Acid Suppressing Medication Creates Dependence

A new study shows that the widely over-prescribed acid suppressing medications known as proton-pump inhibitors¹ (Prilosec, Prevacid, Aciphex, Protonix, and Nexium) cause significant indigestion when patients try to get off them.  This is because the drugs, once stopped, cause a rebound over-production of stomach acid. 

Acid suppressing medication has many problems, such as interfering with the digestion of protein, disturbing normal digestion, and setting a person up to be at much higher risk of infections like the flu.

Many people have a great deal of difficulty trying to get off these medications once on them, usually because they think when they don’t take them that their digestive problems are still there.  This study shows that withdrawing the medication actually causes indigestion – which obviously creates needless drug addiction and the false belief that the medication is needed indefinitely.

I can’t for a moment believe that the drug companies who make these drugs weren’t well aware of this issue and never bothered telling anyone.

There is no short cut to good digestive health.  Suppressing symptoms with acid suppressing medication is like fighting a forest fire with fire retardant – sometimes helpful but no way to prevent fires or manage the problem on a regular basis.