Warning over commonly prescribed drug millions take every day
Mrs Grayson said that while the drugs may offer sufferers momentary relief, they could also cause problems - leading to bloating and nausea, weight gain and vitamin deficiencies. PPIs are one of the UK's most prescribed mediations in the UK, with 73 million NHS prescriptions dispensed in England in 2022-23, at a cost of £190m.
She explained: 'Omeprazole stops heartburn and reflux, but how does it really work? It's a PPI, and that interferes with the cells of the stomach responsible for producing stomach acid. So, if we stop the stomach from producing acid - by taking a PPI - the theory is that we will stop the acid coming back into the oesophagus and causing heartburn and reflux.
READ MORE: Mum had shoulder pain - now she has 'to make the most of what I've got'
READ MORE: Heartbeat legend favourite to play lead detective in Death in Paradise-style spin-off
'There's often a discussion about whether heartburn is related to low or high stomach acid. But actually it's to do with the timing of the stomach acid. While stopping your stomach producing that acid can be beneficial in the short term, it's not always great for your digestion in the longer term as we need that acid to break down our food.
'It can be helpful to have omeprazole if you've got gastritis or erosion in your oesophagus, but if you've only got simple heartburn-related problems, longer term it can have greater impacts on the body.'
Acid reflux happens when stomach acid flows back into the oesophagus, often causing heartburn - a burning sensation in the chest or throat. Normally, a valve called the lower esophageal sphincter prevents this, but if it weakens or relaxes at the wrong time, acid can escape and irritate the oesophagus.
Triggers include stress, excess weight, eating too quickly, or consuming alcohol, caffeine and chocolate. Pregnancy hormones can also raise the risk. While reflux is uncomfortable, stomach acid is essential for digestion. It activates pepsin, an enzyme that breaks down proteins, and helps soften food. It also protects against harmful microbes in food.
Mrs Grayson said low stomach acid may increase infection risk and hinder absorption of key nutrients like Vitamin B12, iron, calcium and magnesium. Mrs Grayson, who has been working as a pharmacist for 30 years, and also runs Practice With Confidence, teaching transformative patient care, said: 'Long-term use of PPIs can significantly impair digestion.
'Stomach acid plays a crucial role in breaking down food, particularly proteins, and activating enzymes like pepsin. When acid levels are too low, food may not be properly digested, leading to symptoms such as bloating, nausea, abdominal discomfort, and IBS-like issues including flatulence, constipation, or diarrhoea.
'Poor digestion may also contribute to nutrient malabsorption, potentially leading to fatigue or weight fluctuations. Reduced stomach acid can also compromise the gut's natural defense barrier, increasing susceptibility to infections such as Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO).
'These can cause further gastrointestinal symptoms and, in some cases, serious complications.'
Under her TikTok handle @tgopharm, Mrs Grayson explained in a previous video that if you're a frequent sufferer of acid reflux and heartburn, lifestyle changes can make a real difference. Taking the time to eat slowly and mindfully is essential for proper digestion. If you're too busy to cook, Mrs Grayson suggested starting the 'anticipation process' around 20 to 30 minutes before eating.
She said: 'Think about what you are going to have, how it tastes and how it smells. This can trigger the anticipatory response in the same way that preparing it yourself would have done.
'Modern lifestyles have resulted in many people deciding they are hungry, dashing into the nearest food outlet and eating food within minutes. 'This means that the body has to play catch up, exacerbating symptoms'
In another video shared on her platform, Mrs Grayson recommended 'disconnecting from technology and doing some alternate nostril breathing' - which can help with switching on your digestion and reducing reflux.
She also said to avoid trigger foods, such as peppermint, chocolate, coffee, citrus and tomatoes and leave a gap between eating and sleep, as lying down with a full stomach can trigger reflux. Mrs Grayson said a window of three hours between your final meal and bedtime is optimal.
Mrs Grayson has previously spoken about the damaging impact of omeprazole, discussing how it can make symptoms worse in the long-run and can make someone become dependent on it.
She said: 'We are sleepwalking into a significant culture of PPI addiction due to over-prescribing without clear reason and failure to give patients a clear exit strategy from the treatment.'
