People who take certain popular heartburn medications, like omeprazole (Prilosec), are at increased risk of heart attack, according to a data mining study by U.S. researchers. The drugs called proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs), lower acidity in the stomach and prevent the burning sensation in the esophagus that indicates acid reflux. There have been questions about the safety of these drugs for people who have had a coronary event like a heart attack, said lead author Nigam H.
Shah of Stanford University in California, but most research has focused on the interaction between these drugs and the blood thinner clopidogrel (Plavix). “Now, given the underlying biology and the effect of these drugs in reducing nitric oxide in the blood vessel walls, the observed association is not super surprising,” Shah told Reuters Health by email. Although the results are compelling, this study does not…
