How concerned should I be about medicine for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) resulting in bone loss and broken bones?
Several studies have shown a connection between certain acid suppression medicines and an increased chance of breaking a hip. The medicines in this study are in a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPI). They include Nexium®, Prevacid® and Prilosec®. PPI medicines are used very commonly to treat conditions such as heartburn and acid reflux disease. The link between the PPI medicines and the risk of a broken hip appears to be a problem only for people on fairly high doses, equal to 40 mg or more a day, for a long period of time. People who use over-the-counter or even prescription doses once in a while should not be concerned. Talk to your doctor first before stopping your medicine. Many people take these medicines for serious medical conditions. These medicines are important for people with major health problems, but they are not for everyone. Patients should be prescribed the lowest effective dose available to treat their condition(s). People concerned about taking these me
