Long Term PPI Use Increases Cancer Risk?

"PPIs are among the most widely sold drugs in the world, and the first one, omeprazole, is on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines."- Wikipedia

Earlier this year I was shocked to find the following statement while reading the wikipedia article on Barrett's Esophagus: "Proton pump inhibitor drugs have not been proven to prevent esophageal cancer." I was shocked because many doctors advise on the use of PPIs such as omeprazole to prevent esophageal cancer, which is one of the most deadly cancers you can get. If cancer prevention is the main reason why you are taking a PPI, should you reconsider?

For a 2017 scholarly article on some of the studies concluding that PPIs don't prevent esophageal cancer, see https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5224998/ Recently I've come across a number of other studies showing an association between long term proton pump inhibitor use and esophageal and stomach cancers. For more information on these studies visit: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/893399 and https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/887863

If you aren't satisfied with your PPI medication for your GERD, should you consider alternative or more natural treatments? Here's what Harvard Medical School has to say: https://www.health.harvard.edu/digestive-health/should-you-keep-taking-that-heartburn-medication If you do decide to stop taking your proton pump inhibitors, you can expect acid rebound that makes it difficult to discontinue the medication. See https://www.webmd.com/heartburn-gerd/news/20090702/stopping-ppis-causes-acid-reflux-symptoms#1

Furthermore, some estimate that PPIs " are wrongly prescribed in up to two-thirds of cases." - https://www.nhs.uk/news/medication/use-of-stomach-drugs-debated/

If you and your doctor decided to discontinue your PPI,

Health coaching:

1. helps you research other options for managing your GERD or acid reflux.

2. supports you with the difficult process of weaning off of your PPI.