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Ronny Allan
What are Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs)?
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly used medications in the world. They reduce the production of acid by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. Acid is necessary for the formation of most ulcers in the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum, and the reduction of acid with PPIs prevents ulcers and allows any ulcers that exist in the oesophagus, stomach, and duodenum to heal. PPIs are prescribed to treat acid-related conditions such as:
- Esophageal, duodenal and stomach ulcers
- NSAID-associated ulcer
- Ulcers
- Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
- Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome – ZES (note this is a syndrome associated with a functioning duodenal or pancreatic NET known as a Gastrinoma)
- They also are used in combination with antibiotics for eradicating Helicobacter pylori, a bacterium that together with acid causes ulcers of the stomach and duodenum for eradicating H. pylori, a bacterium that together with acid causes ulcers of the stomach and duodenum.
Although this should not be considered a full list applicable to all countries, the drugs tend to be prescribed or purchased under the following names:
- Aspirin and Omeprazole (Yosprala)
- Dexlansoprazole (Dexilent, Dexilent Solutab)
- Esomeprazole (Nexium, Nexium IV, Nexium 24 HR)
- Esomeprazole magnesium/naproxen (Vimovo)
- Lansoprazole (Prevacid, Prevacid IV, Prevacid 24-Hour, Zoton FasTab)
- Omeprazole (Prilosec, Prilosec OTC, Losec, Mepradec)
- Omeprazole and sodium bicarbonate (Zegerid, Zegerid OTC)
- Pantoprazole (Protonix, Pantoloc Control)
- Rabeprazole (Aciphex, Aciphex Sprinkle, Pariet)
PPIs have revolutionized the management of acid-related diseases and there is evidence supporting their superior efficacy and overall safety profile. Unfortunately, it would appear this has possibly led to their overuse and inappropriate use. When used appropriately, the overall benefits significantly outweigh the potential risks in most patients.
Are they oversubscribed?
One US pharmacist magazine has stated that almost half of all patients taking a PPI do not have a clear indication. It follows that PPIs may not be the appropriate treatment for many people. Click here.
This has also been emphasized by the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) in a paper from 2022. Abstract text: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly used medications in the world. Developed for the treatment and prevention of acid-mediated upper gastrointestinal conditions, these agents are being used increasingly for indications where their benefits are less certain. PPI overprescription imposes an economic cost and contributes to polypharmacy. In addition, PPI use has been increasingly linked to a number of adverse events (PPI-associated adverse events [PAAEs]). Therefore, de-prescribing of PPIs is an important strategy to lower pill burden while reducing real costs and theoretical risks. The purpose of this clinical update was to provide Best Practice Advice (BPA) statements about how to approach PPI de-prescribing in ambulatory patients. Click here to read more. The “Best Practice Advice Statements” are useful to read.
What is the connection with NETs?
Millions of people will have been prescribed these drugs for the various reasons listed above and as I said above when quoting from a reputable US Pharmacist magazine, perhaps many do not have a clear indication for their use. So, this issue is much wider than NETs.
Above, you can see a direct link to duodenal/pancreatic NET syndrome – ZES. However, there is also a known link between the use of PPIs and the effect on the Chromogranin A blood test, the most common tumour marker used in the diagnosis and surveillance of many types of NET. Several studies have concluded that PPIs falsely elevate Chromogranin A – read more here.
Any risks of using PPIs?
Many drugs have long lists of side effects and risk factors. Often the risks of not taking a particular drug can be outweighed by taking it. This is a discussion between the doctor and the patient. I will not comment further but leave you with some references to read yourself.
