Read top tips by Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH, for a healthier you!
Long-term use of acid-suppressing drugs may pose significant health risks. If you’ve been taking Pepcid, Tagamet, Aciphex, or another acid-suppressing medication known as proton pump inhibitors for years, your stomach might feel better, but your long-term health could suffer. While there’s no doubt these drugs can be beneficial in the short run, recent research has uncovered a number of potential pitfalls associated with longer use, including a higher risk of pneumonia, bone fractures and bacterial infections of the gastrointestinal tract.