What Does The Buffalo Study Show
Researchers at the University of Buffalo reviewed the medical records of 190,000 patients who were prescribed PPI drugs for at least 12 months between July 1993 and September 2008. The patients included in the study did not have any evidence of preexisting kidney disease.
The researchers determined that the use of acid reflux drugs increased patients risk of kidney disease by 20 percent. Additionally, patients who took these drugs were four times more likely than people who did not take the drugs to experience kidney failure. Patients over the age of 65 were the most at-risk.
According to the study, between 40 to 55 percent of non-hospitalized patients taking PPIs may be taking these medications for no medical reason. Many patients with acid reflux only require short term treatment with these medications, but some people may be taking the drugs long term without reason. Long term use of these medications without medical need may be bad for your kidneys.
Other research has shown PPI drugs connection with an increased risk of kidney problems. A study conducted by researchers from Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of California San Diego found that PPI users were more likely to develop kidney problems than those taking histamine-2 receptor antagonists instead.
Popular Heartburn Drugs May Cause Serious Kidney Damage
Research indicates proton pump inhibitors should be used only sparingly
Extended use of drugs to treat heartburn, ulcers and acid reflux may lead to serious kidney damage, including kidney failure, according to a study by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System.
More than 15 million Americans have prescriptions for so-called proton pump inhibitors , which decrease gastric acid production and generally have been considered safe.
Furthermore, researchers found the risk of kidney problems rises the longer patients take the medications, sold under the brand names Prevacid, Prilosec, Nexium and Protonix, among others.
The epidemiological study is available online in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
We advise patients to limit the use of PPIs only to when they are medically necessary and for the shortest duration possible, said Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, an assistant professor of medicine at Washington University and the studys senior author.
PPI users also were at a significantly higher risk 98 percent of developing kidney failure compared with users of H2 blockers, although this occurred in less than 1 percent of the overall patients studied.
Explanatory Variables: Use Of Nephrotoxic And Nephroprotective Drugs
In addition to PPI, the use of other drugs classically defined as nephrotoxic and nephroprotective agents was analyzed. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers , included in current pharmacological nephroprotective therapy for patients with diabetic nephropathy and CKD, are recommended as nephroprotective agents according to the KDIGO and MS guidelines for the treatment of CKD patients. As for nephrotoxic drugs, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have been classically described as drugs with confirmed nephrotoxicity .
Despite the proposed collection regarding the use of other nephrotoxic drugs , only NSAIDs were prescribed/dispensed to the study population during the collection period. Thus, patients using these drugs were also evaluated, even patients using low-dose aspirin to prevent cardiovascular events.
The use of non-prescribed or drugs not reported at medical consultations was also evaluated using medicine dispensing reports in public pharmacies, generated by the Brazilian health information system , during the follow-up period.
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Exposure Variable: Omeprazole Use
Among the PPI drugs available, only omeprazole was used by the patients evaluated in this study . This can be justified because it is the only PPI available in the public pharmacies of Divinópolis-MG.
Regular users of omeprazole were considered those patients who had this medicine registered in the medical records for a period of three months or more during the data collection period. Such classification of the participants as current PPI users when the time of use was three months or more was based on the consultation of previous studies . Initially, users of omeprazole were considered as those who at baseline had used this drug previously for at least three months. Thereafter all patients defined as users were evaluated for the other times for the use of omeprazole, and only those who maintained its use during all evaluation times for at least two years were included. Follow-up data on drug use were available for all follow-up times. Only patients who continued to use the drug during all assessment times were considered exposed to omeprazole. In the two years of follow-up, there was no change in the prescription for any of the patients included, maintaining the daily dose of 20 mg/ day. Those who discontinued omeprazole during follow-up were not included in the study.
Common Heartburn Drugs Linked To Kidney Failure In The Elderly
By Lisa Rapaport, Reuters Health
4 Min Read
– Older patients taking proton pump inhibitors, a common remedy for heartburn and acid reflux, are two times more likely to be hospitalized with kidney failure than peers who dont take the pills, a study finds.
