Proton Pump Inhibitors Increase Risk of Hip Fracture

Proton pump inhibitors (e.g. Nexium, Aciphex, Prevacid, Protonix, and Prilosec), which are taken for acid-related diseases and also by many arthritis patients trying to reduce potential gastrointestinal side effects caused by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), have been linked to an increased risk of hip fracture.

Researchers report that treatment with proton pump inhibitors for more than one year in people over 50 years old was associated with a 44 percent increased risk of hip fracture, according to study results published in the December 27, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association. The risk was 2.6 times higher for longterm users of proton pump inhibitors at high doses. A smaller, yet similarly increased risk of hip fracture was also associated with H2 blockers (e.g. Tagamet, Zantac, and Pepcid).

Should arthritis patients stop taking proton pump inhibitors? How can arthritis patients minimize the risks associated with proton pump inhibitors? Find the answers in Proton Pump Inhibitors Increase Risk of Hip Fracture.

Related Resources:

• The Facts of NSAIDs
• Osteoporosis Risk Factors
• Osteoporosis Prevention: The Role of Calcium and Vitamin D
• Does Osteoporosis Risk Increase for People With Arthritis?
• What Should People With Arthritis Be Doing to Prevent Osteoporosis?

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