Prolonged use of anti-gastric acid medications may cause a number of side effects, including gastrointestinal discomfort, malabsorption of nutrients, osteoporosis and kidney stones.
1. Gastrointestinal discomfort: Antigastric acid drugs, especially proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), may cause gastrointestinal discomfort manifested by symptoms such as heartburn, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.
2. Nutritional malabsorption: Prolonged use of antigastric drugs may affect the secretion of gastric acid, which in turn affects the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients. This may lead to malnutrition, especially the absorption of nutrients such as vitamin B12, iron and calcium is affected.
3. Osteoporosis: Anti-gastric acid medications may interfere with calcium absorption and utilization, and long-term use may increase the risk of osteoporosis.
4. Kidney stones: Long-term use of antigastric drugs may interfere with the absorption and excretion of minerals such as calcium and phosphorus, thus increasing the chance of kidney stones.
The side effects of long-term use of antigastric drugs vary among individuals and are closely related to the dose and duration of use. When using antigastric drugs, you should follow your doctor’s instructions and pay close attention to the reaction after using the drugs, and consult your doctor promptly if you have any discomfort.