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Pepcid and Nexium are both used to reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach. Pepcid is a member of a group of drugs called H-2 blockers. This category of drugs includes Tagamet, Zantac and others. Nexium is the latest in a group of drugs called Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI�S). The group of drugs includes Prilosec, Prevacid and others. Although they work in different ways, the end result is reduced stomach acid. These two groups of drugs are used in the treat of a number of different stomach problems including stomach ulcers and reflux disease (heartburn). While there are scattered reports of people having heart problems while taking these drugs, it does not look like the drugs were the cause.
There may be a link, however, between the disease these drugs are used to treat and heart problems. We have assumed that the cause of stomach ulcers and reflux disease is related to stomach acid. Reflux disease and the symptom of heartburn are caused by damage to the esophagus by stomach acid. The erosion of the stomach lining by acid causes stomach ulcers. So reducing the amount of acid in the stomach should work to reduce or eliminate symptoms. The PPIs all reduce the amount of acid produced in the stomach and do work to reduce the symptoms of reflux disease and stomach ulcers. We now know that stomach ulcers can also be caused by an infection with bacteria called Helicobacter pylori. Physicians can order a simple laboratory test to see if the bacterial infection is present. Treatment with antibiotics can cure many people of their symptoms due to stomach ulcers.
This same bacterium has been thought by some experts to be linked to heart disease as well. The studies so far have shown very mixed results, however. We know that there is a link between high blood levels of cholesterol and heart disease, but the connection is a bit confusing, since some people have heart attacks with normal or even low amounts of cholesterol in the blood and others with high levels of cholesterol have no evidence of heart disease. It looks like other factors come into play. Certain bacterial infections may possibly be linked to heart disease. Studies are going on now to better understand this link.
