Proton pump inhibitors, or PPIs, are some of the most common medicines used in the U.S.
If you’ve ever taken drugs like Prilosec, Nexium, or Prevacid for heartburn or acid reflux, you’ve used a PPI.
These medications help by lowering the amount of acid in the stomach. They’re especially useful for people with acid-related problems like gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.
About 1 in 10 American adults uses PPIs regularly—often for months or even years. But a new study from the University of California San Diego shows that taking these drugs long-term might not be as safe as many people think. The biggest concern? Possible damage to the kidneys.
The researchers looked at data from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Adverse Event Reporting System, which includes over 10 million reports from patients.
They focused on about 43,000 people who had only taken PPIs and compared them to around 8,000 people who had only used another kind of heartburn medicine called histamine-2 receptor blockers, such as Zantac or Pepcid.
The results were alarming. About 5.6% of the PPI users reported having kidney problems. In comparison, only 0.7% of those who took the other type of heartburn medicine had similar issues. PPI users were nearly 30 times more likely to report chronic kidney disease.
These patients also had more reports of acute kidney injuries, kidney failure, and other kidney-related issues. On top of that, there were more reports of electrolyte problems, which can interfere with how your muscles, nerves, and organs work.
This isn’t the first time experts have warned about PPIs. Back in 2017, the same research team found a possible link between PPIs and chronic liver disease. While PPIs are effective at treating stomach acid problems, these new findings suggest that long-term use may come with serious risks.
Doctors are now being urged to think carefully before prescribing PPIs. Not every patient needs to take these medications for long periods. For people with mild symptoms, other options may be just as effective and safer.
If you take PPIs, don’t stop suddenly, but talk to your doctor. They can help you figure out if it’s still the right medicine for you. In some cases, making lifestyle changes can also reduce heartburn and the need for medication. These changes might include avoiding spicy foods, eating smaller meals, quitting smoking, or staying upright after eating.
The study, led by Ruben Abagyan, was published in the journal Scientific Reports. It highlights why we need to keep studying how common medicines affect our bodies over time—and why patients and doctors should stay informed about new risks.
In short, while PPIs work well for treating heartburn and acid reflux, they may come with hidden dangers—especially to your kidneys. Knowing these risks can help you and your doctor make safer choices for your long-term health.
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