Research shows up to 40 per cent of patients do not respond to a PPI, so the drug is rendered useless in those cases.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
The Lewisham butcher's with mouse droppings and meat stored on the floor
Mice droppings and meat stored on the floor were among the hygiene breaches discovered at a Lewisham butcher's that has been handed the lowest possible food hygiene rating. Environmental health officers awarded the business, at 110 Lewisham High Street, a score of zero out of five following a routine inspection. The butchers is officially registered as M.A Butchers but is listed on Google as 'M&M Quality Halal Meat.' The inspection was carried out under the Food Standards Agency (FSA) framework, which assesses hygienic food handling, cleanliness of facilities, and food safety management. Scores range from zero, meaning urgent improvement is required, to five, the highest possible rating. According to the inspection report, 'very poor standards' were found throughout the premises, with many problems being repeat offences from previous visits. Bags of meat obstructed the wash hand basin, which had no hand drying facilities. This issue, the report states, was also highlighted in the last inspection. Cardboard boxes were found on the flooring in the butcher's counter area, which the report states "is not hygienic." Mice droppings were also noted in various areas of the premises, including on shelving next to prepacked food and in the butcher's counter. The report states: "Please remove all droppings and clean and sanitise all areas. 'Mice activity was also detected at the last inspection. 'You must contact the services of a reputable pest contractor and carry out daily checks for fresh pest activity.' "Very poor cleaning standards" were noted throughout, including dirty ceiling tiles, flooring, shelving, and a dirty staff toilet. A deep clean of the whole premises is required, the report states. Overloaded freezers were also identified as an issue, with bags of frozen chicken stored outside of the freezer at the front of the premises, which were getting defrosted. The overloaded walk-in freezer was recorded as being at -12.1 degrees. The report also states: "Although staff have recently completed food hygiene training, the standards observed during today's visit are concerning. Google is displayed as M.M Quality Halal Meats. (Image: Google) "This indicates a lack of effective implementation of hygiene practises, urgent improvement is required also." The butchers currently have a mix of different Google reviews with the average rating being 3.3 out of 5 from 12 reviews. A year ago, Edi Buck said the butchers had "helpful staff, decent prices, nice meat, open late". The News Shopper attempted to contact the number listed on Google and the home number advertised on the shop roof but we did not hear back.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Young south Essex woman to run half marathon after life-changing accident
A young Rayleigh woman is set to take on a half marathon to raise money for the hospital that helped her walk again following a devastating accident. Chloe Hooper, now 23, sustained a severe spinal injury when she fell from a tree at a scout camp at just 12 years old. After initially being taken to a hospital in the area, Chloe was referred to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, as she had fractured her back in four places. Chloe needed to have life-changing spinal fusion surgery - which involved two rods and eight screws. However, thanks to the pioneering treatment, she recovered and even regained the ability to walk. An image of Chloe's X-ray following the life-changing spinal fusion surgery (Image: RNOH) Now, a decade later, Chloe is lacing up her running shoes and looking for support at the Big Half marathon to give back to the hospital that "transformed her life". Chloe, who has just finished her Masters degree in physics, said: "Thanks to their revolutionary work and my exceptional surgeon, I have made a full recovery. "I will forever be grateful for their amazing team and the work that they do. "They gave me the ability to walk. Without them, I do not know where I would be, so it is difficult to even quantify. "I am super sporty and active, so it is difficult to imagine where I would be without them. Read more Listed: The Southend GP surgeries with the most helpful receptionists revealed Fire crews called to 'deliberate' grass blaze in Basildon's Gloucester Park "This is why, 10 years later, I want to fundraise for RNOH Charity, so the hospital can continue their incredible work." Chloe is inviting the south Essex community to support her fundraising efforts by donating to her cause. To donate, visit She says every contribution, no matter the size, will help the hospital continue its vital work for patients facing life-changing injuries and give others the same second chance she was given. The Big Half is on September 7. RNOH Charity is dedicated to supporting the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, one of the UK's leading centres for neuro-musculoskeletal conditions.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Eli Lilly raising GLP-1 prices abroad raises more questions about US pricing: BofA analyst
Eli Lilly (LLY) raised prices of its GLP-1 weight-loss injectable in the UK this week, with plans to do the same in other European countries, in response to President Trump's push to normalize pricing in peer developed nations. The effort, known as Most Favored Nations pricing, has been a goal of Trump's since his first term. He has doubled down on the efforts this year, giving pharma companies 60 days to implement changes in pricing in what he deems "freeloading" nations. The US drug economy differs from European and other developed nations, which rely on the government to negotiate prices with drugmakers, resulting in lower prices globally. "While we agree that the costs for breakthrough medicines should be more fairly shared across developed countries, we must also address the underlying structural issues in the US that have contributed to high drug prices. The US system is complex and opaque," Lilly said in a statement Thursday. The stock was up 1% in trading Friday. Eli Lilly raised the price of its GLP-1, Zepbound, from about $125 to $165 and plans an additional hike next month that would almost double its price. In a note to clients Friday, Bank of America Securities research analyst Tim Anderson questioned who would actually be impacted by the raised prices. "LLY has announced it will raise GLP-1 pricing in the UK by a healthy margin (a doubling of price, but it's unclear to whom this higher price realistically applies). It expects to do something similar in other European countries (but worth appreciating: in most European markets, there aren't price agreements in place between GLP-1 manufacturers and governments, meaning these are out-of-pocket spending markets)," Anderson wrote. Ultimately, whether or not the move results in lower US prices remains a question, though Anderson believes it likely will not. "Does this mean it will actually cut the price on the GLP-1s in the US (and on other medicines)? To us, the answer is quite likely no, or at least, not in a way that creates P&L [profit and loss planning ] risk," he wrote. Anjalee Khemlani is the senior health reporter at Yahoo Finance, covering all things pharma, insurance, provider services, digital health, PBMs, and health policy and politics. That includes GLP-1s, of course. Follow Anjalee as AnjKhem on social media platforms X, LinkedIn, and Bluesky @AnjKhem. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
