Study: Stomach Acid Drugs Linked to Fracture Risk
Study: Stomach Acid Drugs Linked to Fracture Risk
May 9, 2011 -- Long-term, regular users of drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) such as Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, and Protonix appear to have a heightened risk of fractures, a study shows.
The researchers found that this class of acid-suppressive drugs raises the chances of breaking a bone by nearly 30%.
The study is published in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Available by prescription as well as over the counter, PPIs work by reducing the secretion of gastric acid. They are commonly recommended for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, erosive esophagitis, and Barrett’s esophagus.
PPIs are the third largest-selling class of therapeutic drugs on the market, with sales totaling $13.6 billion in 2010, according to IMS Health.
For patients with potentially serious conditions, the benefits offered by PPIs often outweigh the risks associated with them, says James M. Gill, MD, MPH, president of Delaware Valley Research Outcomes in Newark, Del., and lead author of an editorial accompanying the study.
“For certain things, PPIs are clearly indicated,” he says. The problem is that “many doctors don’t follow guidelines” and prescribe PPIs “willy-nilly.”
“This study is not a game changer in terms of guidelines,” Gill continues, “but it should encourage physicians to pay closer attention and be more cautious with these medications when they prescribe them.”
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The researchers found that this class of acid-suppressive drugs raises the chances of breaking a bone by nearly 30%.
The study is published in the Annals of Family Medicine.
Available by prescription as well as over the counter, PPIs work by reducing the secretion of gastric acid. They are commonly recommended for patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease, erosive esophagitis, and Barrett’s esophagus.
PPIs are the third largest-selling class of therapeutic drugs on the market, with sales totaling $13.6 billion in 2010, according to IMS Health.
For patients with potentially serious conditions, the benefits offered by PPIs often outweigh the risks associated with them, says James M. Gill, MD, MPH, president of Delaware Valley Research Outcomes in Newark, Del., and lead author of an editorial accompanying the study.
“For certain things, PPIs are clearly indicated,” he says. The problem is that “many doctors don’t follow guidelines” and prescribe PPIs “willy-nilly.”
“This study is not a game changer in terms of guidelines,” Gill continues, “but it should encourage physicians to pay closer attention and be more cautious with these medications when they prescribe them.”
Slideshow: Tips to Stop Heartburn at Night