HEARTBURN drugs could increase your risk of agonising migraines, a study shows.
People who take acid reflux meds are more likely to suffer severe headaches than those who don’t, US researchers found.
The drugs linked to the painful symptoms include omeprazole, esomeprazole, cimetidine, famotidine and antacid supplements, they said.
Dr Margaret Slavin, of the University of Maryland, said: “Given the wide usage of acid-reducing drugs and these potential implications with migraine, these results warrant further investigation.
“These drugs are often considered to be overprescribed, and new research has shown other risks tied to long-term use of proton pump inhibitors, such as an increased risk of dementia.”
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Heartburn — also known as acid reflux — is a burning feeling in the chest caused by stomach acid travelling up towards the throat.
Up to a quarter of British adults suffer the condition, according to Guts UK.
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like omeprazole — sold as Prilosec and Losec — and esomeprazole — sold as Nexium — are commonly taken to alleviate symptoms.
Some 72million PPIs were prescribed in Britain in 2022, according to official NHS figures.
Previous research has linked the drugs to a greater risk of dementia.
The latest study, published in Neurology Clinical Practice, looked at how they and other heartburn drugs, including H2 blockers, affect people’s risk of migraine.
Researchers looked at prescription drugs in their study, tracking data from 11,818 people.
A quarter of people who took PPIs had migraine or severe headache, compared to 19 per cent of those who were not taking the drugs.
Another quarter of those taking H2 blockers had severe headache, compared to 20 per cent of those who were not taking those drugs.
And 22 per cent of those taking antacid supplements had severe headache, compared to 20 per cent of those not taking antacids.
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Dr Slavin said: “It’s important to note that many people do need acid-reducing medications to manage acid reflux or other conditions.
“People with migraine or severe headache who are taking these drugs or supplements should talk with their doctors about whether they should continue.”
