The Reflux Medication Trap

Do you take antacids like PPIs? The odds are it’s not right for you.
Educational content reviewed by licensed APRN medical staff. Not personal medical advice.

In the video, Dr Vikki Petersen explains why antacids such as PPIs may be causing your symptoms to worsen and perpetuate rather than being resolved.

A global systematic review found that about 60% of PPI prescriptions were inappropriate or lacking a valid indication in clinical practice. 

If you’re thinking - No - I really do have acid reflux, hang in there with me for a few minutes.

Fact: It’s one of the most prescribed drugs worldwide 
Fact: It has many dangerous side effects 
Like what:
Cause infections, worsen gut health (perpetuates the problem), heart disease, bone loss and dementia to name a few

Why would your doctor ignore those risks?

Drs do want to help - they want their patients to “feel” better. 
In conventional medicine it’s all about controlling symptoms which is much easier than correcting why they started.
What’s easier? Swallowing a pill or doing lifestyle and diet changes? The answer is obvious - but it the EASY answer the better one or the safe one?

For patients it seems simple: I have “burn”, the drug stops it. That’s all they want to know.
It’s easier to continue a prescription then admit the treatment failed - the reflux came back when the medication is stopped.

It’s unfair that they’re not told what’s going to happen long term:
 Nut’l deficiencies
 Infections
 Worsening gut health that will perpetuate the need for antacids and then more drugs - e.g. heart meds, anxiety meds, breathing meds, pain meds
 Weak bones
 Risk of heart disease, stroke, dementia
Therapeutic inertia - It means treatment continues because it is easier and safer than changing direction, even if it’s not solving the underlying issue.
This supports the point that long-term continuation often happens by default or habit, without re-checking whether it’s still truly indicated.

Almost every reflux patient I meet was told they might need this medication forever.
 -The real causes:
impaired gastric emptying
intra-abdominal pressure
dysbiosis
food triggers
vagal or diaphragmatic dysfunction
constipation
obesity
Note about rebound acid secretion

 -Tips 
No gluten, sugar or seed oils for 3 weeks
Practice diaphragmatic breathing 3x/day - research shos 2 out of 3 decreased need and some stopped
No tight clothes
Don’t overeat - chew well
Don’t eat and lie down
Don’t eat late

References
1. Dutta AK, Sharma V, Jain A, et al. (2024). Inappropriate use of proton pump inhibitors in clinical practice globally: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Gut.
2. Lüthold RV, et al. (2023). Inappropriate proton-pump inhibitor prescribing in primary care (study reporting high rates of potentially inappropriate long-term PPI use, including “no indication” and “too high dose”). Swiss Medical Weekly.
3. Lazarus B, et al. (2016). Proton Pump Inhibitor Use and Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease. JAMA Internal Medicine.
4. Finke M, et al. (2025). Proton pump inhibitors and the risk of Clostridioides difficile infection: A systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Journal of Infection
5. Liu J, et al. (2019). Proton pump inhibitors therapy and risk of bone diseases: An update meta-analysis. Life Sciences.
6. Choudhury A, et al. (2023). Vitamin B12 deficiency and use of proton pump inhibitors: a systematic review. Expert Review of Clinical Pharmacology.

#acidreflux #guthealth #hiatalhernia #rootcausemedicine 

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