Painkiller Warning: Ibuprofen May Cause Heartburn, Ulcers, Bleeding Or Holes In Stomach

Painkillers are used for a variety of mild ailments on the body. The recommended dose per day is roughly 200–400 mg and maximum 1,200 mg per day. Over exposure is known to cause a number of serious stomach issues.

By Monica Lozano On May 6, 2022

Ibuprofen can cause “stomach-related side effects”, the charity Versus Arthritis warned.

People who experience heartburn or indigestion while using ibuprofen are encouraged to “speak to [their] doctor”.

Long-term use of ibuprofen is not recommended, as it “increases the risk of problems with your heart of circulation”.

Such risk is more pronounced for those who tick off other risk factors for heart conditions.

“Ibuprofen can cause ulcers in your stomach or gut, especially if you take it by mouth for a long time or in big doses,” warns the NHS.

The national health body added: “If you need to take it for a long time your doctor may also prescribe a medicine to help protect your stomach.”

Other stomach issues from ibuprofen toxicity may include bleeding, or holes in the stomach or intestine.

To make sure ibuprofen tablets, capsules, granules or liquid is safe for you, tell your doctor or pharmacist if you:

• Have ever had bleeding in your stomach or a hole (perforation) in your stomach caused by an NSAID
• Have had a hole (perforation) in your stomach, bleeding in your Stomach or a stomach ulcer more than once
• Have a health problem that means you have an increased chance of bleeding
• Have severe heart failure, severe kidney failure or severe liver failure
• Are trying to get pregnant
• Have high blood pressure that’s not under control
• Have heart disease or mild to moderate heart failure, or have ever Had a stroke
• Have kidney or liver problems
• Have asthma, hay fever or allergies
• Have Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis
• Have chickenpox or shingles – taking ibuprofen can increase the chance of certain infections and skin reactions.

Read original article here

Heartburn Medicines Cause Cancer… FDA Does Nothing

People who take Zantac or similar drugs to combat heartburn may be unknowingly giving themselves cancer. Last week, the FDA announced that it had detected a cancer-causing contaminant called N-nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, in ranitidine heartburn medications.

By Ty Bollinger
September 19, 2019

But the FDA fell short of ordering a recall, and it wasn’t until a week later that distributors began to pull the drugs off the shelves. In response to the discovery, Sanofi spokeswoman Ashleigh Koss said,

Sanofi takes patient safety seriously, and we are committed to working with the F.D.A.”

She went on to say that Zantac “has been around for over a decade and meets all the specified safety requirements for use in the O.T.C. market.” –

At the time, Koss stated that Sanofi had no plans to recall the drug. But as evidence and consumer outrage grew over the following week, pharmaceutical company Novartis decided to stop the distribution of its generic Zantac drugs in all markets. At the time of publishing, Sanofi and the FDA had still failed to issue a recall.

NDMA in Drugs a Major Cancer Risk

This is not the first time that NDMA has been found in popular drugs. Last year, blood pressure medication valsartan, sold under the brand name Diovan, was also found to be contaminated. In that case, the FDA issued a voluntary recall of the drug, citing the risk of developing cancer.

Millions of people take ranitidine to relieve symptoms of heartburn and other gastrointestinal issues. But the potentially life-threatening drugs can still be found in pharmacies across the United States. In Canada, health officials have requested a stop to all distribution of the drug, making the only country in which Sanofi has ceased distribution.

NDMA is an industrial byproduct that can often be found in cured meats like bacon. The FDA says that it is “reasonably safe” to ingest up to one microgram a day. But safety testing has found levels significantly higher. In last year’s valsartan recall, the FDA found up to 17 micrograms of NDMA per dose. Valisure, a pharmacy that tests all drugs it distributes, found that Zantac had NDMA levels reaching 3,000 micrograms.

Valisure petitioned the FDA to recall all forms of ranitidine, though the agency has yet to take any such measures. They claim that NDMA may be “inherent” in the ranitidine molecule and have urged regulators to recall the drug until its safety can be guaranteed. But the FDA, as usual, seems apathetic about consumer safety.

FDA spokesman Jeremy Kahn said in a statement,

The FDA will take appropriate measures based on the results of the ongoing investigation.”

But they failed to recommend that people using the drug stop taking it. Instead, they simply suggested that alternative medicines are available.

This is the same “profits over patients” approach that we’ve seen repeatedly with our regulatory bodies. Safety testing – especially for generic drugs – is significantly lacking. Dinesh Thakur is a drug-safety advocate and whistleblower who exposed corruption and faulty quality control as an executive at Ranbaxy Laboratories. He says the FDA is not doing enough to protect consumers.

I think this is another good example of how our regulations need to change. Things like this will never get caught, unless somebody is actually actively looking for stuff.”

