GERD Medicines Increase Risk of Bone Fractures

After reviewing six separate studies, the FDA has issued a warning to those taking acid reflux drugs. The powerful proton pump inhibitors increase a person’s risk of breaking a wrist, hip or spine. The PPIs are the third highest selling class of drug. Doctors prescribe PPIs for patients who have ulcers, acid reflux, GERD or chronic heartburn. More than 13 million prescriptions are written for a PPI every year.

The PPIs are only dangerous when taken for more than one year in high doses. Adults over the age of 50 are more likely to be at an increased risk. Typically, a patient with an ulcer will only need to take the medication for a month to achieve adequate healing.  Some common names of these PPIs include Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid and Protonix are just some of the prescription drugs included in this list. The FDA is requiring packaging and prescription bottles to contain a warning about the increased fracture risk. The powerful medication can actually reduce the amount of calcium in the bones, making them weaker and more susceptible to fractures.

Many people take the PPIs because they are the only medicine powerful enough to provide relief from their painful acid reflux symptoms. In many cases, acid reflux or GERD is accepted as a chronic disease that a person must deal with for the rest of their life. Lifestyle changes may help alleviate some symptoms. Doctors are asked to weigh all the pros and cons before deciding the best course of treatment for each patient.