While the side effect is extremely rare, and the study doesnt prove the drugs cause kidney failure, the association is worrisome because tens of millions of people a year take these pills, sold by prescription and over-the-counter in some countries, with brand names including Prilosec, Prevacid and Zegerid.
Generally, the drugs are very well tolerated, and the vast majority of patients who take them will not develop or other serious problems, lead study author Tony Antoniou, a researcher at the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and St. Michaels Hospital in Toronto, said by email. But the drugs should be used for the shortest possible duration.
Antoniou and colleagues identified about 290,000 people aged 66 or older taking proton pump inhibitors in Ontario between 2002 and 2011, as well as a similar number of individuals not taking the drugs.
The researchers then looked at how many people were hospitalized for acute kidney injury within 120 days of starting treatment, and compared that to the group not taking the drugs.
For patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD, the drugs can prevent the development of life-threatening esophageal cancer, said Sachs, who wasnt involved in the study.
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Heartburn Meds Linked To Chronic Kidney Disease
While study can’t prove cause-and-effect, increasing damage seen as dose rises
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Jan. 11, 2016 — A type of heartburn medication called proton pump inhibitors may be linked to long-term kidney damage, a new study suggests.
Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid belong to this class of drugs, which treat heartburn and acid reflux by lowering the amount of acid produced by the stomach.
People who use proton pump inhibitors have a 20 percent to 50 percent higher risk of chronic kidney disease compared with nonusers, said lead author Dr. Morgan Grams, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.
The study was published Jan. 11 in JAMA Internal Medicine.
The study doesn’t establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between the drugs and chronic kidney disease. However, Grams said, “We found there was an increasing risk associated with an increasing dose. That suggests that perhaps this observed effect is real.”
Proton pump inhibitors were used by more than 15 million Americans in 2013, according to background notes.
But as many as 70 percent of these prescriptions have been handed out inappropriately, and 25 percent of long-term users could stop taking the medication without suffering increased heartburn or acid reflux, the study authors said.
Newer studies now show a link between the drugs and chronic kidney disease, in which the kidneys lose their ability to filter blood effectively.
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How A Ranitidine Lawyer Can Help
If you suffered injuries, or ranitidine damaged your kidneys, due to taking the medication Zantac or another type of ranitidine medication, you could be entitled to compensation for losses related to the kidney damage such as:
- Past and future medical bills
- Transportation costs
- Past and future lost wages
- Lost earning potential
If a loved one died due to complications related to ranitidine medications, you could also be entitled to compensation for funeral and burial costs.
The team at Pintas & Mullins Law Firm at can help you understand your legal rights and how a ranitidine cancer lawsuit lawyer can help you with your case. Contact us today for a free consultation and to help you understand your legal options.
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Natural Solutions For Heart Burn
Apple cider vinegar is a great prevention remedy for acid reflux. You can take 2 tablespoon in a glass of water 30 minutes before a meal to help normalize stomach acid and prevent indigestion. While many advocate drinking it at time of heartburn, I have found this makes the symptom worse. However, when used before a meal it seems to prevent the issue.
Related: 5 ailments to take apple cider vinegar for
Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate, is perhaps the best remedy when you are experiencing GERD or acid reflux. This works by balancing the stomach pH when you drink ½ teaspoon in a cup of water. The taste is not terrific but it works great.
For more tips on creating a lifestyle that prevents heartburn, and more remedies for heartburn relief, check out another article I wrote here.
Editors note: Did you know that when you take your body from acid to alkaline you can boost your energy, lose weight, soothe digestion, avoid illness and achieve wellness? Click here to discover The Alkaline Secret to Ultimate Vitality and revive your life today!