Meanwhile, a lack of oversight and testing standards has resulted in pharmacy shelves filled with drugs that can literally kill you. The FDA knows that Zantac has been contaminated with a carcinogen. Sanofi knows that something has gone terribly wrong with one of their flagship drugs. But the money is too good to recall them now.

Is Money Running Regulation?

Zantac was the first drug to total $1 billion in sales. In 2018, the drug generated nearly $130 million dollars for Sanofi. But a new class-action lawsuit filed earlier this week claims that the French drug makers have known the risks all along, hiding them from regulators and consumers in order to maintain profits.

The suit claims that each 150mg tablet of Zantac contains 26,000 times the FDA-approved daily limit of NDMA. Steve Berman, the lead attorney for the case, believes that consumers have been intentionally put in harm’s way.

Millions of people in the U.S. suffer from heartburn, and for years, Zantac has been sold to the masses as a safe and easy-to-find remedy for that common ailment. We’re certain that if those millions of consumers knew that the Zantac they take contains known carcinogens, they would be rightfully outraged.”

“Sanofi knew that Zantac contains a carcinogen, yet it chose to conceal these risks to the public to line its own pockets,” the suit claims.

Had defendants disclosed that Zantac results in unsafe levels of NDMA in the human body, no person, let alone a reasonable person, would have purchased and consumed Zantac.”

But all statements from the FDA and Sanofi say basically the same thing:

“We care about consumer safety. We’re looking into it.”

This isn’t the first time that drug manufacturers have hidden risks and lied to the public in order to line their own pockets.

Johnson & Johnson knew that there was asbestos in their talcum powder but did nothing. Juul Labs marketed their e-cigarettes to children, only to destroy the evidence when confronted. Opioid manufacturers bribed doctors and lied about safety, causing an epidemic that has claimed tens of thousands of American lives each year.

We could call the FDA lapdogs for Big Pharma. We could say that the whole system is corrupt, with patents, approvals, and leadership bought and paid for with blood money from the industry. But we don’t need to. All we have to do is show you the numbers.

• In the last 40 years, only one FDA commissioner has failed to secure a high-paying job in the pharmaceutical industry. The most recent departure, Scott Gottlieb, took a lucrative job on the board of Pfizer.
• A study published earlier this year found that 17% of the cancer drugs approved by the FDA used “suboptimal control arms,” leading to the approval of expensive cancer therapies that don’t show any real benefit to patients.
• Sonny Perdue, the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, seems to be the only regulatory authority in the world who still claims that glyphosate is safe, despite hundreds of studies to the contrary and evidence presented in court shows that Bayer/Monsanto executives actively tried to hide the cancer/Roundup connection. Perhaps it’s a coincidence that Perdue is a former fertilizer salesman who has received hundreds of thousands of dollars from the agricultural industry.
• A new expose has shown that many of the top-selling smartphones exceed federal radiation limits. FCC commissioner Ajit Pai worked in the telecommunications industry before his appointment. Former FCC heads have literally won awards for their efforts lobbying for the industry.

Doctors are literally incentivized to prescribe chemotherapy drugs to cancer patients, making more money with each dose of the toxic chemical. But maybe that doesn’t affect their judgement when it comes to patient care.

Maybe it’s all a coincidence. Maybe there’s no conflict of interest within the FDA. Maybe Sanofi is a great company that’s just trying to help patients. Maybe it’s the result of an innocent mistake that our shelves are filled with deadly drugs that cause cancer. Maybe the people who are calling foul are just crazy conspiracy theorists. Maybe a little bit of cancer isn’t a big deal so long as you get heartburn relief.

But I don’t buy it for a second…

https://thetruthaboutcancer.com/does-zantac-cause-cancer/

Daily Habit of 15 Million People Nearly Doubles Your Risk of Liver Cancer - PPIs

A new study reveals an alarming link between one of America’s most common groups of drugs and the formation of liver cancer. If you take them you nearly double your risk.¹

By Lee Euler / June 19, 2019

And you’ve got lots of company – some 15 million people take proton pump inhibitor drugs (PPIs) like Prilosec OTC and Nexium for heartburn, acid reflux, ulcers, and other GI issues.

Aside from cancer, there’s already a laundry list of other ominous side effects – including increased risk of heart, kidney, and brain diseases, plus reduced nutrient absorption and bacterial overgrowth.^2,3,4,5,6

Now there’s a new study to confirm the dangers. I’ll look at that, and also try to suggest some ways you can deal with your tummy problems without drugs…

From “magic pills” to magnified symptoms

When PPIs were developed in the 1980s, they were hailed as a miracle for people with ulcers or just upset stomach. Those with acid reflux — gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) — thought they’d found their “magic pill.”

