Studies Link Some Stomach Drugs To Alzheimer's Disease and Kidney Problems (scientificamerican.com)

While the recommended dosage for Nexium, Prevacid and Prilose is just two weeks, doctors often advise patients to continue taking them for years. But now Scientific American reports that "Chronic use of popular heartburn medicines may be riskier than was thought," citing two papers linking the drugs to an increase risk of dementia, including Alzheimer's disease, and a greater risk of kidney problems. schwit1 quotes their report: The papers did not prove that PPIs cause the problems. But some researchers have nonetheless suggested possible mechanisms by which long-term use of the drugs could trigger dementia or kidney problems. A reduction in vitamin B12, for example, might leave the brain more vulnerable to damage, says Britta Haenisch, an author of the JAMA Neurology study and a neuropharmacologist at the Bonn campus of the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Last spring clinicians at the Houston Methodist Research Institute reported another plausible explanation for how PPIs might lead to these unexpected health issues: they picked up signs that the drugs act not only in the stomach but elsewhere in the body, too.
The article ends on an ambiguous note. "Without conclusive data, physicians and patients have to balance the need to prevent the ill effects of excess stomach acid and reflux with the desire to avoid potentially serious -- if theoretical -- side effects from long-term use of PPIs."

Comments

Re:heartburn medication is retarded

[Anonymous Coward]

You have no idea what you're talking about. It has nothing to do with anything you just said. I can eat my food fast, slow, it makes no difference, I still get attacked. And here's the best part: in my case, the healthier the food, the worse it is for me. Carrots, apples, cabbage, white meat are all guaranteed acid attacks. Chicken wings, fries, shit food, no problem.

And so you understand, I am the most anti-drug person you know. I take nothing. NOTHING. I resisted taking proton pump inhibitors for about 5 years after they were prescribed until I simply couldn't eat anymore, As in, my esophagus would basically squeeze shut and not allow any food or liquid to go down for HOURS. My doctor explained it as my esophagus protecting itself after years of damage from actual heartburn. I was also explained the risks of esophageal cancer.

Again, the healthier I was eating, the worse this condition became. Proton pump inhibitors changed my life. These stories about side effects don't mention that. I'll risk it thanks.

PPI troubles

[manu0601]

Proton pump inhibitor have been known to be troublesome for a long time

By reducing stomach acidity, it increases the amount of bacteria that pass alive in the intestine, increasing the odds of Small intestine bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It also increase the odds of proliferation of some bacteria such as heliobacter pylori in the stomach itself.

All that pathogens overload the immune system, and degrade digestive functions.

Re:Uh, whaaa?

[Anonymous Coward]

I was on a PPI for ~3 years. My doctor told me the main reason they suggest the 2 week duration of use is because the drug may allow someone with a much more serious condition, say an ulcer or possibly cancerous lesions, to "get by". They don't want a person with those kinds of symptoms to "get by", they want them to see the doctor.

After 3 years, I was tired of getting a solid bout of the stomach flu about every 6 weeks, so I lost 40lbs and dropped the meds as I didn't need them anymore.

Re:Don't use a PPI

[RabidReindeer]

I used to sneer at the filtered-water crowd and the mere idea of buying water - in plastic bottles no less - at a cost per gallon higher than gasoline repels me.

But I got a filter pitcher once as part of my emergency preparedness kit and was amazed to discover that my heartburn rate went way down.

The chlorine in my tap water was doing it to me.

So even just drinking lots of water isn't totally risk-free.