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What Are Proton Pump Inhibitors
Proton pump inhibitors also known as PPIs are a class of prescription and over-the-counter medications designed to treat heartburn, acid reflux, ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease , and other stomach conditions caused by too much stomach acid.
The stomach contains a mechanism known as the proton pump, which is responsible for producing stomach acid. PPIs work by blocking the activity of an enzyme in the proton pump, which reduces the amount of acid produced by the stomach.
Originally, PPI medications such as Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, and Nexium were sold only as prescription drugs. Today, these medications are available in over-the-counter formulations, as well as generic prescription versions.
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What Are Prilosecs Links To Kidney Disease
A 2016 JAMA study found links between proton pump inhibitors and an increase in the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid are all proton pump inhibitors and would therefore carry the same risk of chronic kidney disease. The study indicated that taking PPIs long-term indicated between a 20% and 50% increase in the risk of developing chronic kidney disease. The study also indicated an increased risk of hypomagnesemia and other medical conditions.
The study also found that up to 70% of patients taking Prilosec or another proton pump inhibitor are doing so unnecessarily and that there wasnt a medical reason for them to be taking the drug, especially long-term.
Other Health Concerns Related To Ppis
It’s not the first time that PPIs have led to health concerns. Their use has been linked to increased rates of fractures, pneumonia, the gut infection C. difficile, and low vitamin B12 and magnesium levels.
“These drugs, should be used at the lowest dose and for the shortest duration appropriate for the condition being treated,” according to Health Canada.
Emily McDonald, an internal medicine specialist at McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, suggests trying other interventions such as altering diet before PPIs, and where they are necessary, following up regularly to re-evaluate whether a patient needs to continue using them.
“This is another article that makes us think again about how many people are on these medications, and how many are on them unnecessarily,” she said.
Al-Aly emphasizes that PPIs do a lot of good for people who need them, such as those with gastrointestinal bleeding or ulcers. But he recommends doctors de-prescribe those who don’t need to be taking them.
“For those people, likely the chance of an adverse outcome outweighs any benefit.”
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Common Causes Of Heartburn
The causes of heartburn, acid reflux and GERD are broad, leaving many to think they are only associated with a food cause . But this is not the case. Here is a look at some of the more common causes that can trigger the problem.
- Certain foods, including chocolate, dairy, coffee and other caffeinated beverages, peppermint, onions, tomatoes and high fat foods, can trigger heartburn.
- Certain medications, including those indicated for anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, angina, osteoporosis, pain and infection, can trigger acid reflex.
- Lifestyle factors, including smoking, stress, and being overweight and obese are known triggers of heartburn.
Downing a few heartburn tablets is an easy quick fix, but the result could be devastating for your kidneys. Heres what researchers recently found
‘it’s A Silent Disease’
“It’s a silent disease, in the sense that it erodes kidney function very minimally and very gradually over time,” said Ziyad Al-Aly, the study’s senior author and assistant professor of medicine at Washington University School of Medicine.
Al-Aly and his colleagues analyzed data from 125,000 U.S. patients using PPIs and found more than half who went on to develop chronic kidney damage had no prior acute kidney problems.
The study also found that people using PPIs had, on average, a 20 per cent increase in developing chronic kidney disease compared with those taking H2 blockers such as Zantac or Pepcid. Those medications also reduce the production of stomach acid and are available over the counter.
Kidney problems remain rare in those taking PPIs, and the study does not prove causation. But Al-Aly notes that even a small potential increase in risk can be a big deal with a drug taken by millions of people.
PPIs are among the most commonly prescribed medications in Canada, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, and many patients take them for years.
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Common Heartburn Drugs Linked To Kidney Disease
But finding can’t show whether drugs are directly responsible
HealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, April 14, 2016 — People who use certain drugs for chronic heartburn may be at increased risk of developing kidney disease, a new study suggests.
The research is the latest to highlight potential risks from drugs called proton pump inhibitors . PPIs include prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium.
