When a muscle in the esophagus fails to close properly, it could cause stomach acid to come back up into the esophagus. If the condition lasts for a long period of time, it is known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD affects roughly one in four people in the United States1, resulting in discomfort and even damage to the esophagus. Fortunately, for sufferers of GERD and other esophageal problems, pharmaceutical companies have come up with a solution in medications known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs).
One of the first and most influential PPIs was Prilosec, which became the top-selling drug in the world for a time. Countless people have taken Prilosec to treat symptoms of GERD and other stomach conditions.
What many users of the drug didn’t know is that Prilosec may carry increased risks of severe complications, including kidney damage, stroke, dementia, and more.