Today, doctors recommend these drugs for six different stomach disorders.

Little did consumers realize what they were getting into – especially as time went by and millions transitioned from using these drugs once in a while to taking them every day for life.

Now that these pills have been around for three decades, their darker side is all too clear. We shouldn’t be surprised. Some adverse side effects were identified long ago – serious enough to scare well-informed people off reliance on PPIs.

What the studies now say

Recent animal studies have shown an increased risk of not only stomach cancer,^7,8 but also liver damage.⁹

Another study showed a clear correlation between consumption of PPIs and development of liver cancer in rats.¹⁰

Naturally, these results caused cancer epidemiologists – the scientists who search for disease patterns and causes – to become concerned.

Now, epidemiologists can’t intentionally expose anyone to a substance they believe might cause cancer, just to see what happens, so they combined two proven epidemiological study techniques in order to cross check for errors or gaps.

Human study links liver cancer to PPI use

In the first part of the study, researchers identified people with liver cancer, and also selected control subjects without the disease. They then compared each group’s exposure to a potential risk factor – in this case, PPIs.

The groups were painstakingly matched for age, gender, and primary care physician (to validate results). There were 434 cancer patients and 2,013 disease-free controls.

This is what’s known as a case-control study. The second part was a prospective cohort study.

In part two, researchers identified 500,000 people and collected extensive health data on them, in order to pick up links between certain exposures (i.e., PPIs) and the onset (or not) of liver cancer.

Both parts of the study confirmed a link between PPIs and liver cancer.

The case-control study tied PPIs to a horrendous 80% increased risk. And the news was even worse from the huge 500,000-person cohort study: an 83% increased risk among those who took omeprazole (commonly sold as Prilosec or Zegerid).

All told, the big study found those who took PPIs nearly doubled their risk of liver cancer, compared to those who’d never taken them.¹¹

Can we actually say PPIs cause cancer?

As you may know (and I often repeat), even the strongest epidemiological studies can’t prove causality… as in, “Does exposure to Drug A cause Disease B?” They can only demonstrate that the two phenomena are found side by side. We don’t know the mechanism by which one might bring on the other, of if there is one.

However…

These studies certainly establish a cozy connection. Enough to warrant avoiding PPIs. (Warning: don’t go off these drugs cold turkey. More on that below.)

Since we can’t study humans directly to see what these drugs are doing inside them, we have to rely on animal studies to show us why PPIs influence cancer risk. Here’s what we know so far:

• Studies on rats show a direct increased risk of liver cancer.¹²
• PPI usage causes rats to secrete excessive amounts of the stomach hormone gastrin, known for its cancer-promoting effects (especially on liver tissue).¹³
• PPIs also promote the overgrowth of pathogenic bacteria because the drugs reduce stomach acidity, which kills off many microbes.^14,15

Part of their hazard is in how they work

It’s important to understand that PPIs don’t specifically target stomach cells. Nor is stomach acid usually the culprit that causes chronic heartburn.

Every cell in your body that produces acid uses a proton pump.

Meaning: proton pump inhibitors will inhibit the production of acid in all of these cells – not just those in your stomach.

Some scientists believe this may be the reason for the dangerous side effects of PPIs. Your cells use acid to remove waste. So inhibiting acid allows toxins to accumulate, speeding up internal damage and aging.

Critical info: how to wean yourself off PPIs

If you’ve been taking PPIs, it’s critical that you DO NOT stop cold turkey.

Yes, they do reduce heartburn in the short term. But if you suddenly stop taking them, you’ll experience a whiplash-like rebound. And boost your risk of other health issues.

You must allow your body to detoxify from these drugs gradually.

Here’s the regimen Dr. Joseph Mercola suggests – but please note that this should only be done under your doctor’s guidance.

• Gradually decrease your PPI dose until you start experiencing heartburn.
• At that point, begin substituting an over-the-counter H2 blocker like Zantac, Raniditine, Tagamet, or Cimetidine.
• Once off PPIs and on the H2 blockers for several weeks, begin weaning off the H2 drugs as well.

Remember to do this under your doctor’s guidance.

