Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are among the most common drugs prescribed in the United States. They are extremely safe and highly effective for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Are there potential side-effects? Of course. Look up the side effects of any of your medicines and you will soon need an anxiety medicine to relieve you of side-effect stress. The side-effect lists of even our safest medicines are daunting. PPIs are associated with a growing list of potential serious side-effects, at least according to the lay press. A few clicks on your computer, and you will find that these medicines can cause pneumonia, C difficile colitis, malabsorption of nutrients, bone fractures and anemia. The latest report to emerge links these drugs with dementia. In the past two weeks, I’ve been questioned about this repeatedly by my patients. One stopped her medication from fear that her heartburn medicine might be incinerating her neurons. Enemy of Heartburn Medicines
MD Whistleblower presents vignettes and commentaries on the medical profession. We peek 'behind the medical curtain' and deliver candor and controversy in every post.