• Home
  • Contact

Dr. Shabnam Das Kar MD

Specialist in Functional and Metabolic Medicine

  • The Brain Podcast
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Gut Health
  • About
You are here: Home / Archives for PPI
Are Your Heartburn Medicines Damaging Your Kidneys and Brain?

Are Your Heartburn Medicines Damaging Your Kidneys and Brain?

May 23, 2021 by Dr Kar

Patient story:

A 59-year-old woman has diabetes for 20 years with early kidney damage, presently on insulin injections. She had an angioplasty nine years ago because of chest pain from blocked heart arteries. Besides insulin, she was taking Plavix (Clopidogrel) and Nexium (PPI). Plavix works on blood cells called platelets to prevent them from sticking together to cause excessive clotting. Given that she had an angioplasty, Plavix was essential for her.

She didn’t have stomach ulcers or acid reflux. Why was she on Nexium? She said her doctor had prescribed it, but she wasn’t sure why!

Long-term use of PPI without indications has serious consequences. 

Drugs like omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole are called Proton Pump Inhibitors. You may know them by their commercial names like Nexium, Omez etc.

Your doctor may have prescribed these medicines because you had heartburn. You had pain and discomfort or a burning sensation in the upper abdomen, sometimes described as “acidity” or “gastric trouble.”

PPIs work by blocking your stomach cells from making acid. 

But stomach acid is present for a reason!

Your stomach makes acid because it has essential functions. Hydrochloric acid produced in the stomach helps in protein digestion and in killing some of the bacteria present in food.

Though it is widely assumed that your reflux symptoms arise from high stomach acid, that is not always so! 

Harmful effects of PPI use

Studies have shown that between 25 to 70% of people using PPIs do so without a valid indication. In some countries, PPIs are available even without a prescription.  (1) Ref

Harmful effects of inappropriate PPI use

PPIs reduce the effectivity of Clopidogrel

Clopidogrel (Plavix) is used in after angina or angioplasty to prevent blood from clotting. A 2009 paper from the journal JAMA showed that the risk of an adverse outcome following an acute coronary event was much higher in those taking Clopidogrel and PPIs simultaneously than in those not taking PPIs with Clopidogrel. The PPIs reduced the beneficial effects of Clopidogrel. (2) Ref

What are the conditions when PPIs are indicated?

  1. Peptic ulcers
  2. As part of the treatment protocol for H Pylori infection
  3. Esophagitis
  4. Prevention of painkiller-induced ulcers.
  5. Zollinger Ellison syndrome 

What can you do if you have reflux?

  • Start with food. An elimination diet will take care of troublesome food.
  • Eat low carbohydrate food
  • Reduce your eating window. Your gut needs resting time. 
  • Early dinner. Don’t eat nearer to your bedtime.
  • Supplements like Melatonin 3 mg or Peppermint Oil may help.

What if you find it challenging to stop PPIs?

Talk to your doctor to find out if there are any alternatives.

Some of you are psychologically dependant on these medications, though you may not actually need them. Don’t stop them suddenly. There is a specific process of deprescribing PPIs.  (3) Ref

Going back to my patient at the beginning of this article……

It wasn’t difficult to stop her Nexium because she didn’t have any absolute indications. On the contrary, continuing PPIs could worsen her kidney function and increase her risk of heart disease.

Bottom Line:

Find out why you are on certain medications. If they are not mission-critical, talk to your doctor about reducing your medications and find out how to safely reduce meds. A deprescribing appointment should be a part of your medical program. 

References[+]

References
↑1 Ref
↑2 Ref
↑3 Ref

Filed Under: Deprescribing Medications, Gut Health, PPI

Recent Posts

  • Revenge Of The Deprived Calorie: Is Fasting Another Low-Calorie Diet?
  • Are Your Heartburn Medicines Damaging Your Kidneys and Brain?
  • Are Nutrient Deficiencies Affecting Your Thyroid Function?
  • Recovery From Covid 19:The Problem Of Long Covid
  • Bloating Remedies: Is Your Food Causing A Problem?

Categories

  • "Leaky Gut"
  • Adverse Childhood Experiences
  • Autoimmune Diseases
  • Autoimmunity
  • Celiac Disease
  • Coronavirus
  • Covid 19
  • Deprescribing Medications
  • Depression
  • Fat Loss Recipes
  • Gluten Sensitivity
  • Gut And Autoimmunity
  • Gut Health
  • High Blood Pressure
  • How To Achieve Your Health Goals Even Through A Crisis
  • Hypertension
  • Hypothyroidism
  • Insulin Resistance
  • Intermittent Fasting
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
  • Ketogenic Diet
  • Mood Disorders
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Non-celiac Gluten Sensitivity
  • PCOS
  • Polycystic Ovaries
  • PPI
  • Psoriasis
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Sleep
  • Subclinical Hypothyroidism
  • Uncategorized
  • Vitamin D
  • Webinars
  • Weight Loss

FAQ About Appointments

info@drkarmd.com
+919820003606

Fellow
Member
Member
Certified from Dr.Daniel Amen

Disclaimer

This website does not provide medical advice. The material provided here is for information only. Viewing this site or the transmission of information from or to this site does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. The medical and/or nutritional information on this site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a well qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read on this site.