Is Your Heartburn Medication Safe?

By Author: Steven Johnson
Total Articles: 490
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Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai Corporation gets a lot of credit for their very successful heartburn and ulcer drug. This proton pump inhibitor has helped millions of people across the world live a more comfortable life, and, more remarkably, has done so with no overdose, addiction, or any of the things that make a drug so potentially dangerous. However, this does not mean there are no concerns.

It is approved for short-term use. The FDA has not approved it to be used year after year. The FDA studies that tested the safety of the drug in adults and adolescents were merely 12-week trials, so this does not mean that the potential risks are limited to what they say if you exceed the 12-week period. Studies have been done up to 1 year that have not shown any other serious threats to health. However, a 3 year long study showed that signs of vitamin B12 deficiency may be linked.

However, while we do not know the risks of taking the drug for 12 years, we do know that many people have taken the drug far longer than the suggested length of treatment and have not suffered any other problems on record. It is still important ...
... to note that, as it is a short-term drug, the suggested length of treatment is 4 to 8 weeks. This suggestion should not be broken without approval from your physician.

Drug Interactions

If you also take Warfarin, you MUST contact your doctor before starting on a proton pump inhibitor. These drugs have a strong interaction that can be very dangerous for your health. Taking one does not necessarily mean you must quit the other; a doctor may choose to lessen your dosage size.

Cyclosporine and Digoxin are known to be problematic as well, as is Ketoconazole when taken with AcipHex.

Concerns about Side Effects

While only 2% of patients in trials have experienced side effects, it is still worth knowing which ones are to be expected so that you can contact a medical professional in the case that something severe and unexpected occurs. Of this 2%, which represents 3 people in each study, about 10% experienced headache, almost 5% experienced diarrhea, another 5% experienced nausea, less than 4% had vomiting, and nearly 4% experienced some pain in the abdomen.

While your chances of having any serious side effects are well below 1% then, it is worth knowing which side effects to be worried about:

* Abnormal heartbeat
* Migraine headaches
* High blood pressure
* Anxiety
* Severe stomach pain

If you experience swelling, rashes, itching, or trouble breathing discontinue use and seek out a doctor immediately. It is possible that you could have an allergic reaction.

Concerns about Expense

This may not be a direct health concern, but considering the price of AcipHex, which has no generic match, then you may not be able to afford a gym membership, vitamins, or organic foods. However, you CAN buy Aciphex online for a relative pittance! Just make sure you find an online pharmacy that is safe and reliable, not just cheap. Fortunately you have found such a place.