According to a FDA warning, patients taking proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may have an increased risk of fractures to the spine, wrist and hip. The labeling of proton pump inhibitors will be revised to reflect this risk. PPIs are used to decrease gastric acidity and are sold under the following brand names: Prevacid; Nexium; Dexilant; Prilosec; Zegerid; Protonix; and Aciphex.
The FDA released a warning on the fracture risk associated with proton pump inhibitors after reviewing several studies, which found that patients who took higher dosages of the drugs or took them for longer than a year had the greatest risk of fracture. Because most of these patients were over the age of 50, the increased risk of fractures was seen mostly in this age group.
According to the FDA, doctors should consider the risk of fractures before prescribing PPIs and determine whether a shorter duration of usage or lower dose may suffice. Likewise, patients taking proton pump inhibitors should understand that they have an increased risk of fractures to the wrist, hip and spine, but should not stop their medication without first speaking to their doctor.
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