31 Studies heartburn medication such as proton pump inhibitors and histamine-2 receptor antagonists may increase the risk of pneumonia, according to an analysis.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) include omeprazole (Prilosec), lansoprazole (Prevacid), and esomeprazole (nexium). Also called H2 blockers include histamine-2 receptor antagonists, FAMOTIDINE (Pepcid), cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), nizatidine (Axid). These drugs are the second best-selling class of drugs worldwide. U.S. sales reached almost $27 billion in 2005.
Business week reports:
“... [R] or studies have raised concerns about the medications. Several studies have linked... called EPI at a higher risk of fractures and an infection with a bacterium Clostridium et that most plausible reason why suppress acid in the stomach could increase the risk of pneumonia... is that the acid in the stomach acts as a barrier to help control harmful bacteria and pathogens. "