There are several well-known risks of using PPIs in the long term and some texts suggest there is an increased risk of gastric-related cancer. Most studies seem to refer to two studies of 60,000 patients in Hong Kong – this is a useful summary from CCTA – Can long-term use of acid reflux drugs cause cancer? | CTCA (cancercenter.com). From what I researched it’s clear that doctors can recognise gastric mucosal changes directly related to the long-term use of PPI. (e.g. here Proton Pump Inhibitor-Related Gastric Mucosal Changes (nih.gov))
This article from UK which is similar to one from Mayo in USA – Long term proton pump inhibitor use: An insight into its complications | The BMJ
But from the same publication, a later study published in 2021 said “In summary, the results of this large real-world study suggest that patients newly treated with PPIs may be at an increased risk of gastric cancer compared with patients newly treated with H2RAs, although the absolute risk remains low. While PPIs have established clinical benefits when used according to evidence-based guidelines, this study highlights the need for physicians to regularly reassess the necessity of ongoing treatment. This is especially important in patients who are prescribed PPIs in the long term and for patients without an evidence-based indication for use. Read more here.
It should also be noted that the US FDA has issued safety warnings about the long-term use of PPIs. This is covered in the aforementioned US Pharmacist magazine article Proton Pump Inhibitors: Considerations With Long-Term Use (uspharmacist.com)
What is “long term use”
One study indicated this:
Conclusion The definitions of long-term PPI treatment varied substantially between studies and were seldom rationalised. In a clinical context, use of PPI for more than 8 weeks could be a reasonable definition of long-term use in patients with reflux symptoms and more than 4 weeks in patients with dyspepsia or peptic ulcer. For research purposes, 6 months could be a possible definition in pharmacoepidemiological studies, whereas studies of adverse effects may require a tailored definition depending on the necessary exposure time. We recommend to always rationalise the choice of definition. See the study here. Also worth reading the AGA best practice statements mentioned above.
Are there alternatives to PPIs?
Firstly, you should NEVER stop taking PPIs without speaking to the doctor who prescribed them.
There’s a class of drugs known as Histamine H2 Receptor Antagonists (H2RA) that reduce the amount of acid produced by the cells in the lining of the stomach. They are also commonly called H2 blockers. They are also less risk according to the BMJ study mentioned above. They include Cimetidine (Tagamet, Tagamet HB), Famotidine (Pepcid, Pepcid AC), Nizatidine (Axid) and Ranitidine (Zantac). Brand names may differ from country to country. From what I read; they are not as powerful as PPIs but for some people, they may prove adequate. Read more about H2 blockers here.
Ranitidine. In September 2019, an H2RA called Zantac (Ranitidine) had some issues and warnings were sent out by Food and Drug Administration (FDA), European Medicines Agency (EMA), and Health Canada (and probably by others). On 1st April 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced it was requesting manufacturers withdraw all prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) ranitidine drugs from the market immediately – read more here. And on 16th April 2020, FDA is alerting patients and healthcare professionals to Amneal Pharmaceutical’s voluntary recall of nizatidine oral solution (15 mg/mL). The medicines are being recalled because they may contain unacceptable levels of N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) – read more here.
So, I can just stop taking PPIs and start taking H2 blockers?
NO. As I said above, you should never discontinue a prescription for PPI without talking to your doctor. However …. it’s not common knowledge that suddenly stopping PPIs is not a good idea – you must gradually reduce (i.e. taper off).
Why taper? PPIs block the production of acid in your stomach which can help with the symptoms but that also turns on the release of gastrin. This is not ideal for two reasons according to NOLANETS:
- When you try to get off of PPI, the gastrin stimulates acid production and stays elevated, potentially for several months (depending on how long you were on the PPIs). This makes your reflux worse than before and makes getting off of this medication very difficult. Gastrin also stimulates Chromogranin A thus why this can be elevated in patients who have been taking PPIs.
- Gastrin also acts like a growth factor and stimulates the growth of ECL cells (enterochromaffin like cells). Clearly, this does not happen to everyone on PPIs. However, and as per the NHS advice above, PPIs should not be considered a long-term solution except for conditions for which they are clinically indicated (e.g. Barrett’s oesophagus, Gastrinoma (Zollinger Ellison Syndrome).
Also, worth reading the Best Practice Section of the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) in the paper from 2022 linked above.
What are NET Specialists saying about this?
