Unless you own stock in one of the makers, the AGA says there is practically no difference between proton pump inhibitors.

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One of the enzymes, a proton pump, was abundant in the roots, the part of the worm that penetrates the bone.

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Also, certain medicines, such as proton pump inhibitors Prilosec (omeprazole) and Nexium (esomeprazole), reduce the effect of clopidogrel, leaving a person at greater risk for heart attack and stroke.

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If your heartburn doesn't go away, or if you have other symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, see a doctor, who will probably prescribe one of the so-called proton pump inhibitors (Prilosec, Nexium, Prevacid).

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In one of the first studies to address this issue, Netherlands epidemiologist Robert Laheij culled medical records of 365, 000 patients and found that people taking proton pump inhibitors had a 90% higher risk of getting pneumonia than a control group not taking the drugs.

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Dr. Clarke says he found that about one-third of his patients with heartburn didn't get better on proton-pump inhibitors, or have evidence of acid reflux, but in virtually every case, they had severe stress in their lives.

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An analysis of 10 studies involving a total of 393 patients, published earlier this year in the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, found between 26% and 83% of patients getting the new surgery were able to stop taking proton-pump inhibitors.

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