Acid Reflux Drugs May Up Fractures

Proton-pump inhibitors -- the popular drugs that fight stomach acid -- increase the risk of hip fractures, a U.S. study shows. The drugs are Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec (called Losec in Europe), and Protonix. A new study shows that when taken long term the drugs may have a side effect: hip fracture. People over age 50 who take the drugs for more than one year have a 44% increased risk of breaking a hip, find University of Pennsylvania researchers Yu-Xiao Yang, MD, and colleagues.

Taking proton-pump inhibitors at higher doses -- and for longer periods -- dramatically increases the risk. Long-term, high-dose use of the drugs ups the risk of hip fracture by 245%.

The findings appear in the December issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

Bonnie - this is why I never recommend taking PPI's long-term. Getting to the root of the cause of reflux is of the utmost importance because otherwise, PPI's just mask the issue and never correct it. Obviously, side effects such as the aforementioned and others that have been well-chronicled by this health professional warrant much thought.