News: Heartburn Acid Reflux Drugs May Increase The Risk of Pneumonia
Drugs
Recently, a new research has suggested that one out of every 200 patients being treated with gastric acid-suppressive drugs for heartburn and other conditions may develop pneumonia.
The researchers from Seoul National University Hospital in South Korea, analyzed the results of 31 studies on heartburn drugs published between 1985 and 2009.
The researchers found a significant association between the use of one class of gastric acid suppressive, called proton pump inhibitors, and pneumonia. Dr. Chun-Sick Eom and his colleagues also found a dose-response relationship between proton pump inhibitors and risk of pneumonia, meaning the more acid suppressive a patient took, the higher the risk of developing pneumonia. Examples of proton pump inhibitors include Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, and Zegerid.
The researchers also found a strong association between the use of another class, histamine 2-receptor antagonists, and pneumonia. Examples of histamine 2 receptor antagonists include Axid, Pepcid, Tagamet, and Zantac.
The results are published in the Dec. 20 issue of the Canadian Medical Association Journal.
Forty percent to 70% of hospitalized patients receive acid suppressive medication. The researchers say frequent use of these drugs may be contributing to hospital-acquired pneumonia illnesses and deaths. The findings suggest that doctors should exercise caution when prescribing these acid suppressives, particularly among patients at high risk for developing pneumonia.
According to the report, there may be several reasons as to why acid suppressives may have this association with pneumonia.
- Acid-suppressive drugs may increase the risk for pneumonia by blocking gastric acid, which could lead to bacteria overgrowth in the upper gastrointestinal tract that may travel to the lungs.
- It’s also possible the acid-suppressive medication inhibits immune cells, reducing their ability to fight off bacteria and infection.
Acid-suppressive drugs are the second most commonly sold and used medication worldwide, totaling more than $26 billion in sales in 2005 in the U.S. They are prescribed to treat conditions such as heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and ulcers. Previous studies have examined a possible link between these drugs and pneumonia in the past, but the results have been mixed.
“Several previous studies have shown that treatment with acid-suppressive drugs might be associated with an increased risk of respiratory tract infections and community-acquired pneumonia in adults and children,” Eom and his colleagues wrote. “Given the widespread use of proton pump inhibitors and histamine 2-receptor antagonists, clarifying the potential impact of acid-suppressive therapy on the risk of pneumonia is of great importance to public health.”
Dr. Eom said the most striking increase in the risk of pneumonia was observed in the first week of using the medications. Previously, most safety concerns have revolved around long-term use.
In addition to the increased pneumonia risk, the medications have been associated with a higher risk of hip fractures, heart attacks and infections with Clostridium difficile.
Conclusion: Try your best not to use drugs to help you to curb your heartburn or acid reflux symptoms. It is always best to use the natural remedies.
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