Over-the-counter antacids known as proton pump inhibitors, which treat heartburn symptoms by reducing stomach acid, may increase the risk of stroke, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2016 in New Orleans.
PPIs have previously been linked to unhealthy vascular function, heart attacks, kidney disease and dementia. To test if the products also carry a higher risk of ischemic stroke — the most common type of stroke caused by clots blocking blood flow to or in the brain — researchers analyzed the records of 244,679 Danish patients who underwent an endoscopy to diagnose the causes of stomach pain and indigestion. Within six years, 9,489 patients experienced an ischemic stroke for the first time.
The four types of PPIs examined were omeprazole (known by the brand name Prilosec), pantoprazole (Protonix), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and esomeprazole (Nexium).
Here are four key findings from the study.
1. Stroke risk increased by 21 percent when patients were taking a PPI medication.
2. Those taking the lowest reported doses of PPIs experienced a slight or no increased risk of stroke.
3. Individuals who took Protonix and reported the highest rates of use had a 94 percent increase in stroke risk – the highest risk factor among all four medications.
4. Another group of antacids medications known as H2 blockers, which include famotidine (Pepcid) and ranitidine (Zantac), were not associated with an increased risk of stroke.
"At one time, PPIs were thought to be safe, without major side effects," said Thomas Sehested, MD, lead study author and a researcher at the Danish Heart Foundation in Copenhagen, Denmark. "This study further questions the cardiovascular safety of these drugs."
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