Which Gut Medicines Could End Up in a Lawsuit? Are There Really Links to Cancer and Kidney Disease? Should I Stop Taking Them?

Drugs commonly used to treat conditions such as heartburn, acid reflux, indigestion and stomach ulcers could be the subject of a class action lawsuit in Australia.

Lawyers are examining whether Long-term apply of these over-the-counter and prescription medications has been linked to stomach cancer and kidney disease.

The potential class action lawsuit follows a settlement in a related multi-million dollar lawsuit in the United States. Last year, the international pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca settled in for US$425 million (A$637 million) after patients reported that two of its drugs caused stern and potentially life-threatening side effects.

Patients said drugs like Nexium (esomeprazole) and Prilosec (omeprazole) augment the risk of kidney damage.

What drugs are trafficked in Australia?

The class of drugs we are talking about is “proton pump inhibitors” (sometimes called PPI). In a potential class action lawsuit in Australia, lawyers investigate:

These drugs, depending on the concentration and quantity, are available in pharmacies over the counter or with a prescription.

They have been available in Australia for over 20 years and are in top ten drugs issued under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Program.

They are used to treat conditions made worse by stomach acid. These include heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion. They work by blocking a protein responsible for pumping acid into the stomach.

These drugs are also prescribed along with antibiotics to treat bacteria. Helicobacter pyloriwhich causes stomach ulcers and stomach cancer.

What do we know about risk?

Proper apply of proton pump inhibitors plays an critical role in treating several stern digestive problems. As with all medications, there are risks associated with their apply depending on how much and how long they are used.

When used correctly, proton pump inhibitors for short-term treatment of stomach problems are usually well toleratedsheltered and effective.

Their risks are mainly related to long-term use (using them for more than a year) because of the negative effects resulting from reduced stomach acid levels. In older people, these include an increased risk of intestinal and respiratory infections, nutrient deficiencies, and fractures. Long-term apply of these drugs in older people is also associated with an increased risk dementia.

In children, an increased risk is observed risk of serious infection related to the apply of these medications, regardless of the duration of their apply.

What about cancer and kidney risks?

Currently in Australia, consumer information leaflets accompanying medicines such as this one, esomeprazoldo not list stomach cancer or kidney damage among the risks of proton pump inhibitors.

So what does the evidence say about risk?

In the past few years, gigantic studies have been conducted on the general population who have taken proton pump inhibitors. These studies have shown that people who take them are almost twice as likely to develop stomach cancer and 1.7 times more likely to develop chronic kidney disease compared to people who do not take them.

In particular, these studies indicate that users of the drugs lansoprazole and pantoprazole have about three to four times greater risk of developing the disease than non-users. chronic kidney disease.

Although observational studies suggest an association between medication apply and these outcomes, we cannot apply this evidence to conclude that one causes the other.

What can I do if I’m worried?

Several digestive conditions, especially acid reflux and heartburn, can benefit from uncomplicated changes to diet and lifestyle. However, overall evidence because they are not robust and their effectiveness varies from person to person.

However, it may be helpful to avoid gigantic meals two to three hours before bedtime and to limit your intake of fatty foods, alcohol and coffee. Eat slowly AND losing weight If you are overweight, it may also aid relieve symptoms.

There are also medications other than proton pump inhibitors that can be used for heartburn, reflux, and stomach ulcers.

These include over-the-counter antacids (e.g. Gaviscon and Mylanta), which work by neutralising the acidic environment of the stomach.

Alternatives to prescription medications include nizatidine and famotidine. They work by blocking histamine receptors in the stomach, which reduces stomach acid production.

If you are concerned about taking proton pump inhibitors, it is critical to talk to your doctor or pharmacist before stopping them. This is because after prolonged apply, stopping them can result in increased or ‘rebound’ acid production.