Heartburn
European Drug Regulators Recalling Zantac (Ranit…
We issued a Special Health Alert on September 14, 2019, about the heartburn medicine ranitidine (Zantac). We were among the first to alert people that a nitrosamine called NDMA was found in both OTC a…
Could Soft Drinks Be Killing You?
People who consume a lot of soft drinks may be putting themselves at risk. That's the conclusion from a large study not in the US but in Europe (JAMA, Sept. 3, 2019). The EPIC study stands for Europea…
Must You Take Acid Blockers For the Rest of Your…
Many people discover that it can be challenging to stop proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). That’s because powerful acid-suppressing drugs can trigger rebound hyperacidity when they are stopped suddenly.…
Viagra (Sildenafil) Triggers Both Erections and …
Viagra is a household word. It is now available generically as sildenafil. This drug has revolutionized the treatment of erectile dysfunction. It works by relaxing smooth muscle in the penis. The resu…
Do PPI-Type Acid-Suppressing Drugs Cause Allergi…
Most animals make strong stomach acid (hydrochloric acid or HCl). Sharks make stomach acid. So do snakes, camels, cows and hamsters. Of course, humans also make stomach acid. Was it all a big mistake?…
Thyroid Trouble Was Behind Stomach Problems
Doctors often attribute stomach problems like indigestion or discomfort after eating to excess stomach acid. Usually, they prescribe a PPI such as esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) or ome…
How Do You Feed Your Microbiota?
Scientists know that the community of microbes that lives in your digestive tract is unique to you (your microbiota). They hypothesize that if you want to stay healthy, you have to keep the community …
Falling Asleep with Zolpidem | Waking up with He…
What do you do when you are caught on the horns of a dilemma? We describe such situations a couple of ways: “Between the devil and the deep blue sea” is one. A similar saying goes: “between a ro…
Does Your Microbiota Change When You Take Nexium…
The "royal we" may be more accurate than we imagine, and not only for individuals of noble descent. All of us might practice thinking of ourselves a a collective. That is because each of us contains m…
More Bad News About PPIs and Kidney Damage
The FDA loves proton pump inhibitors (PPI)s. So do doctors, especially gastroenterologists. Drugs like esomeprazole (Nexium) lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec) used to top the doctors' …
What Is the Right Dose of Baking Soda?
We love simple remedies using ingredients you already have on hand in your pantry, so long as they work and they are safe. One time-honored approach to ease indigestion is taking a baking soda solutio…
Will Apple Cider Vinegar Lower Your Blood Pressu…
Apple cider vinegar is an extremely popular home remedy. More than 50 years ago, D. C. Jarvis, MD, published his best-selling book, Folk Medicine: A Vermont Doctor's Guide to Good Health. In it, he pr…
Show 1144: New Ways to Heal Your Digestive Tract
Heartburn is a common problem. Many people take powerful acid-suppressing drugs like Nexium or Prilosec every day to treat gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD. If untreated, chronic irritation of…
Will You Get Osteoporosis If You Take Omeprazole…
Do you take omeprazole (Prilosec) or another proton pump inhibitor such as esomeprazole (Nexium) or lansoprazole (Prevacid)? Such PPI drugs were once thought to be relatively free of side effects, but…
The Dangers of Diclofenac and Other NSAID Pain R…
Doctors love NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). That’s largely because they don’t have a lot of other tools in the toolkit when it comes to treating pain and inflammation. Opioids have…
Will Getting to Sleep Wreck Your Digestion?
When you are looking for a way to overcome insomnia, you might well reach for a pill called zolpidem. Sold for years under the brand name Ambien, it is probably the most popular prescription sleeping …
Yet Another PPI Complication | Acid-Suppressing …
We know you are getting weary of reading about serious side effects linked to proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). They are among the most popular drugs in the pharmacy. They include dexlansoprazole, esomep…
Can You Use Almonds to Stop Heartburn?
