Proton pump inhibitor (PPI) therapy is a miracle in the eyes of many people suffering from gastroesophageal reflux disease (acid reflux) also known as GERD. By blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach lining that produces acid, the fluid in the stomach contains less acid. This can help ease the symptoms of GERD and even allow the esophagus to heal, since even if the stomach juices back up into the esophagus, it's less irritating.
Side effects to PPI therapy
Still, few remedies come without drawbacks. All medications come with side effects, and the medications involved in proton pump inhibitor therapy, such as Prilosec, Nexium and Protonix, are no different.
Short-term side effects include the following:
These side effects are not usually severe and, if experienced, generally get better the longer the medication is taken.
The long-term side effects associated with proton pump inhibitors have been found to be minimal and mostly from observational studies. The consensus amongst gastrointestinal community is that it is a good idea for patients to take the lowest dosage possible and for the shortest possible duration unless otherwise indicated.
There are also strong correlations between long-term PPI usage and pneumonia. The thought process behind this is that bacteria which is usually kept under control by stomach acid is allowed to develop thanks to the medication, and is then inhaled when stomach juices travel up the esophagus. The bacteria then grow within the lungs, causing pneumonia.
PPIs may also alter the bacteria of the gut in such a way that conditions favorable for C.difficile are created. So far, this is just a correlation, but with C.difficile infections as dangerous as they are - to the point of becoming life-threatening and making hospitalization necessary thanks to severe diarrhea and dehydration - being aware of the chances of developing such an infection is important.
In the light of these side effects, the use of PPI medications must be closely monitored by a physician, as too many patients tend to take these PPIs for years without monitoring their progress. Alternatives to drug therapy include antireflux procedures such as fundoplication or endoscopic treatments such as TIF or Stretta.