Safer alternatives for stomach issues

While undergoing the weaning process – or to avoid using PPIs altogether – consider using the following natural tactics to address acid reflux:

1. Optimize your stomach acid by drinking one tablespoon of raw unfiltered apple cider vinegar in a large glass of water.
2. Take a betaine hydrochloric supplement to aid digestion and help kill pylori bacteria, which can cause ulcers when out of control.
3. Take ½ to 1 teaspoon of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) mixed into 8 ounces of water to neutralize stomach acid. But not every day. Save this for days the pain is awful.
4. Ginger tea is a popular remedy to calm the GI tract and suppress pylori. It’s also six to eight times more effective than lansoprazole (brand name Prevacid) at preventing ulcers.¹⁶ Simply add two or three slices of fresh ginger root to two cups of hot water, and let it steep for half an hour. Enjoy it 20 minutes before your meals.
5. Take more B vitamins. Research suggests they lower your risk of acid reflux. Folate may reduce acid reflux by about 40%. On the flip side, low B2 and B6 levels predispose you to acid reflux.
6. Eat smaller and more frequent meals. It’s also best to eat your last meal of the day at least three hours before bedtime. Being upright aids digestion. Eating just before bed is a bad idea for many reasons.
7. Stop smoking. Nicotine is a leading cause of GERD.
8. Avoid things that trigger acid reflux for you. Caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine are key suspects.
9. Licorice root and zinc-carnosine actively promote the healing of the stomach lining, and are useful for treating ulcers and heartburn. They have an excellent safety record.
10. Raft-forming alginates block stomach gases from moving back up the esophagus and inflicting pain and damage.¹⁷ They’ve been used to treat stomach and esophagus issues for decades. Raft-forming alginates, derived from algae, are readily available online.

PPIs were always intended for short-term use, nothing more. So work with your doctor to wean off them. Or better yet, if you haven’t already started them, don’t.

References:

1. Tran KT, McMenamin UC, Hicks B, et al. Proton pump inhibitor and histamine-2 receptor antagonist use and risk of liver cancer in two population-based studies. Ailment Pharmacol Ther. 2018 Jul;48(1):55-64.
2. Davis TME, Drinkwater J, Davis WA. Proton Pump Inhibitors, Nephropathy, and Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study. J Clin Endocrinol Metabl. 2017 Aug 1;102(8):2985-93
3. Gomm W, von Holt K, Thome F, et al. Association of Proton Pump Inhibitors With Risk of Dementia: A Pharmacoepidemiological Claims Data Analysis. JAMA Neurol. 2016 Apr;73(4):410-6.
4. Sukhovershin RA, Cooke JP. How May Proton Pump Inhibitors Impaiar Cardiovascular Health?Am J Cardiovasc Drugs. 2016 Jun;16(3):153-61
5. Corsonello A, Lattanzio F, Bustacchini S, et al. Adverse Events of Proton Pump Inhibitors: Potential Mechanisms. Curr Drug Metab. 2018;19(2):142-54.
6. Tai SY, Chien CY, Wu DC, et al. Risk of dementia from proton pump inhibitor use in Asian population: A nationwide cohort study in Taiwan. PLoS One. 2017;12(2):e0171006.
7. Cheung KS, Chan EW, Wong AYS, et al. Long-term proton pump inhibitors and risk of gastric cancer development after treatment for Helicobacter pylori: a population-based study. Gut. 2018 Jan;67(1):28-35.
8. Brusselaers N, Wahlin K, Engstrand L, et al. Maintenance therapy with proton pump inhibitors and risk of gastric cancer: a nationwide population-based cohort study in Sweden. BMJ Open. 2017 Oct 30;;7(10):e017739.
9. Llorente C, Jepsen P, Inamine T, et al. Gastric acid suppression promotes alcoholic liver disease by inducing overgrowth of intestinal Enterococcus. Nat Commun. 2017 Oct 16;8(1):837.
10. Hayashi H, Shimamoto K, Taniai E, et al. Liver tumor promoting effect of omeprazole in rats and its possible mechanism of action. J Toxicol Sci. 2012;37(3):491-501.
11. Tran KT, McMenamin UC, Hicks B, et al. Proton pump inhibitor and histamine-2 receptor antagonist use and risk of liver cancer in two population-based studies. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2018 Jul;48(1):55-64.
12. Hayashi H, Shimamoto K, Taiai E, et al. Liver tumor promoting effect of omeprazole in rats and its possible mechanism of action. J Toxicol Sci. 2012;37(3):491-501.
13. Fossmark R, Sagatun L, Nordrum IS, et al. Hypergastrinemia is associated with adeoncarcinomas in the gastric corpus and shorter patient survival. APMIS.2015 Jun;123(6):509-14.
14. Thorens J, Froehlich F, Schwizer W, et al. Bacterial overgrowth during treatment with omeprazole compared with cimetidine: a prospective randomized double blind study. Gut. 1996 Jul;39(1):54-9.
15. Lewis SJ, Franco S, Young G, et al. Altered bowel function and duodenal bacterial overgrowth in patients treated with omeprazole. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 1996 Aug;10(4):557-61.
16. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17295419
17. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5869738/

https://www.cancerdefeated.com/daily-habit-of-15-million-people-nearly-doubles-your-risk-of-liver-cancer/

Zantac and Generic Brands Pulled from the Market Due to Cancer Concerns

The maker of a generic version of a popular heartburn medication is stopping worldwide distribution over concerns the drug could be contaminated with a cancer-causing substance.

