Intestinal infection
The higher pH value in the upper gastrointestinal tract increases the risk that certain pathogens are not killed and survive the stomach passage. This can lead to the gastrointestinal complaints mentioned above. More problematic is a so-called Clostridium difficile infection, which is characterized by severe diarrhea and abdominal cramps. There are first indications of a connection between the intake of the drug and the infection. The risk of inflammation of the lungs also increases somewhat with the intake of the acid blockers.
Kidney Inflammation
In very rare cases, various drugs can trigger nephritis (acute interstitial nephritis). The connection with proton pump inhibitors has been investigated since 1992 and has been regarded as established since 2007. Other side effects that occasionally occur are: disturbances of vision, hearing disorders, a change in the sense of taste or water retention in the legs.
These are reversible, i.e. they disappear again after some time once the tablets have been discontinued. A proton pump inhibitor can also lead to a vitamin B12 deficiency in high-risk patients (old, sick people). For the sake of completeness, very rare side effects are listed here: Liver disease, nausea, confusion, forgetfulness, sodium deficiency, magnesium deficiency, pancreatitis, severe allergic reactions of the skin (Stevens-Johnson syndrome) and blood count changes.
What should be considered when weaning?
Especially the discontinuation of proton pump inhibitors should be done slowly and step by step over several weeks if taken for more than eight weeks. Otherwise it can come to the so-called Rebound effect – suddenly too much stomach acid is produced and one gets upper belly complaints, Sodbrennen etc.
