They should be prescription only for limited-time use. There have been known side effects and risks with PPIs for quite some time.

Last spring, I went to the ER after two episodes of chest pain, thinking it could be of coronary origin because of my age and family history. It turned out to be nothing but heartburn and the doctor prescribed a PPI. I already take an H2 blocker (ranitidine) for GERD and when I told her I'd rather increase the dose of that because I didn't want to take a PPI, she looked very surprised at first. Then she nodded and told me how much to increase the ranitidine.

The H2 blocker works just fine, with no side effects or long-term risks. (It also never hurts to have a bottle of Pepto-Bismol, Maalox, or another old-time antacid on hand "just in case." ) I get angry every time I see an ad for an over-the-counter PPI pushed on people like it's no big deal. It is a big deal.

drugs, and falsely interfere with the interpretation of some chemistries in the lab such as serum creatinine, for the most part they are fairly safe.

The H2 blockers can also be used to treat hives, but should be done with knowledge of a physician because knowing the cause of hives is quite important to prevent a potential future anaphylaxis reaction]

It's always important to check drug interactions, for sure. I didn't know about using H2 blockers to treat hives, though. Very interesting.

Thanks!

What exactly is wrong with ordinary anti-acids? Or simply tolerating the discomfort?

I know I cannot answer for anyone else, but sometimes putting up with a bit of discomfort may not be so awful.

So many drugs have such awful consequences or side effects, and those things aren't really explained to patients, except as sort of hand-waving asides. Sometimes the cure is worse than the disease.

Particularly in those with persistent heartburn, can produce esophageal cancer, so it's not exactly something to recommend people do.

They want a magic pill instead.

I get my share of heartburn, and a couple of OTC anti-acid pills invariably do the trick for me. Perhaps I'm unusually lucky that they do, but I sometimes wonder if people try those things, along with what you've suggested, before going for the big pharmaceutical guns.

It also bothers me a lot that so many people are on so many different medications. I have a friend who is on about six or seven, and every few weeks he'll have a bout of feeling quite crappy, and I honestly think it's from the interaction of all those meds.

I take quite a few prescription meds. I sometimes get HORRIBLE GERD or heartburn or sometimes just reflux. In my case (as I'm sure with many) the cure is NOT worse than the disease.

Have you ever experienced excruciating pain that makes you wonder if you're having a heart attack, that causes you to wonder if your next breath might be your last?

I have numerous medical conditions that require medications that cause that burning pain that sometimes sets me on my knees.

No, I won't tolerate the "discomfort" for it's far more than just uncomfortable.

I do prefer the H2 route though as compared to PPIs

I overproduced acid and had a reflux problem. I finally got off them but use Pepcid when necessary maybe once or twice in a month. I love hot peppers. The biggest changes I made was to stop smoking. I use of 3-4 inch blocks under the headboard of my bed, it helps with what was called the "bad vapors" in the 18th century. The incline can be seen in many drawings and in 17th-18th military posts in how they constructed bunks. Simply sleeping on your left side also reduces reflux.

They weren't meant to be a permanent solution, at least that is what I was told. Prescriptions forms such as tagamet, have various side effects, many more than they list.

125/100,000, prostate cancer 120/100,000, all per year.

A doubling or 8-fold increase in the risk is quite significant, but still that isn't going to make me put up with pain that can be quite severe at times if it gets into your esophagus.

I should probably stop drinking coffee which is the main culprit, but that will actually increase the risk of certain cancers.