Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a group of medicines used to prevent and treat the damage caused by acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. They are used to inhibit the release of stomach acids, curtailing reflux and to repair ulcerated tissue in the stomach and intestines. Proton pump inhibitors have shown more efficacy in suppressing acid secretions than previous medicines like H2-receptors, such as Pepcid or Zantac. The class of drugs making up proton pump inhibitors has proven to have few serious side effects or drug interactions.
Common Side Effects
According to the Drugstore website, PPIs are well-tolerated but, in some instances, can bring on nausea, dizziness, diarrhea, headaches, constipation and a rash. The American Family Physician reports that none of these side effects appears to be related to age of the person taking the drug or dosage except for the incidence of diarrhea. They report that due to the extreme suppression of stomach acids, there may be a rise or alteration in the bacterial content of the intestine which is related to an increase in diarrhea.
Potential Side Effects for Long-Term Use
The WebGerd website points out certain possible side effects for the long-term use of PPIs, including an increase in fundic gland polyps and gastric nodules, antral gastritis, hyperplasia of the parietal cells, hypergastrinemia, an increase in the risk of contracting pneumonia and an increase in contracting the bacteria Clostridium difficile in hospital-bound patients.
Rare Side Effects
There have been reports of breast enlargement in med and possible anemia, but these are extremely rare, according to the Drugstore website.
Safety and Contraindications
The American Family Physician reports that safety in the short term, shorter than a three-month dosing, is established and, except for people who have demonstrated sensitivities to this class of drug, that it is considered safe. It is only contraindicated in these cases and for people with several liver diseases and in breast feeding.
Drug Interactions
PPIs alter the pH of the stomach and gut, according to the WebGerd website and the American Family Physician website, and can cause problems with the absorption of certain drugs that depend on the pH of the stomach for dispersion such as ampicillin, iron salts, Vitamin B12, itraconazole (Sporanox), griseofulvin (Grisactin), ketoconazole (Nizoral), cefpodoxime (Vantin) and enoxacin (Penetrex).
Cancer
There have been concerns about the development of gastric cancers as a result of taking PPIs. The Your Total Health website, as well as the WebGerd website, both report that research reveals there is no evidence connecting any increase in cancer to taking PPIs.
