Study Links Heartburn Drugs, Broken Hip
CHICAGO (AP) - Taking such popular heartburn drugs as Nexium, Prevacid or Prilosec for a year or more can raise the risk of a broken hip markedly in people over 50, a large study in Britain found.
The study raises questions about the safety of some of the most widely used and heavily promoted prescription drugs on the market, taken by millions of people.
The researchers speculated that when the drugs reduce acid in the stomach, they also make it more difficult for the body to absorb bone-building calcium. That can lead to weaker bones and fractures.
Hip fractures in the elderly often lead to life-threatening complications. As a result, doctors should make sure patients have good reason to stay on heartburn drugs long term, said study co-author Dr. Yu-Xiao Yang of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
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Study Links Heartburn Drugs, Broken Hip
My father suffered from acid reflux disease, except back then it was called ‘chronic heartburn’ and he ate a ton of Tums over the years…
One of my daughters suffers form acid reflux disease too, and she takes Prilosec, as do I, because I have been dealing with ‘chronic heartburn’ since I was a child…
For the last 10 years I either took Prevacid, when it was available by prescription only and then moved on to Prilosec in recent years, and have never had a bit of problem with acid reflux since, I am afraid I’ll have to take my chances on keeping my balance, acid reflux is so damned miserable, I think I’d rather risk a broken hip in a fall than to endure the pain of severe acid reflux and all the dangers that entails…
I swear, if it’s not one thing, it’s something else, and given enough time and government money, I think they could come up with findings saying purified drinking water and pure oxygen would kill you…
December 26th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
[…] Original post by TexasFred and software by Elliott Back […]
December 27th, 2006 at 12:14 am
If this is true, I’d better order my replacement hip right now. I’m suffering from heartburn as I type thanks to the salami and onions I had for dinner.
December 27th, 2006 at 9:16 am
I have been on aciphex for years..and I’ll take my chances on the busted hip..before aciphex I spent most nights sleeping sitting up in the recliner and it didn’t make any difference what I ate..when I went to sleep it came up.
December 28th, 2006 at 11:34 am
Fred, Don’t forget that most ppl that end up w/ broken hips didn’t actually break/fracture them IN the fall but rather the hip “gives way”/breaks & THEN causes the fall. The meds referenced here also prevents some ppl who have the extreme chronic version of the problem from having their esophagus “rot away”/esophageal/throat cancer so it IS a choice of a “lesser of two evils”.