Heartburn drugs raise risk of hip fractures: study

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=domesticNews&storyID=2006-12-27T032755Z_01_N22315557_RTRUKOC_0_US-HEARTBURN-BONES.xml&WTmodLoc=USNewsHome_C1_%5bFeed%5d-4

So much for that little purple pill ...

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Long-term use of popular anti-heartburn drugs that block stomach acid production increases the risk of hip fractures in adults over 50, perhaps because the drugs inhibit calcium absorption, researchers said on Tuesday.

The drug class, called proton pump inhibitors because they shut down stomach acid production, are used by millions who suffer from acid-related stomach problems including ulcers and gastro-esophageal reflux.

The study by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, covered nearly 150,000 Britons older than 50 who suffered a total of 13,556 hip fracture cases.

It found that those undergoing anti-heartburn drug therapy had a 44 percent greater risk of hip fracture than those who were not taking the drugs. Furthermore, the study showed the longer the drugs were used and the higher the dosage, the greater the risk of fracturing a hip.

...
Some of the brand-name versions of the heartburn- and ulcer-fighting drugs include AstraZeneca's Prilosec and Nexium, TAP Pharmaceutical's Prevacid, Eisai Inc.'s Aciphex, and Wyeth's Protonix.

STOP OVEREATING!! Think I'll try it.

I was suprised how well regular eating worked.
I had used heart burn and not feeling well as an excuse not to eat.

I've found out that specific types of ingredients give me heartburn. I suspect the main culprit is hydrogenated oils. Can no longer eat Little Ceasars pizzas or Pop Tarts.

Since I was 13 years old (the year I got my boobs and my other girlie stuff), I have had acid reflux every day of my life until a few years ago when I started a PPI (Aciphex).

Believe me, I will simply be as careful as possible about falling when I am over 50, because the alternative to stopping my PPI is a nightmare.

If you have never had acid reflux, you may not understand...if you have, you certainly will understand what it is like to try to sleep at night..I can hardly describe it to you how bad it was for decades. Tums, Mylanta, Chooz...nothing TOUCHED it.

Mine is hereditary, as I was not smoking, overeating or using da caffeine when I was 13. My Grandpa had it, my Dad had it and so do I. It appears to have skipped my son, for which I am grateful.

I just pray I do not take a nasty tumble...but I think that is something we all hope for.

I too have had acid reflux for years however I can only use over the counter stuff like Rolaids, Mallox etc as I suffered a tachycardia attack when I tried Tagamet. Having experienced that frightening side-effect I haven't wanted to try any other prescription antacid. Anyhoo several weeks ago I became concerned about the amount of Rolaids I was consuming so I decided to try a homemade remedy I had heard about years ago but always thought was too nonsensical.

I find it incredibly effective and since it works within minutes perhaps you too may want to try it. The remedy calls for Apple Cider Vinegar however I use Rice Vinegar which works just as well.

I know it sounds bizarre to drink something acidic as an antacid but it works. I have since read that vinegar has been as an antacid for thousands of years. Below is an interesting site I found with feedback about this remedy.

Recipe

1 tablespoon of either Apple Cider vinegar or Rice Vinegar in a 1\4 cup of water then add 1/4 teaspoon of Baking Soda.




http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/acid_reflux_cases.html

But,it seems mixing baking soda and vinegar would produce nothing more than good old H2O. Interesting.

I initially just drank the vinegar with water and the symptoms of acid relux vanished with 2 minutes. I cannot tell you how boggled I am by this. As stated above I heard about this years ago and totally dismissed it. I had absolutely no belief that it would work and to say that I am stunned is an understatement.

(ps I'm no chemist but would a quarter teaspoon of baking soda transform all the acid into H2O?)

I T or 15 mL vinegar or 5% acetic acid (FW 60 g/mol), contains 750 mg or 12.5 mmol of acetic acid.
1/4 t or 5/4 mL sodium bicarbonate (FW 84 g/mol), assuming bulk density ~ 1 (confirmed via Google), contains 1.25 g or 15 mmol of bicarbonate.
The product of mixing the two would be mostly sodium acetate after the fizzing stops.

Vinegar on .. what was, it, lye?

out there....I do still maintain the yogurt with acidophilus because I simply think it is good for you and tasty to boot.

In the 33 years since I was 13, I have tried everything, down to allergy testing (just in case dairy was doing it) and did stop all dairy for awhile to see if that was the issue..it was not. Even went vegetarian to see if meat was a culprit...no...

When OTC Zantac came out, I tried it and was relieved that the low dose did reduce, and sometimes stopped, the reflux. But I occasionally had breakthrough many times even then.

