Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) — the “anti-acid” family of drugs that include omeprazole and lansoprazole — are among the most widely prescribed medicines in the UK, so it should come as no surprise that new research linking them to cancer of the stomach has caused concern. I work in a small practice with 6,000 patients and took three calls from worried patients about it in just one afternoon. Since their introduction nearly three decades ago, PPIs have become the drug of choice for treating acid-related problems ranging from heartburn to stomach ulcers. And although initially designed to be taken only for weeks or months, millions of people have been on them for years. PPIs are the drug of choice for treating acid-related problems GETTY IMAGESAs their use has become more widespread, a number of worrying associations…

Source: The Times November 06, 2017 17:03 UTC