ask your pharmacist

back to: pharmacy | ask your pharmacist

What are the side effects of proton pump inhibitor drugs ?

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are a group of prescription medications that prevent the release of acid in the stomach and intestine. Doctors prescribe PPIs to treat people with heartburn (acid reflux), ulcers of the stomach or intestine, or excess stomach acid (Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome). PPIs include rabeprazole (brand name Aciphex), lansoprazole (>Prevacid), omeprazole (>Prilosec) ), esomeprazole (Nexium), and pantoprazole (>Protonix).

Most people tolerate PPIs well with few side effects. The most common side effects include mild dizziness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, constipation, and rash. Rare side effects are breast enlargement in men and anemia.

Sources:
Aciphex product information, Eisai Co. and Ortho-McNeil, Inc., 2006.
Prevacid product information, TAP Pharmaceuticals Products, Inc., 2006.
Prilosec product information, Astra Pharmaceuticals and Procter and Gamble, 2006.
Protonix product information, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, 2006.
Nexium product information, AstraZeneca, 2006.
Micromedex® Healthcare Series. Thomson Micromedex, 2006.

This answer prepared 7/6/2000.
This information updated 2/6/2007.