Got Heartburn? A Caution About Your Proton Pump Inhibitor

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I am only 42 years old suffer from knee and neck osteoarthritis. Surprisingly, it turned out I also have osteoprosis. I could find no medical reason other than having taken a proton-pump inhibitor (pantoprazole) for some 7 years. Looks like most doctors won't tell this/don't know this. Still not sure what I will be doing, other than the calcium supplement and bisphophonates. So everyone take care

Hany Omar 7:42AM February 04, 2013

Why don't doctors manage this medication more. It appears people are placed on it and they are never told to come off. I blame osteoprosis to aciphex. Was taking it 2xdaily following a possible bleed. Stopping it was never addressed again. This is scary. So if I tried to stop it the pain would come back. This is to be expected but how is one suppose to know. The back lash of acidity with taking yourself off is cause to make on continue to take this med.
I now have ostoporsis and am not happy. Acephix sides effects state an increase in having hip breaks but does not say why. I suspect if the manufacturer does not say this in side effects and if doctors don't monitor the use we will start seeing some law suits. That always wakes up those that provide medications or make them.
Come on people. Make the public more aware of this happening and tell them to talk with their doctor after being on it for a period of time.

Dorothy of WI 2:39PM May 21, 2012

What about the additional risk of Esomeprozole and osteo porosis in a patient who is already known to be osteoporotic due to D3 deficiency and is on bisphophonates plus aramatase for Oestrogen +ve breast cancer? This looks like a serious combination of drugs with respect to exacerbation of what might be a controlled osteoporosis.

Barbara Cross of FL 9:51AM February 06, 2012

Does nexium cause your body not to absorb other nutrients as well as calcium??

Gail of IL 2:03PM November 07, 2011

I am trying to get off my Ppi . Have been on them since 2004 and have had Hight CA and low Vit D leves on and off for 3 years. Bone density is gradually decreasing. AM trying to swith to H2 type at hs since laryngitis and one of 3 scopes showing Barrets (last two were good). Ive been off Nexium 40 mg 2 weeks and had lots of rebound acid reflux that was hard to control with TUMS extra and Pepsid 40 mg. ANy suggestions?

Carlin of KY 11:23PM July 27, 2011

I'm interested in why this article only talks about how calcium may be reduced by being on PPIs. Iron is also a hard mineral, and anemia is another side effect from PPI overuse. Before being on Aciphex for 1-1/2 yrs I had never been anemic, but I became very anemic as a result, and no amount of supplementation helped -- because there wasn't enough acid in my stomach to break the iron down. I'm also curious whether the "coffee, tomatoes, peppermint, and raised head of bed" is evidence-based or anecdotal. I've looked for studies, but I haven't found any, and I wonder where this comes from. Personally, I discovered that my acid was totally controlled by removing starches from my diet -- not just wheat, but rice, corn, carrots... I've now been off medication completely for six months, following a "primal" or "caveman" diet -- proteins, vegetables & fruits (non-starchy), plenty of water, low fat, with plenty of probiotics and fermented foods, plus some occasional digestive enzymes (from pineapple and papaya). My iron is back up to normal and I feel great! No reflux at all. When I read the pharmacology of the PPIs, there's a long list of interactions -- PPI with heart medicines, PPI with steroids, PPI with anti-depressants, etc. But nothing about PPIs with food! Doesn't it seem like a GASTROenterological disease or medicine should also list how it interacts with wheat, corn, milk, broccoli, kale, peanuts, seafood, etc? And why do we consider that reflux means that suddenly our bodies are spurting out too much acid? For older people, it's suggested that in fact reflux is a result of too little acid -- i.e. the food that's eaten then gets only partially digested, and the remaining undigested food ferments in the stomach, creating gas, which then tries exiting up the esophagus dragging some acid along with it! Hundreds of thousands of people in online forums swear by the old Amish remedy of a little apple cider vinegar HELPING the digestion. Or, since digestion occurs via acids and enzymes, if the vinegar isn't well-tolerated, digestive enzymes can be taken. I had a physical this week and my internist (who is also a clinical professor at Stanford) said that while she doesn't know a lot about digestive enzymes per se, they do no harm, so if they work for me she has no problem with me taking them. Really, I think we should do as much as we can to stay OFF pharmaceutical substances whose long term effects aren't known. Remember Vioxx?? It was approved for use and considered safe, until down the road all those people got strokes and died. NOW it's off the market, but not before a whole lot of damage was done. I suggest staying with old fashioned home remedies or their natural equivalents as much as possible.

Maya of CA 11:48PM May 03, 2011

i take 2 acphex 2 daily plus 40mg pepsid and does not materally reduce my acid refux wich is worse at bedtime i sleep in a elevated recliner in addition i have no peristalsus had all tests at major hospitals no definate conclusionx but medications. im sick most of the day and every evening sleep. any suggestions?

paul j rodi of FL 12:03PM February 04, 2011

I wonder if taking calcium supplements along with PPI's is safe for men? I've read that too much calcium contributes to aggressive prostate cancer...so how much Calcium is too much for men?

Derrick of CA 2:23PM June 22, 2010

Bill-
my husband is on two betablockers and in addition, used to have a chronic ulcer. His PPI became a big problem, because it not only inhibits absorption of calcium but also Vitamin B12, which after some years, can lead to a deficiency corresponding to pernicious anemia. This is an insidious process and has, in the long run, extemely deleterious effects on mental and neuronal functioning.
Fermented Sauerkraut Juice is as effective in doing away with heartburn as any PPI. One needs to slowly decrease the dosage of the PPI over a couple of months, because abrupt withdrawal of the PPI will lead to a rebound effect that worsens the heartburn. This is the reason why most people on PPI's never manage to wean themselves off again.
While one decreases the dosage of the PPI, one begins at the same time to drink 2 half cups of fermented Sauerkraut Juice per day (can be bought in health food stores, Coops, etc). One needs to continue drinking the juice indefinitely, or at least until one is symptom free for a while. My husband drank the juice daily for about eight months and then slowly tapered it- he no longer is on any meds or the juice and is just fine, no probs at all. If very occasionally after a heavy meal he has a little bit of heartburn, he drinks the juice again for a day or two, and that takes care of it.
I researched the issue in detail (have a background in biology), and have yet to find any report of any side effect. My husband continues on his betablocker, there have been no side effects whatsoever, and his B12 has normalized again as well, to our enormous relief .
Might definitely be worth a try- but do taper the PPI slowly.
Good luck!
Erin.

Erin of AZ 12:02PM May 13, 2010

Some people switch brands of PPIs; the alternative is middle of the night sickness, acid reflux, throwing up and gasping for breath, and the frustration and fury that accompanies it. As the article recommends, along with your PPI, take C, Calcium, maybe a bone density med but more important, eat plain yogurt, broccoli, carrots barely steamed, the whole vegetable and food pyramid which has updated with things such as extra virgin olive oil, daily servings of nuts, and a whole pleasureable weight lifting regimen; I enjoy all these, and a twice weekly therapeutic yoga class; what a joy to see people from seven years of age to nearly ninety, breathing and moving to better health, and always improving their psychological and physical strength. You are your best physician; you can use your mind to heal your body. Believe.

sidonia slabodnik schumann of NC 3:47PM May 12, 2010