You have probably felt the sensation before: a burning pain just above your stomach, behind the sternum. You're suffering from heartburn, the result of stomach acid backing up into your esophagus. If you are like most people, you reach for a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) such as Nexium or Prilosec.

Proton pump inhibitors such as Prilosec (omeprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole) are among the most widely-prescribed medications on earth. Used for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), they are effective and relatively safe when used on a short-term basis (no more than 12 weeks).However, long-term...

Some of the most frequently prescribed medications in the U.S. are anxiety drugs. Also included on the list of common prescriptions: proton pump inhibitors, such as Nexium and Prilosec.Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) have been associated with several severe, even life-threatening side effects when used frequently over...

A study published in the journal Gut has found an association between the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and a dramatically increased risk of developing stomach cancer. Surprisingly, this study was published over a year ago – and yet few sources outside of major medical publications have reported on...

A recent paper published in the Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection reports that cases of infection from clostridium difficile, a bacteria that causes a range of intestinal tract conditions ranging from diarrhea to ulcerative colitis, is on the rise among children.  One reason is the use of proton pump inhibitors...

A study that came out in April has added to the long list of health dangers that have been attributed to the long-term use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).  A Swedish study published in Cancer Epidemiology found a strong association between PPI use and an elevated risk of esophageal...

Nexium is one of the most popular heartburn medicines on the market, but new lawsuits say that it’s causing permanent damage to consumers and some people are more susceptible to it. Ring of Fire’s Mike Papantonio and Farron Cousins discuss this issue.Transcript:Mike Papantonio: Nexium is one of the most...

Nexium recently became much cheaper as Perrigo PLC began delivering its own over-the-counter generic version of esomeprazole magnesium earlier this month. Perrigo's generic form of this popular and easily available heartburn medication received FDA approval on September 27; within a week, it was for sale at grocery and drug...

While reports of injuries and death due to the side effects of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) continue to rise, the FDA has granted approval for a generic “store brand” version of Nexium 24HR, an over-the-counter version of esomeprazole magnesium. The manufacturer, Dublin-based Perrigo Company PLC, plans to launch its...

A new study from the Washington University School of Medicine involving 350,000 VA patients has found that proton pump inhibitors, such as Nexium and Prilosec can raise the risk of premature death by as much as 25 percent compared to H2 blockers such as Pepcid and Zantac. Considering that...