Issue Date: November 2, 2008
A new heads-up for GERD sufferers
Taking PPIs for GERD may cause other health problems.
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When I was in medical school in the 1980s, heartburn and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were commonly treated with antacids, which make stomach juices less acidic. Today, we have histamine-2 blockers, such as Pepcid, Tagamet and Zantac, which make the stomach produce less acid. We also have proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), including Nexium, Prilosec and Protonix, which cut acid production so much that many who have never been heartburn-free have finally found relief.
But taking a PPI also may set them up for other health problems. A recent study published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine" examined whether use of a PPI increased a person's risk of contracting community-acquired pneumonia. Researchers evaluated more than 80,000 patients who had been diagnosed with pneumonia, looking for a relationship between use of a PPI and occurrence of the infection. They found that those who were on long-term therapy didn't seem to be at increased risk, but those who had just begun therapy (within 30 days) were more likely to develop community-acquired pneumonia.
As a heartburn sufferer myself, I'm glad these powerful medicines are available. But for the occasional sufferer, it may be best to take PPIs only as needed. Talk to your doctor.
Tedd Mitchell, M.D., president and CEO of Dallas' Cooper Clinic (www.cooperaerobics.com), writes HealthSmart every week.
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