One relatively recent development in antacid medications is a class of drugs called proton pump inhibitors, which can reduce gastric acid secretion as much as 99 percent by blocking its mechanism of production.
These are some of the most often prescribed drugs in the United States. Examples of this class of drug include:
• Omeprazole (brand names of the drugs include Prilosec and Zegerid)
• Lansoprazole (Prevacid)
• Esomeprazole (Nexium)
• Pantoprazole (Protonix)
• Dexlansoprazole (Dexilant)
Unfortunately, blocking production of stomach acid can lead to nutrient deficiencies. Proper stomach acid production is needed to pull minerals and vitamins out of food. Inadequate stomach acid will lead to multiple nutrient deficits.
For instance, your body needs stomach acid to release vitamin B12 from food. Therefore, long-term use of proton pump inhibitors will ensure vitamin B12 deficiency.
Common symptoms of B12 deficiency include tiredness, irritability, brain fog, memory loss, and depression. Because vitamin B12 also aids in the production of red blood cells (the oxygen carriers in the blood), long-term B12 deficiency can also lead to a condition called pernicious anemia, in which the body’s tissues don’t get enough oxygen.
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By blocking stomach acid production, these medications also can cause deficiencies of minerals including folic acid, calcium, iron, and zinc. Finally, proton pump inhibitors can lead to malabsorption of protein.
If you take a proton pump inhibitor, it is important to take weekly injections of vitamin B12. It is best to use natural vitamin B12 (hydroxo- or methyl-cobalamin) rather than the synthetic (cyanocobalomin) form.
Other over-the-counter antacids such as Tagamet, Anatac, and Pepcid work by blocking the action of histamine on the stomach cells that secrete acid. The long-term use of these medications has been shown to cause vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin D, calcium, iron, and zinc deficiencies.
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