Bone Health and AntiAcid Drugs

While you now just are learning about the problems with acid reflux drugs you might wish to know that this is no real surprise.

The drugs shutdown acid production in the stomach that impairs protein metabolism because you must have acid to digest protein. Lacking protein interferes with structural health.

Often reflux symptoms are from too little stomach acid rather than too much and yet your mainstream doctor does not evaluate this condition. Any easy test can tell you more using an available supplement.

You may also not have enough enzymatic function and you may eat too fast without thoroughly chewing your food, or eat too many unhealthy foods or smoke.

Anti-acid drugs also impair the P450 detox pathway in your liver, among many of the problems they cause.

Here are a few things to consider already known to Big Pharma: Notice that two of the drugs are fluoride based compounds and all have a benzene component.

The active ingredient in PREVACID Delayed-Release Capsules, PREVACID for Delayed-Release Oral Suspension and PREVACID SoluTab Delayed- Release Orally Disintegrating Tablets is lansoprazole, a substituted benzimidazole, 2-[[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridyl] methyl] sulfinyl] benzimidazole, a compound that inhibits gastric acid secretion.

Musculoskeletal System - arthralgia, arthritis, bone disorder, joint disorder, leg cramps, musculoskeletal pain, myalgia, myasthenia, ptosis, synovitis

NEXIUM Musculoskeletal: arthralgia, arthritis aggravated, arthropathy, cramps, fibromyalgia syndrome, hernia, polymyalgia rheumatica;

The active ingredient in PROTONIX (pantoprazole sodium) For Delayed-Release Oral Suspension and PROTONIX (pantoprazole sodium) Delayed-Release Tablets is a substituted benzimidazole, sodium 5-(difluoromethoxy)-2-[[(3,4-dimethoxy-2-pyridinyl)methyl] sulfinyl]1H-benzimidazole sesquihydrate, a compound that inhibits gastric acid secretion.

Musculoskeletal Disorders: rhabdomyolysis

PRILOSEC Musculoskeletal: Muscle weakness, myalgia, muscle cramps, joint pain, leg pain

You may wish to check all the other information here at Natural Health News about these drugs using the search box.

We also have listed some natural approaches to resolving acid excess.

Please note that these drugs are not good for babies and young children which is a common practice today. Elders may have more problems with the drugs because of delayed metabolism times. In the May 10 Archives of Internal Medicine it is reported that PPI use was associated with a 42% increase in the risk of recurrent C. difficile infection, with the greatest risk among patients older than 80 and in patients treated with antibiotics that were not targeted to the bacterium.

US FDA says acid reflux drugs carry fracture risk
Reuters, Tuesday May 25 2010
* FDA recommends lower dose, shorter duration of use
* Drugs include Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix
* Package insert labels to include fracture-risk warnings
NEW YORK, May 25 (Reuters) - U.S. health regulators have cautioned doctors and patients of an increased risk of fractures of the hip, wrist, and spine from high doses or long-term use of a widely used class of drugs to control the amount of acid in the stomach.
The class of heartburn drugs, called proton pump inhibitors, include prescription brands such as AstraZeneca Plc's top-selling Nexium and the company's Prilosec, an older generic treatment that is also available over the counter at a lower dosage strength.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Tuesday that studies suggest a possible increased risk of bone fractures with the use of proton pump inhibitors for one year or longer, or at high doses.
Package insert labels for the drugs will be changed to describe the possible increased fracture risks, the FDA said.
"Because these products are used by a great number of people, it's important for the public to be aware of this possible increased risk," Joyce Korvick, deputy director for safety in the FDA's Division of Gastroenterology Products, said in an agency statement.
"When prescribing proton pump inhibitors, health care professionals should consider whether a lower dose or shorter duration of therapy would adequately treat the patient's condition," Korvick said.
Moreover, the FDA said doctors and patients should weigh whether known benefits of the drugs outweigh potential risks.
Other proton pump inhibitors used to treat heartburn, known formally as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), include generically available Protonix, Johnson & Johnson's prescription Aciphex brand and Novartis AG's over-the-counter Prevacid.
The FDA recommended that consumers report any side effects or other product problems to its MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program at http://www.fda.gov/MedWatch or by calling 800-332-1088. (Reporting by Ransdell Pierson, Bill Berkrot and Lewis Krauskopf; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Gastroenterology/GERD/20030