Using acid reflux drugs like TUMS and Prilosec raise risk of migraine by up to 70 percent, study warns

Using popular over-the-counter heartburn medications like TUMS or Prilosec raises your risk of suffering from migraines by up to 70 percent, a study suggests.

Researchers at the University of Maryland analyzed data on 11,800 people, including 2,100 who took over-the-counter anti-heartburn medications.

This included patients taking antacid treatments containing calcium carbonate, which is used in TUMS, or proton pump inhibitors like Prilosec to ease the burning sensation in the chest.

Twenty-eight percent of participants who took antacids reported suffering from migraines in the previous three months, compared to 24 percent of those who were not using the treatments.

Results showed taking calcium carbonate raised migraine risk by 30 percent, while taking proton pump inhibitors raised the risk by 70 percent. 

Researchers warned this could be because the medications dehydrate the body and dehydration is a common cause of migraines. 

They also raised concerns over the findings, warning previous research had linked the drugs to dementia — a condition repeated headaches have also been associated with as they raise the risk of damage to blood vessels in the brain.

Millions take the over-the-counter medications every year due to heartburn — which afflicts more than 60million Americans.

The condition is caused by stomach acid backing up into the esophagus — the tube running from the mouth to the stomach — causing a burning sensation in the chest.

The treatments have previously been linked to a host of side effects, including nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, gas and a dry mouth.

But this study adds to a growing body of evidence that multiple classes of acid reflux medications could be linked to migraines.

Researchers analyzed data from the National Health and Nutrition Evaluation Survey (NHANES), a national questionnaire on more than a thousand adults carried out every year in the US.

Data from the 1999 to 2004 surveys was used because these were the only ones that asked participants a question on migraines or headaches within the previous three months.

A migraine is different from a headache.

Migraines are a neurological disease that can cause severe head pain, as well as nausea, vomiting, blurry vision, mood changes, diarrhea and fatigue.

Patients suffering from them experience a severe, throbbing pain on one or both sides of the head that can last from a few hours to several days.

The majority of survey respondents — 960 people — took antacids that either contained calcium carbonate, which neutralizes stomach acid, or were proton pump inhibitors, which block stomach acid secretion.

But some also used H2 blockers like Tagamet instead, which work by reducing acid levels in the stomach. 

These are also available over-the-counter.

The researchers found that for those taking proton pump inhibitors, 25 percent reported severe headaches compared to 19 percent for those not using the drugs.

And among those using H2 blockers, 25 percent had severe headaches compared to 20 percent of those not taking the drugs.

Results showed those who used medications with calcium carbonate were 30 percent more likely to have a migraine compared to those who did not.

It also found those who used proton pump inhibitors were 70 percent more likely to suffer from a severe headache, while those using H2 blockers were 40 percent more likely to have one.

Dr Margaret Slavin, a nutrition science expert involved with the study, 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.’

She added: ‘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.’

The research did have limitations, including that only a small number of participants in the study were actually using heartburn medications. 

The study was published in Neurology Clinical Practice, the official journal of the American Academy of Neurology.