, manufacturer of Nexium, has begun recommending that patients who are using extended PPI therapy to treat chronic conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), chronic heartburn, or Zollinger-Ellison syndrome are given only the lowest possible dose.
Contact a Nexium® Injury Lawyer
If you've taken Nexium® and have suffered a fracture of the wrist, hip, or spine you may be entitled to seek damages and compensation for your suffering and expenses. Contact one of our Nexium® injury lawyers today and discuss your case with a proven professional. The consultation is totally confidential and won't ever cost you a thing. But you have to act now—your right to compensation may be subject to a time limit. So contact us today.
