Sunday, February 12, 2012

Heartburn drugs linked to pneumonia risk

(National Public Radio) UPDATED 2009-06-03
Researchers in Boston say that the use of proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs for acid reflux may cause pneumonia in hospitalized patients. The study of patient records at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center found that patients who were prescribed Nexium, Prilosec or Prevacid to prevent stress ulcers were 30 percent more likely to develop pneumonia than patients who hadn't been given a PPI. Experts say that PPIs may allow bacteria from the stomach to infect the lungs, or the drugs may suppress the immune system in general.  Read full story >
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