Are You Putting Your Bones at Risk Taking PPIs?
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Choosing the right acid reflux medication for your needs isn’t always easy. After all, there are many causes and symptoms to consider. Furthermore, you need to find the right one that works for you. And that process just got more challenging as researchers have found that some heartburn drugs put users at a greater risk of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones begin to lose their density (bone mineral density or BMD), placing the sufferer at increased risk of a fracture or break. It’s a condition that typically occurs as we age when the body is less able to regenerate healthy new bone.
Although it may not look it, bone is actually living tissue that is constantly renewing itself. It’s made up of a hard outer shell that contains collagen, minerals and blood vessels, as well as a softer core of bone marrow.
Bones are kept healthy and renewed by a supply of proteins and minerals absorbed from the blood, including calcium.
Specifically, it is proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) among the commonly prescribed acid reflux medications that put people at a higher risk of osteoporosis, according to a 2008 Canadian study. Proton pump inhibitors are drugs that stop the production of hydrochloric acid in the stomach in order to reduce damage caused by acid reflux or GERD.
The study examined 63,000 people aged fifty or older and looked into their medical records, prescription records, and other relevant elements. Among the group, 15,300 had fractures from osteoporosis, including those of the hip, spine, and wrist.
The participants in the study who had histories of fractures from osteoporosis were almost two times more likely to have used proton pump inhibitors for a minimum of seven years in comparison with other study participants. And sixty two percent of those participants in the study with hip fractures had used proton pump inhibitors for a minimum of five years. However, there was no evidence that the short-term use of proton pump inhibitors would increase the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures.
It should be noted that it is not the proton pump inhibitors that actually cause the fractures.
The study showed only that there is a link between the acid reflux medication and fractures due to osteoporosis. The researchers believe that as the PPI’s block the stomach’s hydrochloric acid, the body’s ability to absorb calcium may be impaired, leading to – or worsening – osteoporosis. However, more study is required to either prove or disprove this hypothesis.
Though the precise link between the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors and osteoporosis-related fractures has yet to be determined, there is enough evidence that should encourage you to discuss the risk of osteoporosis and related fractures with your doctor before starting to use proton pump inhibitors – especially over a longer period of time. Commonly prescribed PPI acid reflux medication includes: Prisolex, Aciphex, Nexium, Protonix, and Prevacid.
If you’re currently prescribed a PPI to control acid reflux it important to continue with your medication unless otherwise advised by a medical professional. If you have concerns over the long term use of PPI’s then raise your concerns at your next doctors visit.
When you speak with your doctor, you will need to work together to decide whether the benefits of taking PPIs outweigh the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures. You may decide to take proton pump inhibitors as a temporary acid reflux medication while other potential life changes or drugs are decided upon.
Those who are most at risk of being effected by this issue are people who are taking or who are about to begin taking PPIs and either have osteoporosis or are at risk of the disease.
Less powerful acid reflux medication may be a better solution for these people. For example, histamine blockers (also known as H2 anatgonists) are able to effectively treat GERD and its related symptoms. Though they are often less effective than proton pump inhibitors, they are not linked to osteoporosis fractures when used over the long term.
Alternatively you may wish to do away with acid reflux medication altogether (don’t forget to speak to your doctor first). This approach is successful for many thousands of people who rely on nothing more than small changes in their diet and some simple home remedies to keep symptoms at bay.
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Hi,
I was just wondering what are the benefits of apple cider vinegar for acid reflux suffereres.
Thank you
I find the information fascinating and feel that it has to have the impact discussed
Kathryn,
My name is Lori Favela.
I live in Chicago, IL.
My heartburn started back for me in August of this year.
I ate an entire Mexican meal went to bed and since then I haven’t ever been the same again.
The torture is everyday at work (when all I do is sit alllll day with infront of a computer).
I feel it down my esophagus, belly, and bottom.
I’ve had hemorroids now for years.
My question is would you recommed Chiropractic care for my condition, especially because I sit all day long.
What was the first thing you started doing for your Acid Reflux?
