Natural Medicines Newsletter

Volume 2, Issue 40, 10/19/2010

Question

How can the proton pump inhibitor omeprazole cause vitamin B12 (cobalamin) deficiency and thereby increase the risk for macrocytic anemia, hyperhomocysteinemia, and/or neuropathy?

Answer

The chronic use of proton pump inhibitors, such as omeprazole (Prilosec), is fairly common in medical practice especially for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or in patients at increased risk of peptic ulcer disease (PUD).  The increased utilization of omeprazole is also likely due to its availability over-the-counter (OTC) and use without a prescription or knowledge of the healthcare professionals caring for that patient.  While omeprazole is useful for GERD and PUD, its use is not without the increased risk of other complications, such as an increased risk for...

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