Heartburn: Acid Blocker Stroke?
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.Heartburn and stomach ulcer medications are very commonly prescribed. So-called proton pump inhibitors are particularly popular. They prevent too much stomach acid from building up in advance. Now there is evidence that it could increase the risk of stroke.
They are touted as stomach protectors and prescribed en masse: In Germany, too, the so-called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most widely prescribed drugs. For people with chronic heartburn or stomach ulcers, they are a blessing: They suppress the production of stomach acid in advance and can in many cases significantly alleviate symptoms - or even prevent life-threatening gastric bleeding. They are also well tolerated by most patients.
Good for the stomach, bad for the brain
In the long term, however, the therapy could prove to have serious consequences. As Danish scientists showed at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association, the drugs could drastically increase the risk of stroke.
Thomas Sehested's team evaluated the data of around a quarter of a million patients who had undergone a gastroscopy.Such tests are done to determine the cause of problems such as stomach upset or heartburn. On average, the patients were 57 years old. In the next six years, nearly 9,500 of them suffered a first stroke.
Highly dosed, highly dangerous
The researchers then determined the likelihood of a cerebral infarction while taking various proton pump inhibitors.
Overall, according to the results, the risk for PPI users increased by 21 percent. However, this was heavily dependent on the dose: whoever took the tablets in the lowest dose, the risk of stroke was only minimally increased. In the highest dose, however, things looked different: the proton pump inhibitor pantoprazole in particular doubled the risk if it was taken in high doses.
This connection persisted even after the researchers excluded factors that favor a stroke, such as high blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, or older age.
Better H2 blocker?
"PPIs have previously been linked to poor vascular function," says Thomas Sehested. In addition, there was an increased risk of liver damage and dementia among PPI users.
For patients who did not take proton pump inhibitors, but so-called H2 blockers, which only buffer the gastric acid present, the researchers found no connection with strokes. However, it cannot be judged on the basis of the data whether these drugs are actually the better choice for patients. In addition, they do not work sufficiently for many of those affected.
Careful prescribing required
The numbers are not yet proof that it is actually the PPIs that increase the risk of stroke. Nevertheless, the scientists are calling for more caution when handling the drugs. “Many take the tablets much longer than necessary,” says the scientist. This is especially true for older patients.
Source: American Heart Association press release, November 15, 2016
Tags: alternative medicine therapies diet
