Health – and legal – issues for acid suppression medication.
By: Dr. Wright

Lawyers have been advertising for litigation regarding Zantac (Ranitidine), a common acid suppression medication used in the treatment of heartburn and regurgitation. In other research, a related medication, Pepcid (Famotidine), may have increased cancer rates beyond even that of Zantac. There was a major recall of these medications nearly a year ago due to concerns that the medication itself is transformed into a nitrosamine-like contaminant (NDMA), which has been associated with the development of multiple cancers (stomach, bladder, kidney, pancreas, colon, and liver cancers). It has long been noted that the sales of Zantac have paralleled the development of stomach and esophagus cancer with a lag period of about ten years.

Most patients with chronic acid reflux use a more powerful acid suppression with a class of medication called proton pump inhibitors. This includes common medications such as Prilosec, Nexium, and AcipHex. These medications also have adverse health effects.

Risks Associated with Long-Term Use of Antacids

Long-term use of proton pump inhibitors increases the risk of infections such as C-difficile colitis and pneumonia. Additionally, they interfere with the metabolism of calcium, vitamin B-12, and magnesium and therefore aggravate conditions such as osteoporosis, anemia, and cardiac rhythms. There is also data that shows an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney disease, dementia, and osteoporosis. It is advised that along with the proton pump inhibitors, daily supplements of calcitriol maximum twice daily, along with magnesium oxide supplements (200 to 400 mg), vitamin B-12 (100 mcg daily), and a probiotic such as New-Nature be taken on a regular basis. Therefore, the proper regimen for acid suppression should include five pills daily to deal with the potential long term complications. For these reasons, the FDA package insert with proton pump inhibitors indicates that the maximum continuous duration of these medications should not exceed two months.

95% of patients suffering from acid reflux disease will remain on some sort of acid suppression lifelong once they have begun; this is due to an anatomical problem with a breakdown of the valve between the stomach and the esophagus. This valve—called the lower esophageal sphincter—is responsible for preventing acid reflux. Once damaged, this muscle remains weakened and acid suppression simply masks the symptoms rather than solving the underlying problem.

Surgical Options for Reflux Patients

Surgery to prevent acid reflux has long been a mainstay for patients with symptoms that do not respond to acid medications. Surgical intervention should be considered by patients who are concerned that their health may be adversely affected by the medications listed above.

For patients with a weakened lower esophageal sphincter and ongoing symptoms, a surgery called a Hill Antireflux Procedure corrects the weakness of that sphincter. Hill Procedures are regularly and expertly performed at Cascade Hernia and Surgical Solutions. This is done laparoscopically in an outpatient setting, usually in an hour and a half of surgery. This operation corrects the lower esophageal sphincter without causing any other anatomical distortion of the stomach. The Hill Procedure shows high patient satisfaction levels beyond twenty years after surgery is complete—most of whom are off acid reduction medications permanently.

An experienced acid reflux surgeon can assist patients in getting the full workup for their acid reflux disease. This is a condition that we commonly manage at Cascade Hernia and Surgical Solutions; Dr. Wright has performed over 3,000 Hill Procedures dating back to the 1990s.

For patients interested in progressing beyond simply masking the symptoms of their acid reflux and solving the underlying anatomical problem, the first step is an upper endoscopy to make sure that no cancerous changes are present. From there further testing can be performed to make sure that an operation is the best option; this can be guided accurately and in a timely manner at Meridian Surgery Center. Please call for an appointment and get on a pathway to health in a natural way.

Cascade Hernia & Surgical Solutions—We’re in network.

Call Dr. Wright’s office at Meridian Surgery Center in Puyallup, Washington for consultation if you feel that you would like to consider freedom from these long-term complications of acid suppression medication. Check us out at our website Cascade Hernia and Surgical Solutions. We’re in network with most major insurance plans.

Make an appointment for a consultation today. Call (253) 840-1999. Often, you can get an appointment on the next weekday. Learn more at www.cascadehernia.com. Stay connected with Cascade Hernia & Surgical Solutions: Follow us on Facebook.

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