Heartburn Drugs and Fractures

A new study in the Annals of Family Medicine underscores concerns expressed a year ago by FDA officials: the heartburn drugs Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium may cause an increased risk of fractures.

Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium are heartburn drugs that control acid reflux disease and gastro-esophageal reflux disease.

Korean research looked at 11 studies published between 1997 and 2011 and found that heartburn drugs such as Prilosec, Prevacid and Nexium – proton pump inhibitors – were associated with a 29 percent increased risk of fracture. The risk of hip fractures was, in these studies, 31% higher. More frightening: the finding of a 54 percent heightened risk of vertebral fractures.

In May last year, the FDA decided that heartburn drugs should contain a warning about the risk of fracture. This warning was placed on Nexium, Dexilant, Prilosec, Zegerid, Prevacid, Protonix, and Aciphex.

Doctors are not saying that there should be a recall for these drugs. But they are saying that doctors want to keep these concerns in mind when prescribing these drugs.

Our lawyers are not currently handling heartburn medication related fracture cases, but we want to hear from you. If you have had a fracture while taking a heartburn drug, leave a comment below, and share your experience.

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