eMJA: Risks of proton-pump inhibitors: what every doctor should know

Editorials

Risks of proton-pump inhibitors: what every doctor should know

Nicholas J Talley

MJA 2009; 190 (3): 109-110

No drug is completely safe and, while the risks seem small, some side effects can be serious

When I went to medical school, the mantra “know thy drugs” was pounded into me repeatedly, and it has served me well. Among the most commonly prescribed drugs in Australia are the proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). In 2005, one million Australians were dispensed drugs in this class.1 There is no doubt that PPIs are safe relative to most other medications we prescribe, but suppressing gastric acid is not physiological.2

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