Common Heartburn Medications Linked to Greater Risk of Heart Attack

A novel data-mining project reveals evidence that a common group of heartburn medications taken by more than 100 million people every year is associated with a greater risk of heart attacks, Stanford University researchers reported Wednesday. ...

Proton pump inhibitors such as Nexium, Prilosec and Prevacid are among the most widely used drugs in the world. According to the study, an estimated 113 million prescriptions for the drugs are written for them around the world each year. In the United States, about 21 million people used one or more of them by prescription in 2009. When over-the-counter versions are added, worldwide sales total $13 billion annually, according to the paper.

Common heartburn medications linked to greater risk of heart attack - The Washington Post