September 25, 2019

Novartis AG’s Sandoz unit said Wednesday it would stop distribution of generic versions of the stomach drug Zantac after regulators in the U.S. and Europe began investigating the potential contamination, according to Bloomberg. Some versions of Zantac, also known by the generic name ranitidine, have been recalled in Europe and Canada.

Regulators first said last week they were looking into the potential contamination. Concerns arose over both generic heartburn and antacid medications and Zantac itself, made by Sanofi, according to the Los Angeles Times.

The medications all treat heartburn and other stomach issues.

The chemical involved is known as N-Nitrosodimethylamine, or NDMA, and is a common industrial byproduct that is considered a likely human carcinogen, the Times said. The substance also occurs in some cooked or cured meats.

NDMA contamination has sparked a series of recalls of multiple blood pressure drugs since last year.

For now, the Food and Drug Administration is not recommending a recall of heartburn medications and is not recommending that anyone stop taking the drugs under investigation, according to USA Today. The agency recommended people talk with their doctors or pharmacists if they want to discontinue prescriptions.

Anyone taking non-prescription versions of the drugs can switch to other over-the-counter medications, the FDA said, according to USA Today. There are multiple drugs available for the same or similar uses.

"It's really important to have people not panic over this," said Janet Woodcock, director of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, according to USA Today. "People who have taken ranitidine or Zantac on and off. This is not really a high risk situation. But contaminants should not be in these drugs. We're going to make sure they get out."

Woodcock noted that preliminary tests detected low levels of NDMA that equal or slightly exceeded the amounts found in foods such as cured and grilled meats, USA Today said.

The NDMA issues have raised questions about the global pharmaceutical supply chain, according to the Times. Many of the medications involved were made in China or India, prompting unease about the quality of generic drug manufacturing overseas.

Poor quality controls and efforts to conceal manufacturing problems from the FDA have complicated oversight of overseas producers, the Times said.

https://www.syracuse.com/business/2019/09/maker-halts-distribution-of-generic-zantac-over-cancer-worries.html

Hidden Factor Behind Kidney Disease Epidemic

In a new report authored by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, people who use proton pump inhibiting drugs to treat heartburn (acid reflux) are at a 20% to 50%increased risk for developing chronic kidney disease.1

LIFE EXTENSION MAGAZINE

February 2017

By William Faloon

William Faloon

The prevalence of kidney disease is increasing in persons 60 years and older. This has led researchers to investigate what new factor is behind this mounting kidney failure problem.

To put this in perspective, a study period ending in 1994 found chronic kidney diseasepresent in 18.8% of older individuals. A study period ending in 2008 found chronic kidney disease in this same age group (60+ years) had surged to 26%. That’s a 38%increase over a time-frame of only 14 years.2

More than 1 in 10 American adults now have some stage of chronic kidney disease.1 Many are unaware of their kidneys failing and the increased risk for heart disease that this carries.3

Those afflicted with chronic kidney disease have higher homocysteine4,5 and C-reactive protein6,7 levels, along with reduced production of nitric oxide.8,9 So it is not surprising that kidney impairment elevates vascular disease risk.10

So why is kidney disease skyrocketing in persons over age 60?

Hypertension has long been a prime factor, but greater steps to control blood pressure have been taken in more recent years.

Diabetes is a culprit and poor glycemic control has been on the rise, as are increases in average body (fat) mass.

Overlooked is the impact that drugs have on the kidneys. Common pain relievers such as ibuprofen are notoriously damaging to kidneys, yet few warnings about their nephrotoxic effects are provided to consumers.11,12

The new report found risk of kidney damage is dose dependent. People who took two daily doses of drugs like Prilosec® or Prevacid® had a higher risk compared to one daily-dose users.

One aspect of the study analysis suggests twice-daily proton pump inhibitor dosing was associated with a 46%higher risk of chronic kidney disease than once-daily dosing, which was associated with a 15% higher risk.1

Fundamental changes to reverse this upward trend of kidney disease are urgently needed.

This article will make some suggestions about protecting renal function as we age, and what those who suffer gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) should change in light of the disturbing findings about proton pump inhibitors.

Heartburn (acid reflux) has plagued mankind throughout recorded history. Some of our founding fathers suffered horrific bouts of heartburn for which there was no effective treatment.13

In 1992, I woke up to a sharp stabbing pain in my chest. A quick visit to a gastroenterologist resulted in a diagnosis of esophagitis (caused by reflux). A proton pump inhibitor drug (Prilosec®) was prescribed and my pain disappeared in a few days.

