If you have suffered acid reflux, heartburn, or indigestion, you may have been tempted to take an over-the-counter or prescription proton pump inhibitor medication. These medicines are some of the most commonly used to improve the symptoms of heartburn. PPI drugs work by reducing acid production by blocking the enzyme that controls it. PPI drugs include:
- Aciphex
- Dexilant
- Kapidex
- Nexium
- Prevacid
- Prilosec
- Protonix
- Zegerid
Researchers Associate PPIs and Gastric Cancer
Unfortunately, recent research found an association between how long you take PPI medications and your risk of developing stomach cancer. But before researchers could conduct the study, they had first to eliminate H. pylori infections. Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that attacks the lining of the stomach and the upper area of the small intestine and can cause a range of issues including stomach and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, and potentially, stomach cancer.
The study, published in the esteemed journal Gut, found that people who use these PPI drugs long-term had a much higher risk of developing stomach cancer than people who used other types of heartburn drugs called H2 blockers.
H2 blocker medications reduce acid secretion by blocking histamine gastric acid secretion from the stomach lining. These drugs include:
- Axid
- Pepcid
- Tagamet
- Zantac
To reach their conclusion, researchers compared the use of PPIs and H2 blockers in 63,397 study participants treated between 2003 and 2012, though researchers followed participants until they died, developed stomach cancer, or the study ended (2015). More than 3,000 participants took PPI medications for an average of nearly three years, while more than 21,000 participants took H2 blocker medications.
At least 153 participants developed stomach cancer. None of the cancer cases were associated with the H2 blockers, while PPI drugs were found to increase the risks of stomach cancer in people who are not infected with H. pylori by 2.4 times.
Researchers also determined that people who use PPI medications every day had a four-times greater risk of developing stomach cancer while those who use it for three years or more have an eight-times greater risk of developing cancer.
PPIs Associated with Severe Adverse Events
If that isn’t enough, some researchers said they weren’t surprised by the results because PPIs have been associated with a host of adverse events. Some of these include acute kidney damage, chronic kidney disease, and kidney failure. Other adverse events that have been associated with PPI drugs include bone fractures, cognitive decline, and even death from renal failure.
See Your Doctor for GERD or Recurring Heartburn
With all the information coming out about PPI drugs like Nexium and Prilosec and associated injuries, anyone who suffers GERD or recurring heartburn should speak to their doctor about the safest way to reduce acid and relieve symptoms. Some treatments may be as simple as changing what you eat, or when you eat it. Other treatments may involve lifting the head of your bed, relaxation techniques, and increasing your fluid intake.