A pharmacist has warned that millions of people taking common acid reflux medication could manage their symptoms through diet and lifestyle changes alone. Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most prescribed drugs in the UK, with 73 million NHS prescriptions dispensed in England in 2022-23 at a cost of £190 million.
Deborah Grayson, a pharmacist and nutritional therapist for Heartburn Cancer UK, argues that doctors are overprescribing PPIs as a 'panacea for varied digestive symptoms, without a clear clinical need to suppress acid production'. She says many patients are left 'hooked' on the drugs for life due to a lack of an 'exit strategy'.
Grayson warns that taking PPIs for just three days can trigger rebound heartburn that is five times worse than normal reflux. 'This rebound leads to the inability to stop taking a PPI in many patients, effectively leaving them hooked,' she said. Long-term use has been linked to potential side effects including dementia and osteoporosis.
While simple reflux symptoms can be managed by diet and lifestyle, Grayson advises consulting a doctor if persistent symptoms, swallowing difficulties, pain, fatigue, weight loss, or blood in stools or vomit occur. Stress can also impair digestion, so eating at a table away from distractions and practicing breathing exercises may help.