What did people do before proton pump inhibitors were discovered I wondered? Unlike older medications (such as Tagamet®) that only reduce stomach acid, proton pump inhibitors block it altogether (if used every 12 hours).

Considering that up to 30% of Americans have symptomatic heartburn that occurs at least once weekly, and more than 40% of Americans have it to one degree or another,14 the advent of proton pump inhibitors would have been a miraculous solution—if it were not for the side effects that occur when stomach acid is chronically blocked.

Increased Fracture Risk in Users of Proton Pump Inhibitors

 

Proton pump inhibiting drugs block stomach acid production, which often provides rapid relief from heartburn symptoms. Yet hydrochloric acid secreted by our stomach is needed to break down foods to facilitate absorption of essential nutrients.

As people age, the gradual decline in stomach acid production makes it difficult to absorb minerals. Chronic use of proton pump inhibitor drugs can severely impair absorption of calcium, magnesium, iron and certain vitamins.15-19

Proton pump inhibitors are now considered to be culprits behind higher rates of osteoporosis.20,21 Studies show that regular users of proton pump inhibitors have a 10% to 40% increased risk of bone fractures.15,22-27

In addition, users of these heartburn-relieving drugs suffer higher incidences of pneumonia and bacterial infection (Clostridium difficile).28,29

Vitamin B12 Deficits

Stomach acid is part of the digestive juices needed to absorb vitamin B12. You need acid to separate vitamin B12 from food.

When stomach acid is blocked for an extended period, vitamin B12 deficiencies occur30-32 and can manifest as neurological impairment (sometimes leading to dementia),33 anemia,34 elevated homocysteine,35 and other disorders.

One study found that vitamin B12 deficiency was 65% more common in long-term users of proton pump inhibitors.32 The degree of the B12 deficit correlated with the dose of the proton pump inhibiting drug, i.e. the higher the daily dose, the greater the B12 deficit.

Discontinuation of the proton pump inhibitor resulted in a reversal of the vitamin B12 deficit.32

Those who need to take daily proton pump inhibitors can obtain sufficient B12 levels by taking 1,000 mcg injections of B12 three times a week, or by taking daily sublingual B12 lozenges.

Heart Attacks in Proton Pump Inhibitor Users

 

Stomach acid is required for optimal absorption of nutrients like selenium and magnesium. Aging individuals who don’t supplement with essential nutrients are often deficient. If they take a proton pump inhibitor and don’t supplement, they are at risk for severe nutrient deficiencies.

When the body is deprived of calcium, it robs it from the bones, which results in release of bony constituents that contribute to coronary artery calcification.36,37

The mineral deficit most frequently associated with proton pump inhibitor use is magnesium. Several studies show frank magnesium deficits in response to suppressing stomach acid with proton pump inhibitors.17,18,38

So it should come as no surprise that people who regularly use proton pump inhibitors suffer heart attack rates higher than nonusers.39-41 A recent study found a 1.58-fold greater risk of heart attack amongst proton pump inhibitor users.39

Users of acid-blocking drugs not only suffer magnesium deficiency, but a lack of vitamin B12 causes their homocysteine levels to surge. These twin vascular risk factors help explain the higher risk of heart attack and stroke in long-term proton pump inhibitor users.

Kidney Damage

Scientists grew suspicious of proton pump inhibitors because they can cause acute interstitial nephritis,42-44 a condition in which spaces between the kidney tubules become swollen and interfere with filtration of toxins out of one’s blood.45

A large case-control study published in 2013 revealed that patients presenting with acute kidney failure were more than twice as likely to be using a proton pump inhibitor drug.46 Typically, acute kidney-failure patients recover rapidly after they withdraw from proton pump inhibiting drugs, but it may take up to three months and in some cases require additional therapy.47

Based on data showing proton pump inhibitors create acute kidney problems, researchers at Johns Hopkins University sought to evaluate the impact on a large group of people over a 6-year period.

A total of 10,482 subjects with a mean age of 63 years were selected from a study titled Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities. The study used several forms of analysis to rule out confounding factors that might have caused chronic kidney disease. The findings from this study published in 2016 revealed that regular proton pump inhibitor use was associated with:1

• 35% increased incidence of chronic kidney disease (time-varying analysis)
• 45% increased incidence of chronic kidney disease (unadjusted analysis)
• 50% increased incidence of chronic kidney disease (adjusted analysis that took into account demographic, socioeconomic and clinical variables)

Proton pump inhibitor users were more likely obese and taking antihypertensive medications, which might have increased chronic kidney disease incidences beyond that associated with acid-blocker drugs like Nexium®, Prilosec®, and Prevacid®.

Interestingly, GERD patients who used older drugs like Tagamet® did not show an increase in chronic kidney disease incidence.

