A higher risk of developing a serious condition called CDAD PPIs Higher Risk Of Developing Serious Condition FDA Warns Patients who take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be at a higher risk of developing a serious condition called Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD). The danger prompted the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a Drug […]
PPIs Higher Risk Of Developing Serious Condition FDA Warns Patients who take proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) may be at a higher risk of developing a serious condition called Clostridium difficile–associated diarrhea (CDAD).
The danger prompted the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) to issue a Drug Safety Communication yesterday, and announce that it was working with the makers of PPIs to add information about their association with CDAD to the drug’s labels.
CDAD is a type of diarrhea that does not improved. It is caused by Clostridium difficile (C. diff), a bacteria often spread in hospitals, which can be passed from person-to-¬person on contaminated equipment and on the hands of doctors, nurses, other healthcare providers and visitors.
The condition can be treated with antibiotics, but often the most severe cases of C. diff infection require surgery.
In its Drug Safety Communication, the FDA advised healthcare providers to
Patients should seek care immediately if they develop diarrhea that does not improve.
PPIs are sold as both prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medications.
Prescription PPIs (Dexilant, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec, Protonix, Vimovo and Zegerid) are used to treat conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), stomach and small intestine ulcers, and inflammation of the esophagus. Over-the-counter PPIs (Prilosec OTC, Prevacid 24hrand Zegerid OTC) are used to treat frequent heartburn.
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