My father got on Nexium first, and after a few days called me and was about sobbing his relief to be able to eat cinnamon, drink the occasional coffee, and actually get a real night's sleep for the first time in about 50 years. Grown father, nearly crying. That call convinced me. I went on Aciphex immediately and understood why he was sobbing within 3 days.

The ONLY time that I have even felt like there might be breakthrough lurking is when I overeat (Xmas, Turkey Day) but I think that is simply more bloat than anything. And I was sleeping on my side, on my belly (which I had not been able to do for decades)..basically any position I wanted to sleep in, for the first time in decades. Otherwise, I had to sleep sitting nearly upright or propped all to heck with pillows. If not, it would simply become unbearable...the nights and nights and nights of getting up, going downstairs to get ANOTHER glass of water to try to cool it down..it was exhausting.

This probably sounds like I am a whiner about reflux, but I am delighted to not have to suffer every day from it, plus my Doctor says the constant state of my throat from the acid could have eventually been a real issue...cancer or otherwise. I do not have that issue now (I hope).

So I guess I chose the lesser of two evils...my PA OB/GYN and I have talked about the calcium issue, and are on a game plan for that...but I will cross my fingers and hope for the best.

I've faced a lot of denial from twentysomethings who think acid reflux is just something you get from binging, but I caution them to wait until their stomachs turn fortysomething.

Good for all of those who find some relief from organic vinegar, but I need something stronger than faith healing here.

I started developing occasional reflux in my late 30s. The solution was to give up coffee and replace it with tea, to be careful about not eating close to bedtime, and to not pig out on Mexican food and chili.

i have GERD and take the "little purple pill". :( it's epidemic, this GERD, and is related to asthmatic conditions too. never had ANY health problems until about 3 years ago. wonder what's going on....hmmmm...

I'm going to ask my doctor if there is a way to reduce the damage.

my doc told me about 20 years ago, I too, had a hiatal hernia. The results of an upper-gi I had done in October found I have Barratt's Esophogus instead and am now a "friend" of the purple pill. My point is to be sure it is, in fact, the hiatal hernia. I suffered for YEARS, the pain so bad at times my teeth would hurt, blaming it the whole time on the hernia that didn't exist.

my esophagus. That's what's wrong with me. I thought that was a hiatal hernia. Without my Prevacid acid will back up into my nose and ears when I sleep, or when I bend over. That is EXTREMELY painful. I'm thinking, if there is an operation to fix it, I may get that instead of taking these pills for the rest of my life. I have a doctor's appointment next week. This really worries me.

Without it I'm miserable (and I'm 21!). I wouldn't be able to sleep (except without a large handful of Rolaids) or just function.

http://heartburn.about.com/od/gerdacidrefluxdisease/a/medsriskpnemon.htm

This got my attention because I did take anti-heartburn drugs on a pretty regular basis, and was hospitalized with pneumonia two years in a row. I switched back to good old Tums and Rolaids.

to offset decreased absorption. A couple of calcium-based antacids or an OTC calcium supplement pill every day seem like cheap preventative medicine to me.

Meanwhile, I'm struck by all the earnest statements of relief here by sufferers of gastric reflux. I'm truly happy you live in a time when PPIs have been invented. :-)

Peace.

be absorbed?

PPIs may slow down calcium absorption in some people, depending upon other intra-intestinal factors, but they don't eliminate it.

:-)

Peace.

I heard on a radio talk show that some calcium supplements that are higher quality and if they are already broken down, are not affected by PPI's. According to the interview
NutraCal calcium powder will be absorbed
nearly 100% even with PPI's.  They offered a complimentary trial if you
click on the radio antenna on the home page, so I am going to try it http://www.nutracal.com is the site they mentioned. It seems to have some good stuff on it.

Hope this helps

That would be about 2000 IU/day in the summer and 5000 in winter, unless you get an unusual amount of sun. There's a lot of new work on vitamin D (see recent US and News Report, Mid Dec. 06 or search engine). Current official recommendations will generally prevent rickets or osteomalacia, (though both still occurand are increasing) but real needs are an order of magnitude higher. You can make 10,000 units in a few minutes in sunshine. Adele Davis recognized this 50 years ago. Also your magnesium intake should be about 50% of calcium.

I treated reflux with Tums for 10-15 years and got Barrets esophagus (precancerous). I use Prevacid and would like to find an alternative since I also have osteoporosis.

I would literally double over in pain; glad those days are gone!

Of course, this would not work for everyone.

long-term Nexium therapy. I am 56--and now I have something else tow orry about!