Q. I have been on omeprazole for years. It relieved my severe reflux, but unfortunately, it caused my bones to thin. My hip socket cracked and I needed hip replacement surgery. I am worried about another fracture.
A. There is growing evidence that long-term use of powerful acid-suppressing drugs may increase a woman’s risk of a fracture by 35 to 45 percent. These data from the Nurses’ Health Study were presented at this year’s Digestive Disease Week conference (May 9, 2011).
Getting off such medications can be challenging, however. When people stop drugs like esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) or omeprazole (Prilosec), the rebound reflux can be very uncomfortable.
We discuss the pros and cons of acid-suppressing drugs and ways to stop taking them in our Guide to Digestive Disorders. You will be glad to learn that the risk of fracture drops within two years of stopping such drugs.
