Medicines used in the treatment of heartburn, such as Prevacid, Nexium and Prilosec have been reviewed for potential ties to increased risks for kidney disease.
These drugs, in the drug class known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce the production of acid by blocking the enzyme in the stomach wall that produces acid. Acid reduction helps to prevent ulcers in the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum. If stomach juice backs up into the esophagus, it would be less irritating and would allow for healing in the event of an ulcer, The New York Times wrote.
Studies in the use of PPIs, especially in long-term use, have linked PPIs to increases in bone fracture; pneumonia, and Clostridium difficile, a serious type of infection. For over 13 years, researches followed 10,482 people comparing those who used PPIs to those who took a non-PPI drug in the class known as H2 receptor antagonists, such as Zantac and Pepcid. The research appears in the American Medical Association’s (AMA) journal, JAMA Internal Medicine.
The study concluded that use of PPIs was associated with a 20 to 50 percent increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Use of the mostly over-the-counter (OTC) non-PPI medication was not associated with this risk. A kidney specialist at Johns Hopkins noted that patients using PPIs for a longer period of time, should be routinely monitored for their kidney function, according to The New York Times.
from Parker Waichman http://www.yourlawyer.com/blog/kidney-problems-related-to-heartburn-drugs/
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