A large study published in 2016 confirmed these findings. The study’s authors compared users of proton pump inhibitors (Nexium®, Prevacid®, et al.) to older line drugs like Tagamet® (cimetidine). Patients who took the proton pump inhibitors had a 96% increased risk of developing kidney failure and a 28% increased risk of chronic kidney disease.48

Although we know that hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and family history are risk factors for kidney disease,49 these findings suggest that proton pump inhibitors are also associated with chronic kidney disease and kidney failure afflicting older individuals.

What GERD Sufferers Should Do

 

GERD can be a frustrating, vexing problem. It is not caused by excess stomach acid.

The underlying reason for GERD is failure of the sphincter valve between the stomach and esophagus to properly close. This enables stomach contents that include enzymes, food, drink, bile, and acids to reflux back up into the delicate esophageal lining. The outward symptomatic effect is heartburn. The long term impact can be an increased risk for Barrett’s esophagus, a type of change in the epithelium (lining) of the esophagus which may increase the risk for a type of esophageal cancer.50-52 Though the increase in risk of Barrett’s esophagus is not known with certainty, most medical experts suggest the long-term risk is around 15%-20%, which necessitates an upper endoscopy to assess the esophagus lining every three to five years in chronic GERD sufferers.53-55

 

Lifestyle modifications that can mitigate or eliminate GERD include weight loss, reducing or eliminating caffeine/alcohol/nicotine, reducing meal size, not eating late in the evening, and elevating the head end of one’s bed so that gravity holds down stomach contents that otherwise enter the esophagus while one sleeps.56-61

 

While these GERD-mitigating steps work reasonably well, few people implement them consistently.

The convenience of taking a proton pump inhibitor to prevent heartburn has resulted in large swaths of the aging population taking this drug every day, but doing nothing to correct the underlying problem causing GERD.

QUOTE FROM STUDY PUBLISHED BY AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

“Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 13.6% of adults in the United States, is associated with a substantially increased risk of death and cardiovascular events, and accounts for a disproportionately large burden on the financial resources of Medicare. The increasing prevalence of CKD among communities cannot be fully explained by trends in known risk factors, such as diabetes mellitus and hypertension, suggesting that other variables may contribute to the disease process. Medication use may be a potential factor, particularly given tendencies toward polypharmacy. Identifying iatrogenic risk factors for CKD may help to promote the rational use of medications and reduce the burden of CKD worldwide.”1

“Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and the Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease,” JAMA Internal Medicine,February, 2016.

Raft-Forming Alginates

Several years ago, Life Extension® introduced a chewable tablet that, when taken during a meal, forms a temporary protective barrier between the stomach and esophagus to prevent stomach contents from refluxing.

Most users found the chewing of these tablets at mealtime to be inconvenient and did not continue with them. This is somewhat understandable considering how easy it is to pop a 20 mg tablet of Prilosec® (omeprazole) once or twice a day to stop heartburn symptoms from manifesting.

With data mounting about the side effects of long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, those with mild to moderate GERD should consider lifestyle changes and a new approach described in this issue of Life Extension.

Severe GERD sufferers should strike a balance between a less frequent dose of the proton pump inhibitor, once symptoms are resolved, and “on demand” therapy if appropriate.

Lifestyle modifications and occasional use of raft-forming alginates should be considered to give the body a break from chronic proton pump inhibitor use.

Sublingual and/or vitamin B12 injections are recommended for those who continue daily use of proton pump inhibitors (hopefully no more than once a day).

New Chewable Antacid Tablets

The article on page 40 of this issue describes a novel antacid utilizing magnesium, calcium, and licorice extract. This unique formula is designed to neutralize acid in the esophagus and promote movement of stomach contents away from the delicate esophageal lining.

This antacid lozenge can help GERD sufferers reduce or eliminate reliance on proton pump inhibitor drugs.

OUR FRAGILE KIDNEYS

Most people don’t understand the delicate nature of the tiny structures that comprise their kidneys. Even fewer realize that kidney function involves more than merely removing toxic waste from the blood.

The kidneys support water/fluid balance, secrete hormones to make red blood cells, maintain electrolyte levels and regulate blood pressure. They are also involved in maintaining healthier levels of precursors to endothelial nitric oxide.

Every day, our two kidneys filter about 120 to 150 quarts of blood to produce about 1 to 2 quarts of urine.62

Those with chronic kidney disease often have sharply higher homocysteine and C-reactive protein levels that predispose them to a myriad of cardiovascular disorders.

Maintaining youthful kidney function is of utmost importance if one’s goal is to live a long and healthy life. Yet far too little attention is paid to these critical organs. Documented chronic kidney disease risk factors are:

• Diabetes63-65 and metabolic syndrome66
• High blood pressure64,67
• Obesity64,68
• Toxic medications69,70

Overlooked is the adverse impact that poor dietary patterns and normal aging inflict on the fragile structures (glomeruli) that comprise the filtering units of our kidneys.

