PPI Gastric Cancer or Stomach Cancer Lawsuits

Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix and Dexilant are all members of a popular class of heartburn medications, known as proton pump inhibitors (PPI), which may increase the risk of gastric or stomach cancer following long-term use.

While most Americans assume that the widely marketed drugs are safe and carry few side effects, independent studies have highlighted serious and potentially life-threatening health risks.

As a result of the pharmaceutical companies’ failure to warn users and the medical community about the potential link between stomach cancer and Nexium, Prilosec or other PPI acid reflux drugs, Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. previously investigated financial compensation and settlement benefits for individuals and families throughout the United States.

Early Gastric Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Critical

Gastic cancer can develop anywhere in the lining of the stomach, from the entrance, known as the cardia, to the bottom of the stomach, the pylorus. In severe cases, it may spread to other parts of the body, such as the liver, lungs, bones, lining of the abdomen and lymph nodes.

The stages of stomach cancer are determined based on how far the cancer has progressed through the five layers of the stomach.

When gastric cancer is diagnosed early, and it is limited to the inner linings of the stomach, it is typically treatable by endoscopic mucosal resection, or by gastrectomy and lymphandenectomy, without the need for chemotherapy or radiation. As the gastric cancer progresses through the layers to the outer stomach, the prognosis and management are more challenging.

The failure to provide proper warnings about the risk that side effects of Nexium, Prilosec or other PPI drugs may cause stomach cancer prevented many users from receiving screening that may have allowed the earlier diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Nexium Stomach Cancer Side Effects

In December 2017, a study published in the medical journal Gut found that use of Nexium, Prilosec and similar PPI drugs increased the chances of developing gastric cancer, with the risk increasing dramatically the longer the medications are used.

Researchers from Hong Kong evaluated data on more than 63,000 adults over a period of about 8 years, comparing the rates of gastric cancer on Nexium, Prilosec and other PPI drugs to users of a different class of heartburn medications, known as histamine-2 receptor antagonists (H2RAs), such as Zantac.

Overall, any use of PPIs more than doubled the gastric cancer risk, while other types of heartburn drugs were not associated with the same side effects.

Long-term use was associated with an increasing risk, strengthening the causal link between Nexium and gastric cancer:

• More than one year use associated with five times higher risk;
• More than two years use associated with 6.65 times higher risk;
• More than three years use associated with more than eight times higher risk

It appears that the drug makers knew or should have known about the potential stomach cancer side effects, yet continued to market the drugs without adequate warnings, encouraging consumers to continue using the medications for long periods of time.

Due to the failure to warn about the potential risks, many individuals stay on Nexium or other PPIs for many years, with little attempt to reduce the need for the medication. However, if gastric cancer warnings had been provided, other heartburn treatment options may have been used, or stomach cancer screening may have been recommended.

Heartburn Drug Stomach Cancer Lawyers

The product liability lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are previously reviewed individual gastric or stomach cancer lawsuits, as well as potential wrongful death claims for users of:

• Nexium
• Prilosec
• Prevacid
• Protonix
• Dexilant
• Other Proton Pump Inhibitors

Following an October 2023 Prilosec and Nexium settlement, Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. is no longer reviewing new potential cases. The information on this page is for informational purposes only.