Approved by the FDA in 1995, Prevacid (lansoprazole) belongs to a group of drugs called “proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). PPIs work by decreasing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Doctors prescribe Prevacid to treat and prevent stomach ulcers, erosive esophagitis, frequent heartburn, Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
PPIs have been linked with an increased risk of bone fractures in the hip, wrist, and spine, with those over the age of 50 at the highest risk. More recently, Prevacid has been linked with Prevacid birth defects, including Prevacid heart defects.
Evidence for a Prevacid Lawsuit
The FDA classifies Prevacid as a Category B medication, which means that it is not expected to cause to an unborn baby, but that more tests are needed to confirm safety. Meanwhile, some early studies have indicated that Prevacid and other PPI drugs may increase the risk for Prevacid birth defects. A Prevacid lawyer representing a client in a Prevacid lawsuit may refer to these studies in support of a case about Prevacid birth defects.
Studies Show Potential Prevacid Birth Defects
A Prevacid lawsuit may involve a study published in Gastroenterology in 2010. Results showed that mothers who took PPI drugs, like Prevacid, were at a higher risk of birth defects. Many of these were Prevacid heart defects in which the newborn had a hole in the wall between the upper or lower chambers of the heart.
A jury in a Prevacid lawsuit may also consider another study published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2010, which found that though PPI drugs taken in the first trimester seemed to have no adverse effects on newborns, women who took them prior to conception were more likely to give birth to babies with Prevacid birth defects.
Though more research needs to be done, these preliminary results indicate the potential for PPI drugs like Prevacid to increase the risk of Prevacid birth defects and Prevacid heart defects.
A Prevacid Birth Defects Lawyer May be Able to Help
Parents who have had a child with Prevacid birth defects may be eligible for a Prevacid lawsuit. Adequate medical and pharmaceutical records will be helpful in a potential case.
If you or a loved one has been injured by Prevacid or have had a child with Prevacid birth defects or Prevacid heart defects, contact Chaffin Luhana LLP today for a confidential case evaluation at 1-888-480-1123.
