(HealthNewsDigest.com) – If you take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to manage your heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), then you may feel like they are a godsend. Millions of Americans take PPIs every day, and many of them have been doing so for numerous years.
Despite that, new research has been surfacing that identifies major risk factors for PPIs that go beyond the minor side effects listed on the packaging. In fact, PPIs could be doing more harm than good.
What Are PPIs?
Before we go into how these drugs may be causing harm, let’s discuss exactly what they are.
Proton pump inhibitors are a class of drug designed to treat a variety of gastroesophageal ailments. They work by suppressing the action of an acid-producing enzyme found in the lining of the stomach. Because of this, they are proficient at treating conditions like:
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Heartburn
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GERD
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Stomach, duodenal, and esophageal ulcers
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Zollinger-Ellison syndrome
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Eosinophilic esophagitis
PPIs can stop the secretion of 99% of gastric acid. This is enormously helpful for patients with ulcers, because it allows those ulcers to heal without contributing more acid to them. This also helps with the management of heartburn. Common brand names for PPIs include:
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Nexium
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Prilosec
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PrevAcid
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Vimovo
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Zegerid
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Aciphex
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Protonix
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Dexilant
When it comes to their intended purpose, many of these drugs work perfectly fine. But, are there much more serious underlying issues that these medications could be causing? Some believe there are many potential dangers from PPI use.
Direct Problems with PPIs
For starters, PPIs almost completely stop the production of certain stomach acids. These acids are necessary for the digestion of a variety of nutrients including calcium and vitamin B12. Also, if stomach acid is in low supply, it could produce a condition known as hypochlorhydria. Symptoms of that condition include weight loss, anemia, diarrhea, and food malabsorption (among others).
Stomach acid is also important when warding off bacterial infections. Studies have linked an increase in Salmonella and Listeria to higher usage of PPIs. So, it’s clear that the main mechanism of action produced by many PPIs can actually mitigate your gut’s natural ability to self-regulate.
Major PPI Issues
In addition to the problems associated with stomach acid, PPIs can also affect a cavalcade of other bodily functions. One of the first major side effects to be discovered in relation to PPI usage was an increased risk of developing or worsening osteoporosis. The disease can cause bones to become brittle and fragile, making fractures much more likely.
Indeed, in 2010, many researchers and consumer advocates called for PPI manufacturers to put a warning label about the increased risk of hip, wrist, and other bone fractures on the packaging. The FDA, however, declined to enforce that call, claiming that the increased risk only occurred after a year or more of use.
In recent years, PPIs have been shown to have a startling connection to the onset of chronic kidney disease. A 2016 study first identified the link, and individuals who have taken PPIs for long periods of time also began to notice a pattern. Chronic kidney disease can ultimately lead to full kidney failure, which can leave many patients languishing on dialysis or waiting for a kidney transplant.
Even minor kidney damage or acute interstitial nephritis (another kidney-related disease) can lead to hospital bills that people weren’t expecting. Because of this, a class-action lawsuit combining over 4,600 individual cases against PPI manufacturers is set to get underway in September 2020.
These are far from the only issues associated with PPI use. Other diseases and ailments that have been linked to PPIs include:
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Pneumonia
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Heart attack
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Stroke
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Stomach cancer
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Dementia
Not everyone who takes PPIs long-term is going to experience these symptoms. In fact, many people who have taken PPIs for more than a decade show no ill effects. Even so, there is still a statistically significant link between PPIs and these conditions and its certainly worth paying attention to.
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