Proton Pump Inhibitor Side Effects

Proton pump inhibitors are medications that reduce stomach acid. People take them for relief of acid-peptic disorder symptoms, the most common being gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which causes heartburn. The medications also are taken for symptoms of peptic ulcers and gastropathy resulting from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use. Some minor but annoying side effects can occur, but a bigger concern is side effects resulting when people take these drugs for prolonged periods of time.

Types

• Proton pump inhibitors include the generic esomeprazole (brand name Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix) and rabeprazole (Aciphex). These are all prescription drugs, although Prevacid and Prilosec have also been approved to be sold over the counter, Prilosec in 2004 and Prevacid in 2009.

Minor Side Effects

• Relatively minor side effects occur in up to five percent of people taking proton pump inhibitors. These include constipation or diarrhea, nausea, stomach pain, dry mouth and headaches. Other less common side effects include joint or muscle pain. Physician Jay Cohen notes on his website that the over-the-counter Prilosec package insert does not mention these side effects. This can cause problems if people do not realize the symptoms are side effects, and then treat the symptoms with other medications.

Time Frame for Treatment

• Proton pump inhibitors are intended for short-term treatment lasting four to eight weeks, although physicians commonly issue subsequent prescriptions. Since Prilosec has been available over the counter since 2004 in a low prescription-strength dose, people have been able to take that drug for years at a time.

Concerns for Older Adults

• Treatment with proton pump inhibitors for over a year is associated with a 44 percent increased risk of hip fractures in people over age 50, according to a study published in a 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. Another concern for older adults is that proton pump inhibitors have been shown to reduce the absorption of vitamin B-12, and elderly people already have reduced B-12 absorption ability. Additionally, heart attack patients taking the blood-thinning medication Plavix may increase their risk of another heart attack if they also take a proton pump inhibitor.

Bacterial Growth

• Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors also increases the risk of diarrhea and colitis caused by the Clostridium bacteria. Lower levels of stomach acid allow this bacteria to multiply in the intestine. According to physician Ray Sahelian, clostridium is one of the most common types of infectious diarrhea in patients aged 75 and older.