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Protonix Linked to Hip Fractures

Protonix (generic: pantoprazole) is just one of a few antacid medications that  are called proton pump inhibitors. Other common proton pump inhibitor drugs include Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid and Prilosec. Protonix is manufactured by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories and gained FDA approval in 2000.

Proton Pump Inhibitors Linked to Hip Fractures
On December 26, 2006, a report was released that showed the correlation between people taking powerful antacid drugs called proton pump inhibitors and the increased risk of hip fractures.  The report was based on a University of Pennsylvania study that showed a class of antacid drugs called proton pump inhibitors could increase the risk of hip fractures as much as 260 percent. Proton pump inhibitors are usually prescribed for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and are.among the most widely used drugs in the United States. Popular drugs in the class include: Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec and Protonix. which are often prescribed for stomach conditions such as

The University of Pennslyvania report can be found in the Dec. 27, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).

"If you take acid-suppression medications on a chronic basis and you are 50 or older, your hip fracture risk is even higher than usual," said study author Dr.Yu-Xiao Yang, an assistant professor of medicine and epidemiology. "In addition, if you are one of the few patients who requires high doses, then your risk is even higher," Yang added.

Study Results
In the study, a team lead by study author Dr.Yu-Xiao Yang collected statistics on 13,556 people with hip fractures and 135,386 healthy people, all aged 50 or older. The researchers discovered that taking a proton pump inhibitor for more than one year increased the threat of hip fracture by 44%, compared with people not taking these medications. Additionally, the risk was 2.6 times higher among people who took high doses over a long period. The risk of hip fracture increased with both the dosage and the duration of proton pump inhibitor therapy, Yang's team found.

Yang said he feels these drugs are prescribed too often. "Not everybody is on this medicine for good reasons," he said. "Proton pump inhibitors have been on the market for 15 years, and the general feeling is that they are safe to be taken on a chronic basis. So, they are given often without having a clear indication or without making sure the patient is benefiting from the medication." Moreover, Yang thinks that both men and women taking prescription proton pump inhibitors should also take a calcium supplement to insure that they maintain their bone mass and lower their risk of hip fracture.

Dr. Lawrence Brandt, chief of the Division of Gastroenterology at Montefiore Medical Center, in New York City, said "Proton pump inhibitors are probably one of the most abused classes of drugs in the world. So, there are a lot of people on this medication who shouldn't be on this medication." While Acphex, Nexium Prevacid and Protonix all require a prescription, Prilosec is now sold over the counter which increases the potential for overuse.

Legal help for Protonix users
If you or a loved one suffered a fractured hip as a result of using a Proton Pump Inhibitor, contact Parker & Waichman, LLP for a free case evaluation. Call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636) or fill out the short form to the right of this page.