The only sources of information on this seems to be in two main areas:
1. One is NOLANETS (Dr Eugene Woltering et al) who appear to be leading the way on identifying those who may have a clinical indication for use of H2 blockers rather than PPI and this NET Specialist organisation has produced a sheet showing how to taper people off the drug and onto the less risky H2 blockers. Read the NOLANETS “Get off PPIs” Sheet by clicking here. They state that PPI use increases circulating gastrin which in turn increases the amount of acid in the stomach. The increase in gastrin also stimulates the enterochromaffin-like cells (ECL) of the stomach to produce Chromogranin A and this explains why it can be elevated in PPI users. The US Pharmacy magazine quoted above appears to confirm this thinking.
2. The European NET Society (ENETS) discusses the issue in their guidelines but only in relation to Zollinger-Ellison Syndrome (ZES). This is a direct quote from ENETS 2016 Guidance – “The widespread use of PPIs is a major problem for the diagnosis of ZES because these drugs have an extended duration of action (up to one week), they cause hypergastrinemia in 80-100% of all normal subjects and can confound the diagnosis. Furthermore, if PPIs are abruptly stopped in a true ZES patient, anti-peptic complications can rapidly develop, and therefore some expert groups have recently recommended that the diagnosis of ZES should be established without stopping the PPIs or by attempting to taper the dose. Unfortunately, as suggested in a number of recent papers, in most patients, the diagnosis cannot be easily established without an interruption of the PPIs. Furthermore, a secretin test cannot be used while a patient is taking PPIs because it can result in a false-positive test. Other tumour markers such as serum chromogranin A were found to be not reliable for the diagnosis of ZES patients, as up to 30% have normal plasma chromogranin A levels. PPIs also led to increased chromogranin A levels on their own. It is therefore recommended that if the diagnosis is unclear, the patient should be referred to a centre of excellence and if this is not possible, PPI withdrawal should be cautiously performed (in an asymptomatic patient with no active acid-peptic disease or damage) and with adequate cover by H2 blockers and careful patient monitoring”.
PPIs and Pancreatic Enzymes Replacement Therapy (PERT)
I have anecdotal evidence that people are being prescribed PPIs alongside Pancreatic Enzymes Replacement Therapy (e.g. Creon, Nutrizym etc). While most types of PERT are gastro-resistant, a high-acid environment may impair their efficacy. The rationale behind using PPI (or H2 blocker) is to decrease the acid level and allow the PERT to work better. Given the research behind this article, I would certainly challenge the long-term use of PPI alongside the long-term use of PERT.
Summary
The aim of this article is not to scare anyone, I’ve been careful with the sources, quotes, and facts. Like anything in life (including the medical world), there are risks and knowing about them allows us to manage these risks against the benefits in conjunction with our doctors and healthcare specialists. If you are concerned about anything you find in this article, I suggest you speak directly to your doctor/specialist for advice.
I would like to see more from the NET Specialist community on this issue.
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor or any form of medical professional, practitioner or counsellor. None of the information on my website, or linked to my website(s), or conveyed by me on any social media or presentation, should be interpreted as medical advice given or advised by me.
Neither should any post or comment made by a follower or member of my private group be assumed to be medical advice, even if that person is a healthcare professional.
Please also note that mention of a clinical service, trial/study or therapy does not constitute an endorsement of that service, trial/study or therapy by Ronny Allan, the information is provided for education and awareness purposes and/or related to Ronny Allan’s own patient experience. This element of the disclaimer includes any complementary medicine, non-prescription over the counter drugs and supplements such as vitamins and minerals.
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Five years ago, halfway through my cancer journey, I looked at my blood tests and saw I was highly iron deficient anemic. I read up on it and saw that PPIs could block absorption of iron. I’d been put on PPIs for life due to my first surgery which removed the bottom third of my stomach including the valve that holds food in. Over the next two years, with the addition or iron supplements and eating fresh steak (small quantity) I was able to raise my Ferritin levels from 11 (in a field of 50-200) to 150 thus no longer iron deficient anemic. I do have Tagament if I need it but haven’t. Thus it is sometimes good to check your own blood tests and if something is off try to find a natural way to correct it.