Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, etc. long-term use linked to hip fractures.(Interview)

An increased incidence of hip fracture is associated with long-term use of the top-selling heartburn drugs like Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec. People on high doses of these prescription drugs called proton pump inhibitors (PPI) were the most likely to experience a hip fracture if they stayed on them for more than a year. This finding was published at the end of 2006 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

PPIs are potent drugs that suppress stomach acid. Their long-term use is often advised as a preventive against the gastrointestinal bleeding that can occur with chronic use of drugs like aspirin and other non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs taken regularly by people with arthritis and other chronically painful conditions.

PPIs are also heavily marketed for …