Supplemental nutrients that have been shown to protect and support healthy kidney function include coenzyme Q10,71,72 omega-3s oils,73,74 and N-acetylcysteine.75,76

Importance of Blood Tests to Evaluate Kidney Health

 

No one should wait for kidney disease to manifest where it may progress toward end-stage renal failure. This is especially important for users of proton pump inhibitors (and pain relieving drugs).

A comprehensive CBC/chemistry blood test evaluates markers of kidney function such as creatinine and blood urea nitrogen.

The safe upper limit for serum creatinine is 1.00 (mg/dL). Any fractional number over this (such as 1.1) raises concern that can signal the need for the most accurate blood test to evaluate kidney function, called cystatin-C.

Cystatin-C is an underutilized blood marker, which is regrettable because it provides a far more accurate indicator of kidney function than the standard kidney tests.77 Optimal levels of cystatin-C are less than 0.91 mg/L. Any result that comes back higher indicates the presence of kidney disease.

If caught in time, cystatin-C levels can be brought back to normal by discontinuing suspected drugs, such as ibuprofen and/or a proton pump inhibitor.

The only factor that impedes routine use of the cystatin-C blood test is its high cost. Commercial labs charge around $200 for it. Life Extension offers the cystatin-C blood test to consumers for $99.

A comprehensive CBC/chemistry blood test that includes dozens of important markers such as glucose, lipids, and blood counts, along with markers of liver and kidney function, can be obtained directly from Life Extension for only $35.

Cystatin-C provides an earlier indicator of kidney impairment than tests like creatinine that are included in the CBC/chemistry panel.

In light of the new findings, long-term users of proton pump inhibitors should consider ordering the cystatin-Cblood test as this provides the earliest warning to cut back or discontinue use of proton pump inhibitor drugs. The CBC/chemistry and/or cystatin-C blood tests can be ordered by calling 1-800-208-3444 or at LifeExtension.com/CBCPlus

Try Reducing Frequency and Dose – “On Demand” Therapy

A number of published papers conclude that Americans are overusing proton pump inhibitor drugs.78-80

The medical literature reveals a dose-response relationship regarding the side effects these drugs induce.1

As reported in the introduction to this article, a recent study has observed increased risks of chronic kidney disease in users of proton pump inhibitors, and the risk may be higher in those who take two doses a day instead of one. Most proton pump inhibitors start to wear off after 12 hours, so by taking only one of these drugs a day, there is at least some restoration of stomach acid production to help better absorb vital nutrients.

Studies dating back 25 years, however, demonstrate that proton pump inhibitors themselves can induce acute interstitial nephritis, which is a condition in which spaces between the kidney tubules become swollen and interfere with filtration of toxins out of one’s blood.81-83

These data should prompt you to consider reducing the dose frequency of your proton pump inhibitor medication to three times per week. Studies that have examined the possibility of intermittent therapy in patients with GERD, however, have been inconsistent as it relates to heartburn relief.

All things considered, an attempt to restrict intake of proton pump inhibitors to “on-demand” dosing, along with the regular use of a novel antacid lozenge described in this issue, may be an effective alternative solution to chronic use of acid-suppressing drugs.

Don’t Be a Victim of Medical Ignorance

 

Proton pump inhibitor drugs provide almost immediate relief from heartburn symptoms and can facilitate a cure for esophagitis.

In 2013, more than 15 million Americans were prescribed proton pump inhibitors and many more bought this class of drug over the counter.1,84 Study findings suggest that chronic prescribing of these drugs is not medically indicated in many cases.85 One study found that 27% of long term proton pump inhibitor users could discontinue therapy without encountering symptoms.86

Published studies show consistent associations between use of these acid-blocking drugs and higher risk of chronic kidney disease.42,43,46,48 This disorder has increased in prevalence during a time period that corresponds with widespread use of proton pump inhibitors.1,48

Many GERD sufferers have come to rely on proton pump inhibitors to offset the heartburn-inducing effects of eating large meals, excessive ethanol consumption and carrying too much weight.

Common-sense lifestyle changes can enable those with GERD to reduce or eliminate reliance on proton pump inhibitors.

A preponderance of clinical data indicates that this will beneficially result in a reduction in risks of bone fracture, heart attack, stroke, infections, dementia, and kidney failure.

Blood tests can readily reveal if kidney damage is occurring and provide an early warning to discontinue certain drugs before permanent kidney damage manifests.

Please turn this page to see how easy it is to obtain low-cost blood tests that can help you maintain optimalhealth throughout the New Year.

For longer life,

William Faloon