Unraveling the Safety Profile of Proton-Pump Inhibitors

A large randomized trial has shown no association between PPI use and most of the adverse outcomes noted in observational studies.

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs) provide important clinical benefits for many patients. However, observational studies have suggested an association between PPI use and a variety of adverse events, including dementia, osteoporosis, bone fractures, micronutrient deficiencies, pneumonia, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, kidney disease, and enteric infections. We have observed that some patients with documented indications for PPIs have stopped the drugs on their own after hearing media reports about frightening potential side effects such as dementia; other patients have discontinued them on the advice of their physicians. As an illustration, we provide the following example — a composite of several cases seen in our gastroenterology practices…