Do Acid Reflux Drugs Block Calcium Absorption?
A year or more worth of relief gained by taking Nexium, Prevacid, or Prilosec can dramatically raise the risk of a broken hip in people over 50. A British study of more than 145,000 patients found that those taking proton pump inhibitors for a year or more had a 44% higher risk of hip fractures than nonusers. Increased use of the drugs heightens the fracture risk. A similar but smaller risk exists for users of H2 blockers such as Tagamet and Pepcid. The reason: researchers believe that while the drugs reduce acid in the stomach, they also make it more difficult for the body to absorb bone building calcium. Study co-author, Dr. Yu-Xiao Yang of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine cautions that doctors need to be sure patients have a good reason to stay on the drugs long term. The general perception is they (the drugs) are relatively harmless. They often are used without a clear or justified indication for the treatment, Dr. Yang said. Hip fractures in the older patient can
