Have you suffered adverse side effects after taking Nexium?

Nexium is a type of proton pump inhibitor used to treat a variety of conditions such as GERD, gastroesophageal reflux disease, also called acid reflux, stomach or small intestine ulcers, inflammation of the esophagus, and heartburn.  Recently, connections have been made between the use of proton pump inhibitors, such as Nexium, and low magnesium levels in patients.  Magnesium is an important mineral for the overall health of a person, and low magnesium levels may cause such instances as muscle spasm, irregular heartbeat, and seizures.

 

Post-menopausal women at high risk

A study published in January of this year in the British Medical Journal shows that women who have been taking Nexium for two years or more have a 35% higher risk of suffering from hip fracture than someone who did not take the drug.  Women who smoked had a higher risk.  The study showed an increased risk of hip fracture to all patients taking proton pump inhibitors, such as Nexium.  Taking Nexium for longer than one year puts patients at risk for wrist and spine fractures, and patients over 50 showed the highest risk for any type of fracture.

 

Low magnesium levels can cause serious side effects

AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals manufactures Nexium to decrease the amount of acid produced in the stomach for treatment of conditions such as acid reflux, and is often used in combination with other drugs to reduce risk of ulcers.  The FDA approved Nexium in 2001, but in 2010 discovered that taking Nexium for more than one year may cause serum magnesium levels to decrease significantly, a condition known as hypomagnesemia.  Having a low serum magnesium level can cause serious side effects such as seizures, irregular heartbeat, and muscle spasms.

 

Taking Nexium for long periods of time

Since Nexium was approved by the FDA in 2001, it has been a popular drug used by people to treat or prevent heartburn, acid reflux, GERD, and other intestinal or esophageal issues.  The more people that have used the drug, the more accurate the ability to determine what side effects are caused by the medication.  Nexium is in a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, and many serious and possibly debilitating side effects have been established to be caused by these types of drugs.  Higher dosages and longer periods of time on the medication increases the chances that a patient will suffer adverse side effects.  The most severe side effects that have been associated with the use of proton pump inhibitors are:

  • Bone fractures in hips, wrists, and spine
  • Low serum magnesium levels, known as hypomagnesemia
  • Muscle spasms
  • Arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeat
  • Fast heartbeat
  • Seizures
  • Tremors
  • Dark urine
  • Chest pain

 

Your Individual Situation

If you have suffered one of the above adverse side effects, or another side effect that you believe is severe, debilitating, and was caused by taking the proton pump inhibitor drug Nexium, please contact us immediately so that we can determine the best course of action for you.