What is a common side effect of PPIs?

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely used medications for the treatment of conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome by reducing stomach acid production. A notable side effect associated with long-term use of PPIs is vitamin B12 deficiency.

This deficiency occurs because stomach acid is essential for the proper absorption of vitamin B12 from food. When acid production is significantly reduced, as is the case with PPI use, the absorption of vitamin B12 may also be compromised, leading to potential deficiencies over time. Symptoms of B12 deficiency can include fatigue, anemia, neuropathy, and cognitive changes.

While other side effects like hyperkalemia, dehydration, and alopecia can occur with various medications or conditions, they are not commonly associated with the use of PPIs. Hyperkalemia is more often linked to certain antihypertensive medications, dehydration can result from various causes including other medications, and alopecia may have numerous unrelated factors. Thus, vitamin B12 deficiency stands out as a well-documented and clinically relevant effect of PPI therapy.