Law firm seeks class action over heartburn medication used by millions of Aussies
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Heartburn is a common ailment that affects many Australians. It's that uncomfortable burning sensation in the chest that can occur after eating a heavy meal or certain food.
To combat this, many turn to over-the-counter or prescription medications with the hope of finding relief.
However, recent developments suggest that the very medications designed to alleviate heartburn could be causing significant health issues, leading to a potential class action lawsuit that could impact millions of Aussies.
For over two decades, Donna Johnstone from the New South Wales Central Coast found solace in a medication called Somac, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that reduces stomach acid and treats reflux symptoms.
Like many others, she trusted in the effectiveness of her prescription, which provided her with immediate relief.
‘It helped the reflux, it was beautiful,’ she said.
‘I had no symptoms or anything, it was fantastic for that.’
However, in 2018, after years of taking the medication, Johnstone faced a health crisis.
‘I ended up with lots and lots of kidney stones,’ she said.
‘Then, my doctor was doing some routine blood tests, and one of them showed my kidney function had dropped to 19 per cent.’
‘I had no side effects at all, nothing. If I hadn't had those routine blood tests done, I would have ended up on dialysis because when your kidney function drops to 15 percent they put you on dialysis.’
When she saw a specialist, the doctor advised Johnstone that the loss of her kidney function was due to Somac.
‘He said that this was due to the Somac. And he said, “No more Somac”,’ she said.
Proton pump inhibitors, including brands like Nexium, Losec, Somac, Pariet, and Zoton, have been widely prescribed since the early nineties and are lauded for their effectiveness. Yet, there is growing concern that these medications could increase the risk of serious kidney issues and even gastric cancers.
In the United States, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca settled a lawsuit for $630 million with nearly 19,000 patients who claimed that two PPIs, Nexium and Prilosec (Losec in Australia), were responsible for their chronic kidney disease.
This has set a precedent that has not gone unnoticed in Australia. Shine Lawyers, alongside US class action specialist legal firm Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, is now investigating the potential for a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers of PPI drugs still available in Australia.
Craig Allsopp, Joint Head of Class Actions at Shine Lawyers, highlighted the popularity of PPI drugs.
‘In the past four years alone, there are likely to have been more than five million Australians who have filled a prescription for a PPI drug,’ he said.
‘In 2021, over 23 million individual prescriptions were filled, and this number is increasing year on year.’
Along with US legal firm Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, Shine Lawyers said the investigation will delve into the latest research on heartburn and reflux medications.
‘Research across the globe has revealed that users of PPIs are at an increased risk of developing stomach cancers and kidney injuries,’ Allsop said.
‘This is concerning given research also shows that PPIs are some of the most-prescribed medicines on the market and that consumers typically take PPIs for longer periods and at higher doses than recommended.’
For Johnstone, the repercussions of taking Somac are lifelong. Despite improvements in her kidney function, it remains at around 60 per cent, and she now lives with chronic kidney disease.
‘I'll have chronic kidney disease for the rest of my life, and there is nothing I can do,’ she said.
‘I have a 10-year-old special needs child. I live with this daily, knowing that I might die well before my time because of the kidney disease that I now have through no fault of my own.’
‘I could leave my son, and it's the most horrible feeling in the world.’
Johnstone said no warning was given by her doctor who prescribed Somac about its side effects.
‘He said it was the best treatment and would solve the problem. And it did. But there was no mention of what side effects could come from that,’ she said.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Somac, has chosen not to comment on potential or ongoing litigation.
Have you or someone you know ever experienced a health scare that turned out to be more serious than initially thought? How has this changed your approach to managing your health? Let us know in the comments below.
To combat this, many turn to over-the-counter or prescription medications with the hope of finding relief.
However, recent developments suggest that the very medications designed to alleviate heartburn could be causing significant health issues, leading to a potential class action lawsuit that could impact millions of Aussies.
For over two decades, Donna Johnstone from the New South Wales Central Coast found solace in a medication called Somac, a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) that reduces stomach acid and treats reflux symptoms.
Like many others, she trusted in the effectiveness of her prescription, which provided her with immediate relief.
There is a looming class action over heartburn medication Somac. Credit: Shutterstock
‘It helped the reflux, it was beautiful,’ she said.
‘I had no symptoms or anything, it was fantastic for that.’
However, in 2018, after years of taking the medication, Johnstone faced a health crisis.
‘I ended up with lots and lots of kidney stones,’ she said.
‘Then, my doctor was doing some routine blood tests, and one of them showed my kidney function had dropped to 19 per cent.’
‘I had no side effects at all, nothing. If I hadn't had those routine blood tests done, I would have ended up on dialysis because when your kidney function drops to 15 percent they put you on dialysis.’
When she saw a specialist, the doctor advised Johnstone that the loss of her kidney function was due to Somac.
‘He said that this was due to the Somac. And he said, “No more Somac”,’ she said.
Proton pump inhibitors, including brands like Nexium, Losec, Somac, Pariet, and Zoton, have been widely prescribed since the early nineties and are lauded for their effectiveness. Yet, there is growing concern that these medications could increase the risk of serious kidney issues and even gastric cancers.
In the United States, pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca settled a lawsuit for $630 million with nearly 19,000 patients who claimed that two PPIs, Nexium and Prilosec (Losec in Australia), were responsible for their chronic kidney disease.
This has set a precedent that has not gone unnoticed in Australia. Shine Lawyers, alongside US class action specialist legal firm Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, is now investigating the potential for a class action lawsuit against the manufacturers of PPI drugs still available in Australia.
Craig Allsopp, Joint Head of Class Actions at Shine Lawyers, highlighted the popularity of PPI drugs.
‘In the past four years alone, there are likely to have been more than five million Australians who have filled a prescription for a PPI drug,’ he said.
‘In 2021, over 23 million individual prescriptions were filled, and this number is increasing year on year.’
Along with US legal firm Milberg Coleman Bryson Phillips Grossman, Shine Lawyers said the investigation will delve into the latest research on heartburn and reflux medications.
‘Research across the globe has revealed that users of PPIs are at an increased risk of developing stomach cancers and kidney injuries,’ Allsop said.
‘This is concerning given research also shows that PPIs are some of the most-prescribed medicines on the market and that consumers typically take PPIs for longer periods and at higher doses than recommended.’
For Johnstone, the repercussions of taking Somac are lifelong. Despite improvements in her kidney function, it remains at around 60 per cent, and she now lives with chronic kidney disease.
‘I'll have chronic kidney disease for the rest of my life, and there is nothing I can do,’ she said.
‘I have a 10-year-old special needs child. I live with this daily, knowing that I might die well before my time because of the kidney disease that I now have through no fault of my own.’
‘I could leave my son, and it's the most horrible feeling in the world.’
Johnstone said no warning was given by her doctor who prescribed Somac about its side effects.
‘He said it was the best treatment and would solve the problem. And it did. But there was no mention of what side effects could come from that,’ she said.
Takeda Pharmaceuticals, the manufacturer of Somac, has chosen not to comment on potential or ongoing litigation.
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