Wellness Times

These medications are called Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and include: Prilosec, Dexilant, Nexium, Aciphex and Protonix.

PPIs inhibit certain cells from "pumping" acid into the stomach. They don't stop stomach fluid from refluxing into the esophagus, but they do lower acid levels in the stomach fluid, which alleviates heartburn. They're generally considered safe in the short term.

But in the long term, PPIs are associated with a reduced level of vitamin B12, reduced magnesium levels, reduced calcium absorption, an increased risk of hip fractures, and an increased risk of pneumonia and other life-threatening infections.

Several recent studies have found that people who use PPIs for years are at increased risk of developing certain conditions, such as dementia, heart attack, and chronic kidney disease. None of the studies proves that PPIs cause these conditions. But Dr. Staller says you should talk to your doctor about whether you should lower the dose of your PPI or even substitute other types of treatment.

"The studies looking at the links between PPIs and dementia or kidney disease deserve attention. They were carefully done to control for factors that may confound the situation. I'm less impressed with the data from studies linking PPIs to heart disease risk, because there wasn't rigorous control for other factors that may contribute to heart disease, such as obesity," says Dr. Staller.