Recent research has linked the use of Nexium with heartburn medication risks such as dementia, kidney disease and heart attacks.

Nexium (esomeprazole) belongs to a group of heartburn medications called proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). PPIs work by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. The presence of acid is necessary for a patient to experience heartburn as well as develop ulcers.

Heartburn is a condition where stomach acid splashes into the esophagus which causes intense pain. Nexium and other PPIs can reduce this significantly.

Nexium and other PPIs are very common and are available both over the counter and by prescription. In 2013, PPIs like Nexium and Prilosec were prescribed to 15 million Americans but U.S. use is likely much higher, since they are easily available over the counter.

Heartburn Medication Risks

PPIs, however, are associated with a number of common heartburn medication risks:

• headache
• diarrhea
• constipation
• abdominal pain
• flatulence
• nausea
• rash

These are common heartburn drug side effects that users of PPIs like Nexium experience. However, Nexium users should be aware of much more serious and life threatening heartburn medication risks. These include:

• difficile infections
• chronic diarrhea
• pneumonia
• low magnesium levels
• muscle spasms
• heart palpitations and convulsions
• fracture risks
• high risk of dementia
• kidney disease
• heart attack

While Nexium and other PPIs carry many risks with them, an especially concerning heartburn medication risk is kidney disease. Research has shown that taking PPIs over a long period of time significantly increases heartburn medication risks.

Heartburn Drug Side Effects Studies

A study published in February found that PPI use created a higher risk for chronic kidney disease. However, the use of H2, a different type of acid-blocking drug, was not associated with kidney complications.

This heartburn medication risks study included 250,000 people. It found that taking a PPI like Nexium or Prilosec raised a person’s risk of developing kidney disease by about 50%. Over a ten-year period, 12% of the participants developed kidney disease.

Another study found 173,321 new users of prescription PPIs and compared them to 20,270 new users of H2 blockers. After five years, the PPI users had the increased risk of kidney disease and kidney failure.

One researcher notes, “It’s not only associated with developing chronic kidney disease, but also the progression of kidney disease to end-stage renal disease, complete kidney failure.”

Some researchers believe that Nexium and other PPIs should be administered by prescription only because of heartburn medication risks. One cardiologist notes, “They should be pulled off the shelves. They should be by prescription and they should be medically monitored because of the risks.”

He is particularly concerned about the heart-related risks of PPIs and has called for a clinical trial to test his theory that blocking acid in the body might lead to waste build up in cells which contributes to cell age and organ damage.

He also points out that these medications are prescribed when people don’t have any reason to be on them. One long term study showed that 65% of people on a PPI did not have a diagnosis that might explain why the drug was prescribed.

However, stopping PPI use can be difficult. PPI rebound is a condition in which after stopping use of a PPI like Nexium, more stomach acid is created in the stomach than before the drug was used.

Researcher say that patients should only take a PPI for 4 to 8 weeks.