[Dysphagia] Gut drugs 'carry pneumonia risk'

[bonnieh4455 at sbcglobal.net (Bonnie Heintskill)]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/3955207.stm


The use of acid-suppressive drugs to combat digestive disorders increases
the risk of pneumonia, researchers say...  researchers from Radboud
University in Nijmegen, Netherlands, found they increased the risk of
pneumonia by 27% in a study of 364,000 people....

"However, no medication is without potential adverse effects."

And Dr Martin Sarner, the honorary secretary of Core, formerly the Digestive
Disorders Foundation, said the risk of pneumonia had always been there in
theory because the therapy reduces acid production.

But he said: "The drugs also have other side effects such as headaches and
diarrhoea, but they are very effective and continue to be used."