Health
FDA says GERD medications are not associated with increased CVD risk
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted Jan. 7, 2008
The Food and Drug Administration has concluded that the proton pump inhibitors omeprazole (Prilosec) and esomeprazole (Nexium), prescribed for gastroesophageal reflux disease, do not raise the risk of heart disease, according to a statement issued by the agency last month.
The FDA had announced in August 2007 that it was considering whether these medications increased the risk of heart attack, heart failure or heart-related sudden death, in response to data from two small long-term studies that had compared these two drugs to surgery. That research had suggested that long-term use may cause these adverse events. But a preliminary and a more detailed review of that data, as well as the results of 14 other studies, found no link.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2008/01/07/hlbf0107.htm.
