Heartburn and acid reflux are extremely common problems. Many people feel a burning pain in their chest or throat after eating, lying down, or during stressful days.
For millions of adults in the United States, proton pump inhibitors, often called PPIs, have become the go-to solution.
Well-known brands such as Prilosec, Nexium, and Prevacid are widely used to reduce stomach acid and relieve symptoms of acid reflux and gastroesophageal reflux disease, also known as GERD. These medicines are so common that about one in ten adults in the U.S. takes a PPI regularly.
PPIs work by strongly reducing the amount of acid produced in the stomach. For people with frequent heartburn, stomach ulcers, or GERD, this can bring major relief and improve daily life.
Many patients take these drugs for months or even years, often without thinking much about long-term effects. However, new research from the University of California San Diego suggests that long-term use of PPIs may come with serious risks, especially for kidney health.
To better understand the safety of these medications, researchers analyzed information from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System, known as FAERS. This large database contains more than 10 million reports of side effects linked to medications used in real life. By studying this data, scientists can detect patterns that may not be obvious in smaller clinical trials.
The research team focused on around 43,000 patients who used PPIs and did not take other medications at the same time. To make a fair comparison, they examined another group of about 8,000 patients who used a different type of acid-reducing drug called histamine-2 receptor blockers.
These drugs include familiar names like Pepcid and Zantac and are generally considered less powerful than PPIs.
The results were concerning. Kidney-related problems were reported in 5.6 percent of people taking PPIs. In comparison, only 0.7 percent of people taking histamine-2 blockers reported similar issues. This large difference suggests a strong link between PPI use and kidney harm.
The gap became even more striking when researchers looked at chronic kidney disease, a long-term condition that can slowly worsen and eventually lead to kidney failure. People taking PPIs were more than 28 times more likely to report chronic kidney disease than those using histamine-2 blockers.
Other serious conditions were also more common among PPI users, including sudden kidney injury, end-stage kidney disease, and dangerous imbalances in minerals such as sodium and potassium.
These findings add to a growing body of research questioning the long-term safety of PPIs. This is not the first warning from the University of California San Diego.
In 2017, researchers from the same institution reported a possible link between PPI use and chronic liver disease. Together, these studies suggest that PPIs may affect more organs than previously believed.
It is important to understand that PPIs are not being labeled as dangerous for everyone. For many people, especially those with severe acid-related conditions, these drugs play an important role in treatment.
However, the research highlights the need for caution, particularly for people who take PPIs for long periods or who already have risk factors for kidney disease.
Doctors and patients may need to rethink how these medications are used. This could include using the lowest effective dose, limiting long-term use when possible, or considering alternative treatments. Regular monitoring of kidney function may also be important for patients who rely on PPIs.
The study, led by Ruben Abagyan and published in the journal Scientific Reports, aims to raise awareness rather than cause alarm. It encourages better communication between patients and healthcare providers and reminds everyone that widely used medications can still carry hidden risks.
As research continues, understanding both the benefits and risks of PPIs will help ensure safer treatment choices. For millions of people who depend on these drugs, staying informed could make a meaningful difference to long-term health.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about how to protect your kidneys from diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and eating nuts linked to lower risk of chronic kidney disease and death.
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