Heartburn Drug Raises Risk of Pneumonia

Q. I am just recovering from a terrible cough and infection that my doctor diagnosed as walking pneumonia. This is the second time I have come down with pneumonia, and my doctor has warned me to stop taking Prevacid. He prescribed it for reflux. Now my heartburn is back, but he says he won’t prescribe another drug. Can I take Prilosec OTC or is there something else that will work?
A. Medications like Prevacid, Prilosec, Aciphex or Nexium reduce stomach acid very well. So do OTC drugs like Tagamet, Pepcid and Zantac.
Researchers have wondered whether reducing acid so dramatically might allow bacteria and viruses from food and water to survive in the stomach. Stomach acid normally kills germs, but if they survive they may get into the lungs.
Your physician may be aware that acid-suppressing drugs can increase the risk pneumonia (JAMA, Oct. 27, 2004; Current Opinions in Gastroenterology, Nov. 2012). That is why you probably should avoid Prilosec OTC and other powerful reflux medicines.
Antacids don’t modify stomach acid long enough to cause complications. Sipping chamomile tea, chewing gum or sucking on hard candy can be surprisingly effective for heartburn.
Many readers tell us that a spoonful of yellow mustard, though it may not be palatable, can stop heartburn quickly. So can baking soda in water, although the sodium content is too high for long-term use. We have summarized many such remedies in our Guide to Digestive Disorders. You may also wish to read the in-depth discussion in our book, Best Choices from The People’s Pharmacy.