Dangers of Proton Pump Inhibitors

 

In a population-based study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, use of commonly-prescribed acid suppression medications such as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) was linked with an increased risk of intestinal infections with C. difficile and Campylobacter bacteria, which can cause considerable illness. Users of these medications should be particularly vigilant about food hygiene as the removal of stomach acid makes them more easily infected with agents such as Campylobacter, which is commonly found on poultry.  PPIs are very popular for their efficacy and many of them are over-the-counter drugs (some common brands are Nexium, Prevacid and Protonix).

 

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine receptor-2 (H2) blockers, medications commonly used to treat heartburn, acid reflux, and ulcers can have damaging effects on the kidneys according to two studies presented at American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week 2016.

A new study published in PLOS ONE has found that people who take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), had a 70 per cent increase in the risk of being admitted to hospital with infectious gastroenteritis.