Ofcourse I went to the Doctor and my last resort are the Anti-acids but if I have to then I’ll take them.
I know that some herbs can be blood thinners,
Do you know of some that are safe?
Thank you for all your help and information,
Warmly in Christ,
Lori
Since I changed my diet and eating habits according to your recommendations, I no longer have any need for the PPI’s which I had been taking. An interesting observation is that I had been taking Fosamax (Alendronate) to prevent osteoporosis, and I strongly suspect that it was the cause or irritant of my stomach problems in the first place. Although I cannot make recommendations to other people, I can say that I am now happy to be taking neither of those drugs.
I have used proton inhibitors (mostly Protonix) for at least seven years, but can’t get off it. If I skip the daily med of Protonix, my esophagus starts to “act up”…starts to give me twisting feeling which is extremely uncomfortable, irritating. then I get stomach pain, food coming up…I feel my body has become addicted to these meds…what alternative do I have?
Dear Ms Kathryn
I will like to purchase some of your materials. Please advise me how to do so as I reside in Malaysia and I am not into internet purchases. Is there any way that you can help me.
thank you and warmest regards
LI Teng
Quite apart from the risk of bone trouble (and I already
suffer from arthritis) I came
off these PPIs because they made me bloated, upset
my colon and I felt very ill - I tried practically
everything available. I watch my diet carfully -
sometimes it doesn’t work. I find cherries and pears. eaten after meals, as well as sweet grapes, settle my
stomach after meals. The biggest problem is
severe stress, as we all know, and at the moment,
I am trying to sort that out.
Thank you for your excellent site for GERD and
hiatus hernia sufferers. - Ann Palmer
Meiri -
Take a look at this post. It should give you the answers to your questions about ACV.
http://naturally-stop-acid-ref.....me-remedy/
Lori -
Although everyone with Acid Reflux is different, I’d start looking at what lifestyle and diet changes you can make immediately.
There are a numbe of posts on this blog that should help out.
Here are a few:
http://naturally-stop-acid-ref.....made-easy/
http://naturally-stop-acid-ref.....with-this/
http://naturally-stop-acid-ref.....heartburn/
And here are many others that should help too if you have a look around on this blog.
Patricia -
I’m not sure what other day-to-day changes you’ve made to help with the Acid Reflux.
Again, as with Lori above, it would be worth looking at the changes you can make to your diet and lifestyle to improve symptoms.
Lifestyle and diet changes can be made in conjunction with the medication you are prescribed and they have helped a lot of people reduce/eliminate their dependence on the medication once they start to resolve the root causes of the Acid Reflux.
Talk Soon
Kathryn.
Hi
Iwas 2yrs on Nexium for acid reflux.I have not taken a nexium tablet for over 6 months.I hope this info will help those who are still suffering.This is what I did and it worked for me .
1. drink water after each meal.flushing out your food pipe.take spoon of natural honey.i use manuka.take stomach digestive enzymes one capsule with each meal.I also take a probiotic capsule before breakfast and dinner get these at your health store.Apple cider vinegar I find very good with main meal,take 3 desert spoons in a glass of water sip with your food.take the honey again and before bed.Dont use honey if you are diabetic. you can use aloe vera instead.I also use green superfoods wheatgrass spirulina chlorella,These help make your body more alkaline,which is much better than being acidic,you can get these at the health store .They are cheaper to buy online,they dont taste great unless you blend them into smoothies,you can get them in capsules as well.bananas are good too,as is chewing gum for 30 mins after eating.Thats it these various combinations worked for me. thanks Kathryn.For more info you can contact me at email.Best wishes Brian in Dublin Ireland.
As much as I hate taking a PPI, It’s been 2 years since I’ve had any swallowing difficulties or heartburn. I was told by my doctor to take 40 milligrams of Nexium every day, but I decided to eat right, juice veggies with fresh ginger and cabbage every day, cut out any alcohol and leave myself 3 hours to digest before bed. I also take 20 milligrams of generic omeprazole every other day. I was told my problem was severe, and that’s why I’m still taking the drug at all.
I’m switching to an H2 blocker in 2009.