Any health effects with long term use of Nexium? - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

Lady50 · 04-28-2005, 09:27 AM

I am investigating here for my husband. He has been taking nexium for a few years and has developed weakening of bones, vascular disease, gets pneumonia very easily. He does have GERD from a darn hernia.

I would say it interferes with important nutrients from the food(which is what I have read about). The food just kinda sits in the stomach without being neutralized by lack of stomach acid. It is like having chronic constipation which leads to developement of cholesterol, plaque in arteries. That is just my opinion anyway.

He is a very healthy, slim,44 years old. He does not eat very much and gets plenty of excersize. I really am worried about this plaque buildup in his caratoid artery.

Anyboy have problems like this?

blondy2061h · 04-28-2005, 09:45 PM

Plaque build up is not a side effect of Nexium that I know of. It seems highly unlikely to me that it is, since plaque is made of fat, and Nexium does not effect the enzymes that break down fat. Machanical digestion moves food from the stomach, and enzymes break it down. There's really no need for acid in the stomach, and if your husband has heart problems, I would doubt it's from the Nexium.

I have said this before, but my GI doctor insists the only side effects of PPIs are increased risk of pneumonia (which reflux causes anyways) and increased risk of food poisoning. There was recently a thread about the pneumonia.

What dose is your husband on?

Lady50 · 04-29-2005, 08:05 AM

Yes he get pneumonia very easy. He only takes Nexium.

I looked it up and it is not suppose to be taken longterm. He has been on it for a couple of years I believe every single day.

It just seems weird because he eats like a bird and is very active. I did do some more research and found out it can decrease your intake of vitamin B12 and some others.

I don't know it is just a guess but it seems like if it neutralizes your stomach acid. It just seems like it would not break down the food and make it just kind of sit there like in constipation. I have had constipation from hypothyroidism and made me have high cholesterol.

There are no longterm studies on Nexium I know. Well anyway, I made him quit taking it everyday, only as needed. He listened to me Yay, yay!!!!

I don't know it will take awhile to see if it is the cause. This is just MY assumption.

thanks for your reply. You think I am crazy huh?LOL

blondy2061h · 04-29-2005, 07:39 PM

Nexium is a proton pump inhibitor. It is itself a fairly new drug, but it is almost identical to Prilosec, and drug that has been on the market for many years and proven to be safe long term. Both drugs are made by Astro-Zeneca.

Nexium DOES NOT neutralize stomach acid. It stops these things in your stomach called proton pumps from making it altogether.

Nexium takes 2 weeks at least to work. IF YOUR HUSBAND DOES NOT TAKE IT EVERYDAY IT WILL NOT WORK AT ALL! The drug needs to be at consistant levels in your system or else it will not do a thing. There are other drugs that can be taken as needed, like Zantac. These drugs are called H2 blockers, and do work to neutralize the acid. I cannot empathesize enough that Nexium cannot be taken as needed.

Again, let me point out to you that acid does not break down fats. Enzymes do. Coronary artery disease is not a side effect of proton pump inhibitor use.

If your husband only takes Nexium once a day, he is taking 1/2 to 1/4 of the maximum dose. Your husbands risk of pneumonia is higher if the acid reflux goes uncontrolled than if he takes nexium. I have been on very high doses of proton pump inhibitors for a long time, and no pneumonia. It's a rare side effect.

The condition you describe concerning vitamin B12 is called pernicuous anemia. It is VERY, VERY rare. It does not effect a person intake of vitamin B12, since only that person controls that. It can effect how well a person absorbs vitamin B12. Chances even on very high doses of PPIs of getting it are low. With that I would say just go off it if it happens. I have a friend who got it and she went off the drug and was fine within a week.

In most people acid reflux, which can cause cancer, electrolyte imbalances, tears in the esophogus, cavities, ulcers, and a whole host of breathing problems, is much more dangerous than proton pump inhibitors.

I would encourage you to make an appointment with a gastroenterologist to discuss your concerns rather than just telling your husband not to take it. The effects of acid reflux go way beyond the pain.

Lady50 · 04-30-2005, 05:12 AM

Well I know that medicines will effect each individual in a different way. If I want to tell my husband not to take it, because I care about his health, that is strictly my business.

I am not saying that it DOES cause vascular disease, but anything that is taking that messes with nature, is going to cause problems.

My husband has been on PPIs for more years then you have.