For decades, people have spent billions on such drugs as Prevacid, Prilosec and Nexium to treat heartburn; in fact, Nexium’s $6 billion in sales a year makes it one of nation’s top-selling drugs.
But stop the music. Stomach acid isn’t a bad thing — if it stays in the belly. In fact, stomach acid is necessary for proper digestion and absorption of minerals, vitamins, B-12 and nutrients, with further responsibilities in killing bad, and fostering good, bacteria in the stomach and intestinal tract.
http://www.post-gazette.com/news/health/2016/03/22/Studies-are-documenting-various-side-effects-from-proton-pump-inhiboris-used-to-prevent-GERD/stories/201603010157
Studies warn of side effects from long-term use of heartburn medications