MedSlant's "A Good Night's Sleep" Newsletter

A year or more worth of relief gained by taking Nexium, Prevacid, or Prilosec can dramatically raise the risk of a broken hip in people over 50. A British study of more than 145,000 patients found that those taking proton pump inhibitors for a year or more had a 44% higher risk of hip fractures than nonusers. Increased use of the drugs heightens the fracture risk. A similar but smaller risk exists for users of H2 blockers such as Tagamet and Pepcid.

The reason: researchers believe that while the drugs reduce acid in the stomach, they also make it more difficult for the body to absorb bone building calcium.

Study co-author, Dr. Yu-Xiao Yang of the University Of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine cautions that doctors need to be sure patients have a good reason to stay on the drugs long term. “The general perception is they (the drugs) are relatively harmless. They often are used without a clear or justified indication for the treatment”, Dr. Yang said. Hip fractures in the older patient can lead to life threatening complications.

Results of the study published in the December 27, 2006, Journal of the American Medical Association were addressed by Dr. Doug Levine of AstraZeneca, maker of Nexium and Prilosec. Dr. Levine said the study doesn’t prove that proton pump inhibitors cause hip fractures; it merely suggests a potential association. He agreed with Dr. Yang that physicians need to closely monitor their patients. Nexium’s global sales topped $5.7 billion last year; it is the third biggest selling drug world wide. TAP Pharmaceutical Products Inc., marketer of Prevacid, spokeswoman Julia Ellwanger, said the safety of proton pump inhibitors has been well established and the new study neither proves nor disproves a hip fracture connection.

Add this concern to a months ago report in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology which found that although proton pump inhibitors are good at relieving heartburn and acid reflux symptoms, when discontinued, some people experience a phenomenon called drug-induced acid rebound. This means that the stomach pumps out even more acid than before. This can last for many months and this excess acid may lead to prolonged heartburn.

As always, the best advice is to discuss your situation with your physician, even if you are taking OTC meds. And, it is never a good idea to discontinue meds or change the dosage without consulting the prescribing physician.

A Stanford University physician says you can help yourself.

If you are sleeping on your MedSlant regularly, give yourself a pat on the back. Laura B. Gerson, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Stanford University, and a team of researchers recently reviewed 100 published studies that examined diet and lifestyle changes for acid reflux patients. They could find no evidence to support a decrease in heartburn for patients who gave up the generally perceived trigger foods. According to Dr. Gerson and her team, only two lifestyle changes actually made a difference:

• Sleep Elevated
• Lose Weight

However, Dr. Gerson does consul her patients that while they can enjoy a normal diet, they should avoid foods that cause heartburn in them.

Many of you let me know that you are solving your heartburn problems with lifestyle changes and herbs instead of medication. There has been a lot of hype lately about fresh pineapple. Pineapple contains bromelain, a group of sulfur containing, protein digesting enzymes that aid digestion and can also reduce inflammation and swelling. Experts who promote the benefits of healthy foods tell us pineapple should be eaten fresh to maximize its benefits; the enzymes which aid in digestion are deactivated by the heat used in canning.

If you're a woman over 35, you may be undergoing physical and emotional changes in your life as you move toward menopause and face new challenges. These can range from caring for aging parents, balancing career with family, raising teenagers, and experiencing physical symptoms that may be related to hormonal changes.

The Women's Midlife Support Network and Perimenopause Support websites are dedicated to giving you tools and resources to help you survive and thrive as you move through the middle of your life.

Please keep the phone calls and emails coming to 1.800.346.1850. I love hearing from you.

Wishing you a good night’s sleep,

Adele Camens
CustomerService@MedSlant.com