Heartburn may seem like a recent problem, but in fact, people have been struggling with indigestion for as far back as medical history reaches and probably beyond. Hippocrates wrote about it more than…
Why Papaya for Heartburn Is Surprisingly Helpful
Papaya was once considered an exotic fruit. You had to visit a tropical country to find it. Now, fresh papaya can be found in most food markets. You can purchase papaya enzymes in tablet form in healt…
How to Avoid Trouble at the Pharmacy Checkout
In one of the first scenes of the returning show, Roseanne, Roseanne is sitting at the kitchen table when her husband walks through the door, prescription bag in hand. “Oooh! My favorite! Drugs!” …
Skimping on Magnesium May Mean Trouble Sleeping
How often does a treatment for one problem lead to another problem? We suspect it may be more common than anyone could imagine. Who would guess that low magnesium levels resulting from a heartburn med…
Can Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) Blow A Hole…
People have been using a natural antacid (sodium bicarbonate, aka baking soda) for a very long time. It is cheap and surprisingly effective for easing symptoms of indigestion. But too much of a good t…
Licorice Side Effects Can Be Scary If Not Life T…
Most people think of licorice (liquorice in Europe) as yummy candy. We happen to be licorice lovers ourselves. Natural black licorice from the Netherlands is one of our favorite sweet treats. But we a…
What Do You Really Know About Scary Ibuprofen Si…
Do you read the labels on OTC pain relievers? Be honest now. The last time you purchased Advil, Motrin IB or some house brand ibuprofen pills, did you check out the dosage instructions or the warnings…
What Are the Most Dangerous Drugs for Older Adul…
Imagine you are a space alien from the Planet Xelziga. You land somewhere in North America and turn on your television monitoring system. As you attempt to learn the basics about human behavior, you m…
How To Choose Safe and Effective Over-The-Counte…
Americans love to play doctor. And the FDA has made it easy. That’s because the agency has allowed Pharma companies to switch many Rx drugs to OTC in a big way. We spend $33 billion on over-the-coun…
Do Mothers with Heartburn Have Babies with Asthm…
Heartburn is a common symptom during pregnancy. New research suggests, however, that pregnant women who relieve their reflux with potent acid-suppressing drugs may precipitate unexpected complications…
Why Do Cough Lozenges Ease Indigestion?
Heartburn is hardly a new phenomenon. Humans have probably had to contend with indigestion for as long as the species has existed. Still, it often seems as though 21st century Americans suffer more of…
Will Your Heartburn Drug Cause Depression?
Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are widely used for a range of digestive tract difficulties. These popular pills, including esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid), omeprazole (Prilosec) and p…
Will Enteric-Coated Peppermint Oil Help Your Dig…
When you learn that an herbal medicine is helpful for some type of health condition, it may be a little tricky to sort out just which problems it helps. One reader found this especially troublesome wi…
Is There Science to Support Vinegar for Reflux?
We love home remedies, but most are based on people's experience and don't have any truly scientific explanation for why or how they work. That is why we get excited when we encounter a possible reaso…
PPI Side Effects Continue to Scare Us To Death
Have you ever met people who have a hard time admitting they might have made a mistake? Such individuals defend their decisions and actions no matter what the consequences. It feels to us as if the Fo…
What Do You Do When Your Specialists Disagree?
Let's face it. We used to be at the mercy of our doctors. If a specialist said "jump," they expected us to inquire "how high?" If a medication was prescribed, we were expected to take it. The fewer qu…
Will Home Made Ginger Ale Ease Heartburn?
Every family has at least a few simple remedies that can help in managing everyday problems, from hangnails to heartburn. Which ones did you learn while you were growing up? One reader learned to make…
Turmeric in Milk Prevents Stomach Upset
Have you considered taking turmeric for its anti-inflammatory properties? Perhaps you've considered it as a way to ease psoriasis instead. Researchers have suggested that turmeric or its principal com…
How to Use Baking Soda to Ease Indigestion:
You have seen ads for all sorts of pricey heartburn remedies. Some go to work quickly. Others, like the proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) take quite awhile to stifle stomach acid and relieve symptoms. Whe…
PPIs and Death: Why Are These Acid-Suppressors s…
PPIs (aka proton pump inhibitors) remain incredibly popular. These acid-suppressing drugs help heal ulcers. That's a really good thing. For short term use, they're terrific! The trouble is that they a…
Do Zolpidem (Ambien) Side Effects Include Horrib…
Zolpidem remains a very popular prescription sleeping aid. When it was only available as the brand name drug Ambien, millions took it to get a "good night's sleep." These days zolpidem (Ambien) side e…
What Are the Risks of Pepcid Complete?
Managing acid reflux can be challenging. You might take a proton pump inhibitor like omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid) or esomeprazole (Nexium). Chances are, within a few weeks your sympt…
Will a Gluten-Free Diet Help Your Heartburn Symp…
Judging from the popularity of medicines like esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec), heartburn symptoms are extremely common. Is there a better way to prevent the re…