Gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, occurs when the lower esophageal sphincter muscle does not close properly. This allows stomach contents to back up into the esophagus, causing burning pain in the chest. According to American Academy of Family Physicians, GERD is treated using proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs.
PPIs Uses
PPIs suppress acid production in the stomach by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. The lack of stomach acid facilitates the healing of ulcers of the esophagus caused by GERD. According to consumerreports.org, PPIs are more effective acid suppressants than H2 blockers, and most patients with GERD respond well to them.
Examples of PPIs
According to consumerreports.org, PPIs used to treat GERD include Prilosec, Zegerid, Prevacid, Protonix, Nexium, Aciphex and Kapidex. Lower dosages of Prilosec, Zegerid and Prevacid are available over-the-counter. According to consumerreports.org, all PPIs are similar in action. They only differ in how they are broken down in the liver and their drug interactions.
Side Effects
According to American Academy of Family Physicians, all PPIs are generally well tolerated by patients suffering from GERD. Common side effects of PPIs include headache, nausea, abdominal pain, constipation and diarrhea. According to the National Institutes of Health, long-term use of PPIs may result in pneumonia, Clostridium difficile infection and bone fractures.
Stomach acid protects against infections by killing bacteria and viruses. Because PPIs suppress acid production, persons taking these medications are protected from such infections to a lesser degree compared with persons not taking PPIs. In addition, according to aafp.org, drugs like iron salts and vitamin B12 require stomach acid in order to be absorbed by the body. PPIs suppress stomach acid and prevent absorption of such drugs.
Contraindications
The American Academy of Family Physicians states that patients with a known hypersensitivity to PPIs should avoid taking the drugs. PPIs should be used with caution in patients with severe liver disease. Pregnant and nursing women should consult their doctor before using PPIs
Warning
Patients should not ignore their GERD symptoms, but rather should visit their health care provider to determine whether they would benefit from treatment with PPIs. According to consumerreports.org, untreated GERD can result in bleeding, scarring and narrowing of the esophagus, which can make eating and swallowing difficult. Untreated GERD can also lead to cancer of the esophagus.
