Advocacy » Health news » Antacid drugs cause osteoporosis
April 12, 2009
Many people take acid-lowering drugs like Pantoloc, Nexium, Pariet to treat heartburn. These drugs block stomach acid - which we need in order to absorb calcium. Researchers compared 13,556 people who fractured their hips and 136,000 people who did not. Those taking the most acid-blocking drugs for the longest time were 2.65 times more likely to have broken a hip. The longer the drug use, the higher the risk. These drugs should only be used for a few weeks to treat ulcers. Their overuse is a major problem because they also increase the risk of infection. Many people with heartburn or acid reflux actually do not produce enough stomach acid. We have a pH capsule test that guides our treatment.