Sunday, January 2, 2011

Are the proton pump inhibitors safe for long-term use?

You can rest assured that the PPIs are safe. While many drugs have side effects, this cannot be said about the proton pump inhibitors. these drugs have been used all over the globe for many years and so far nothing disastrous has been reported. PPIs are probably one of the safest drugs on the market.

Inside the packaging of PPIs there is a warning about cancer. However, this was only seen in a few rats and has never been reported in humans. Most experts feel that this complication has nothing to do with PPIs and more to do with the genetic strains of rat used in the studies. So far, there has been no increase in human cancer following PPIs usage.

Some people may develop a mild headache. Other rare side effects after long-term usage include decreased absorption of vitamin B12 and iron. When the drugs are used continuously for two or more years, there are reports that one may develop fractures of the spine and hip. This has only been seen in people who take extremely high doses of prilosec.

People who take PPIs for long periods should get levels of iron and vitamin B12 measured periodically. Do not waste your money buying extra vitamin supplements- just eat fresh fruit on a regular basis.

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