Common stomach drugs that can lead to memory problems

More than 15 million people in the U.S. alone now take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) to control stomach acid, heartburn, and the symptoms of acid reflux or GERD.

You may even be one of them and you may know them better under names like Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec.

In fact, not only are these drugs common in the general population, they are even given to patients undergoing cancer treatment to ease the stomach problems that the treatment itself causes.

But now, thanks to new research, doctors may need to rethink using those drugs, not only for cancer patients but for all of us…

Unintended side effects found in three separate studies

The research, performed at Ohio State University actually looked at three separate studies on the use of PPIs in breast cancer survivors – both prescribed and over-the-counter – and compared it to their incidence of cognitive problems.

Why?

Because the team knew that PPIs are actually able to bypass the blood-brain barrier. Yup, they don’t just stay in your bloodstream but can affect your brain itself.

“I thought there could be a cognitive effect from taking PPIs, particularly in this population, because breast cancer survivors are already at risk for cognitive decline,” said Annelise Madison, lead author of the study and a graduate student in clinical psychology at Ohio State. “PPIs are over the counter and generally considered safe so there haven’t been many long-term trials, especially looking at cognitive outcomes, because nobody was really thinking that would be a downstream effect.”

But, guess what…

There’s definitely a downstream effect.

The first study the team looked at found that breast cancer survivors who used PPIs had concentration problems that were 20 percent more severe than those reported by non-PPI users.

Related: If your heartburn is worse, estrogen could be to blame

In the second study, PPI users’ concentration problems were 29 percent more severe than those reported by non-PPI users.

And, in the third study, it was found that reported memory problems were 28 percent more severe in PPI users than in non-users.

Yup, concentration and memory problems were found to be a major side effect of using those acid reflux drugs!

And, if that weren’t enough, the team also found that patients who used those proton pump inhibitors reported a poorer quality of life, greater cognitive impairment, and poorer cognitive abilities compared to non-users.

That’s not exactly what you sign up for when you decide to start taking the drugs, is it?

But, are the study findings accurate? Or are they simply going to be refuted by the next study that comes along?

Well, not according to the researchers…

“The fact that this study found similar effects across three different sets of patients who are at different stages of cancer survivorship gives some weight to what we’re seeing,” said Kiecolt-Glaser, senior author of the paper and an investigator in Ohio State’s Comprehensive Cancer Center. “Had it been in only a single study, it could have been a chance effect.”

In other words, since the results were found again and again, you can take them to the bank.

More problems with PPIs

So, let’s sum that up again real quick…

The research we just talked about found that PPIs for breast cancer survivors resulted in:

• Concentration problems that are 20 to 29 percent more severe
• Memory problems that are 28 percent more severe
• Poor quality of life
• Greater cognitive impairment
• Poorer cognitive abilities

And, although the study focused on cancer survivors, do you remember how the team said that PPIs cross the blood-brain barrier and they only studied cancer survivors because they are at greater risk for cognitive problems?

Well, that means that if you’re at risk for cognitive decline (or even if you’re not) it’s possible that they could affect you in the same ways.

The problems with PPIs don’t even end there…

A study published in The BMJ found that PPIs were associated with a higher risk of numerous fatal conditions, including heart disease and stomach cancer.

Yup, they can not only destroy your memory, concentration, and quality of life, they could kill you.

If that’s not a reason to find a more natural way to care for your stomach issues, I don’t know what is.

Calming the fire

But, how do you do that? Is there anything that really works to reduce the irritation and bloating that comes with heartburn, acid reflux, and indigestion?

The answer is yes when you use this seven-step process…

1. Eat smaller meals frequently throughout the day to reduce your indigestion.
2. Wait at least 45 minutes to lie down after eating.
3. Raise the head of your bed eight inches.
4. Try a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar a day.
5. Add lemon juice to meals and acidic drinks.
6. Eat foods that are higher in fiber like broccoli, beets, and asparagus.
7. Lean towards an alkaline diet with foods like melons, bananas, and fennel.

These all-natural steps can help you find relief, stop the burn, and beat the bloat. Even better, they come with no memory and concentration problems, much less the more dangerous side effects that you’ll find with PPIs.

Sources:

1. Acid reflux drugs may have negative side effects for breast cancer survivors — EurekAlert
2. Common heartburn drug linked with fatal conditions — Medical News Today
3. Refuge from acid reflux — Easy Health Options