Go Ad-Free
logoThe People's Perspective on Medicine

How to Ease Heartburn without Harming Your Kidneys

Long-term use of a PPI such as omeprazole might be harming your kidneys; how can you ease heartburn symptoms more safely?

When the first proton pump inhibitor drug, omeprazole (Prilosec), was introduced, it was greeted enthusiastically. It appeared to reduce symptoms of acid reflux and GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) very well. At first, doctors thought it had hardly any side effects. That enthusiasm held up through the development and marketing of numerous other medicines in the PPI category, but we are learning that they can have significant complications. The most recent is harming your kidneys.

Are PPIs Harming Your Kidneys?

Q. I have been taking PPIs like omeprazole and lansoprazole for reflux for a decade. My creatinine numbers are climbing and I am afraid these drugs could be harming my kidneys.

My doctor says acid-suppressing drugs are fine; he takes one too. But as I age I worry more about my kidneys so I’ve decided to go off the medicine.

I cut down very gradually and now I’m off altogether. If I get a little heartburn, I suck on a hard candy. That increases saliva and helps with reflux.

A. A recent study suggests that patients taking acid-suppressing drugs long term may be at risk for higher creatinine levels and kidney trouble (Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, online April 14, 2016). Creatinine is a marker for kidney function, with higher numbers suggesting poorer function. While it is not possible to tell whether the PPIs you have been taking are harming your kidneys, your move to stop taking them is prudent.

Getting Off PPIs:

Your decision to cut down on the dose gradually is sensible. Many people find it difficult to discontinue a PPI such as esomeprazole (Nexium) or lansoprazole (Prevacid) because stopping suddenly triggers rebound heartburn. You can read more about PPI withdrawal symptoms here.

Faced with horrible heartburn, some folks never manage to stop taking their PPI. But a number of serious side effects have surfaced over the last several years. As a result, it seems wise to use these drugs when necessary, but for no longer than necessary.

PPI Side Effects:

People taking PPIs are more susceptible to infections leading to pneumonia (JAMA, May 27, 2009) or severe diarrhea (JAMA Internal Medicine, May, 2015). These medications can interfere with proper absorption of vitamins and minerals and also some medications that require acid for absorption, such as alendronate (Archives of Internal Medicine, June 13, 2011). Poor absorption of calcium and magnesium might be partially responsible for a greater susceptibility for hip fracture among long-term users (BMJ, Jan. 31, 2012).

Other concerns for long-term users are heart attacks (PLOS One, June 20, 2015), dementia (JAMA Neurology, April, 2016) and now kidney disease. We have written more in depth about PPI side effects here. You can also learn about calming heartburn symptoms without taking a PPI in our Guide to Digestive Disorders.

 

 

Rate this article
star-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-emptystar-fullstar-empty
4.8- 21 ratings
About the Author
Terry Graedon, PhD, is a medical anthropologist and co-host of The People’s Pharmacy radio show, co-author of The People’s Pharmacy syndicated newspaper columns and numerous books, and co-founder of The People’s Pharmacy website. Terry taught in the Duke University School of Nursing and was an adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology. She is a Fellow of the Society of Applied Anthropology. Terry is one of the country's leading authorities on the science behind folk remedies..
Tired of the ads on our website?

Now you can browse our website completely ad-free for just $5 / month. Stay up to date on breaking health news and support our work without the distraction of advertisements.

Browse our website ad-free
Join over 150,000 Subscribers at The People's Pharmacy

We're empowering you to make wise decisions about your own health, by providing you with essential health information about both medical and alternative treatment options.