Do you use heartburn medication? You may want to read this before committing to long term use of PPI’s. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) such as Prilosec and Prevacid reduce the production of gastric acid – this helps to alleviate symptoms of gastric esophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, researchers have found that long term use of these medications may have serious side effects. PPI’s may lead to a significant decrease in gallbladder motility (the ability to move spontaneously and actively) and therefore can lead to negative biliary symptoms such as gallstones and other issues. The FDA now reports that PPI’s are also associated with severe magnesium deficiency, which can lead to increased risk of leg spasms, arrhythmias, and seizures.
Talk to Dr. Cohen at his San Francisco office to explore alternative options to PPI’s.