I almost expected this doctor to burst into a rendition of “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”!
He claims to have set “the record straight” where those acid-suppressing proton pump inhibitor drugs are concerned… and that his new “study” is the end-all, be-all of what you need to know about these meds.
And when you see those “troubling headlines” about fractures, dementia and death being uttered in the same sentence as the Purple Pill, pay no mind.
But truth be told, there’s a lot more going on here than you might think.
And no matter what this researcher is saying, PPIs are still just as dangerous as ever.
Ignoring what’s on the label
Ever since a study was published last year with the frightening news that long-term users of PPI drugs are upping their risk of dementia by a whopping 44 percent, Big Pharma must’ve really been stewing.
That prior research came from the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, which crunched seven years’ worth of data on over 73,000 people before coming to that conclusion.
And that 44 percent number is probably just the tip of the iceberg, because those German researchers only examined people taking prescription PPI meds!
As you know by just shopping at any supermarket, big-box store, or pharmacy, the lion’s share of these drugs — which include Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid — are sold OTC.
But the drug companies weren’t about to let their billion-dollar pills be linked to dementia, no matter how thorough and extensive that research was.
So, enter Dr. Andrew Chan from the Massachusetts General Hospital, the lead researcher on a new study with the headline “PPIs do not cause dementia.”
Now, Chan is no stranger to Big Pharma, having consulted for Bayer, Pfizer, and two other drugmakers. And he’s issued something that not only looks and sounds more like an ad for these drugs than an actual study, but he also has the sound bites to go along with it.
In his press release, issued under the logo of the American Gastroenterological Association, he claims that there’s “no convincing evidence” that these drugs can addle your mind and erase your memories — something he based only on the results of one study whose participants took PPIs and got good grades on a “cognitive function test.”
This new research, Dr. Chan says, should give “reassurance” to those who “require these highly effective medications for long-term treatment.”
Yikes! Taking these meds for the long haul is a huge no-no.
It even clearly says so right there on the package instructions for these OTC meds: They are only to be taken for a maximum of TWO WEEKS! That’s how the FDA was able to justify its decision to allow such risky drugs to be sold right over the counter for anyone to buy.
But apparently, the good doctor couldn’t be bothered to read such label warnings. In fact, he goes on to say that if your “diagnosed condition” is being helped by these drugs, you should keep on taking them — even if the latest “research and headlines” about them “seem scary.”
“Seem”? You can bet they are scary! Perhaps he’s the one who needs to review some of the research, since he’s smoothing over every single serious side effect these drugs come along with.
But these dangers won’t go away with a wave of Dr. Chan’s magic pharma wand.
For example:
- Just last month, I told you that vets who took PPI meds for reflux in one study had up to a 50 percent greater risk of death than those who took H2 blockers for the same purpose.
- PPIs have been found to up your risk of the most deadly kind of esophageal cancer, make it more likely you’ll suffer a heart attack or stroke, lower your immune function, and increase your risk of breaking a bone — especially your hip.
- As I also shared with you earlier this year, PPIs can also more than triple your chances of coming down with the “deadly diarrhea” known as C. diff.
But there are plenty of other ways to control acid without putting yourself in the crosshairs of these life-threatening risks.
Your first line of defense is to cut back on high-acid food and drinks — but if that doesn’t settle your reflux, try sipping on a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water. Don’t lie down too soon after eating, and, when you do, don’t lie flat on your back. HSI panel member Dr. Glenn Rothfeld suggests you try something called “Inclined Bed Therapy,” in which you sleep with your head elevated six inches above your feet.
But whatever you do, stay as far away from these PPI drugs as you possibly can — no matter how many fake reassurances you’re given by Big Pharma’s pitchmen.
“Setting the record straight: PPIs do not cause dementia” American Gastroenterological Association, July 20, 2017, ScienceDaily, sciencedaily.com