But prolonged use of PPIs has been linked to certain nutrient deficiencies and bone-density loss. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, bone fractures are considered a safety concern when people use PPIs for a year or more.
More recently, research has hinted at additional hazards. Last year, for example, a study tied the medications to a slight increase in heart attack risk.
However, neither that study nor this new one prove that PPIs are directly to blame for these problems.
“I cannot say for certain that this is cause-and-effect,” said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, one of the researchers on the current study and a kidney specialist with the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Health Care System.
His team found that PPI users were more likely than people on other heartburn medications to develop chronic kidney disease or kidney failure over five years.
The researchers did try to rule out other possible explanations, such as PPI users being older or in poorer health. But, Al-Aly said, there could still be other factors that account for the higher kidney risk.
Surgery And Other Medical Procedures
Your doctor may recommend surgery if your GERD symptoms dont improve with lifestyle changes and medicines, or if you wish to stop taking long-term GERD medicines to manage symptoms. Youre more likely to develop complications from surgery than from medicines.
Fundoplication. Fundoplication is the most common surgery for GERD. In most cases, it leads to long-term improvement of GERD symptoms. During the operation, a surgeon sews the top of your stomach around the end of your esophagus to add pressure to the lower esophageal sphincter and help prevent reflux.
Surgeons may perform fundoplication as laparoscopic or open surgery. In laparoscopic fundoplication, which is more common, surgeons make small cuts in the abdomen and insert special tools to perform the operation. Laparoscopic fundoplication leaves several small scars. In open fundoplication, surgeons make a larger cut in the abdomen.
Bariatric surgery. If you have GERD and obesity, your doctor may recommend weight-loss surgery, also called bariatric surgery, most often gastric bypass surgery. Bariatric surgery can help you lose weight and reduce GERD symptoms.
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Heartburn Remedies And Kidney Damage
Libby Mitchell
Medications come with risks, and for years doctors have known people taking proton pump inhibitors for heartburn and acid reflux may be at risk for kidney damage. It was previously thought that the decline in kidney function is acute and transient. However, a new study raises concerns that this may not be the case. In some patients, kidney problems can develop slowly over time and result in chronic kidney disease.
In most cases kidney damage is completely asymptomatic, says Laith Al-Rabadi, MBBS, a nephrologist with University of Utah Health Care. Patients may only show symptoms at very advanced stages. These symptoms can be vague and include fatigue, low appetite, and nausea, or more florid like shortness of breath lower extremity swelling and confusion.
The kidney has small filters glomeruli that filter the toxins from the blood. PPIs cause inflammation of the tissue between those filters with subsequent damage and scarring over time. The impacts of the damage depend on how early its caught. The acute inflammatory component can be usually revered with stopping the medication, says Al-Rabadi. Unfortunately, we can’t replace the scarred part and chronic damage of the kidney. We preserve whatever left of the remaining kidney function with the goal of avoiding the need for dialysis.
Are Nexium And Prilosec The Same Drug
Esomeprazole is a mirror drug, meaning that is extremely similar to omeprazole , just like the left hand is the mirror image of the right hand. Technically they could be considered the same drug. Shortly after Prilosecs patent ended, however, AstraZeneca obtained the FDAs approval to market Nexium as a new drug just before the market was flooded with generic medications.
Many speculated that the pharmaceutical giant manufactured the new medication in order to maintain their revenues, since in the early 2000s Prilosec was the top-selling prescription medicine in the U.S., with yearly sales of $4.1 billion.
Esomeprazole and other PPIs are among the most overprescribed medications in the entire world, and theyre also grossly overpriced, especially in the United States. According to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, generic omeprazole is sold at about $1 per single dose, while esomeprazoles price is usually 7 to 15 times higher.
Dr. Marcia Angell, the former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, accused AstraZeneca of distorting the results of the studies that allegedly demonstrated esomeprazoles superiority over omeprazole to artificially overcharge the American consumers.
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