Monday May 5 / 2008

Monday May 5 / 2008

12:10: The Health Roundup with Jay McQueen.

12:13: Listen up! It’s time for a quick chat about hearing loss and heading aids.
Guest: Jill Nelson, Co-Manager at the Better Hearing Centre. (25 Charlton East, Suite 402).

12:20: How’s the gym treating you? If it’s not going so well, it might be time to go ALL CANADIAN!
Guest: Ernie Schramayr over at All Canadian Fitness. 905.548.6732.

12:35: Do the words BURNED OUT mean anything to you? Are you so burned out that it’s hard for you to do your job? Do you find it hard to stay awake? Erika Lenkert has got the fix for you!
Guest: Erika Lenkert, author of the book ‘The Last Minute Party Girl’. She's also a frequent contributor to magazines like IN STYLE and dozens of others.


12:45: Rexall Radio Health Matters segment.
Guest: Irene.
Proton Pump Inhibitors

What are Proton Pump Inhibitors?
PPI’s are a group of drugs whose main action is pronounced and long lasting reduction of gastric production. They are the most potent inhibitors of acid secretion available today. The group followed and has largely superseded another group of pharmaceuticals with similar effects, but with different mode-of-action, called H2-receptor antagonists. These drugs are among the widely selling drugs in the world. Proton-pump inhibitors reduce the production of acid by blocking the enzyme in the wall of the stomach that produces acid. The reduction of acid prevents ulcers and allows any ulcers that exist in the esophagus, stomach and duodenum to heal. PPI’s are very similar and there is no evidence that one is more effective than another. They differ in how they are broken-down by the liver and their drug interactions. The effects of some PPI’s may last longer and therefore may be taken less frequently. The most common side effects of PPI’s are headaches, diarrhea, constipation, abdominal, pain, nausea, and rash. PPI’s have few interaction with drugs. The absorption into the body of some drugs is affected by the presence of acid in the stomach, and because PPI’s reduce acid in the stomach, they may affect the absorption of these drugs. Specifically, PPI’s reduce the absorption and concentration in the blood of ketoconazole ( Nizoral) and increase the absorption and concentration of digoxin ( Lanoxin). This may lead to reduced effectiveness of ketoconazole and an increase in digoxin toxicity. PPI’s can reduce the breakdown of some drugs by the liver and lead to an increases in their concentration in the blood. Omeprazole is more likely than the other PPI’s to reduce the break-down of drugs by the liver. For example, omeprazole may increase the concentration in the blood of diazepam (Valium) warfarin (Coumadin) and phenytoin (Dilantin). PPI’s reduce the bioavailability of dietary vitamin C. Any adverse clinical consequences of impaired vitamin C bioavailability are likely to be most apparent in H. pylori infected subjects. This is because of the fact that such patients have substantially lower plasma vitamin C levels than infected subjects prior to PPI therapy. The herb St.John’s wort is to have known two potential harmful interactions with PPI’s. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also a concern with the use of all drugs that reduces stomach acidity. Stomach acid plays a role in the separation of B12 and proteins, if you don’t have enough stomach acid the process of freeing B12 from protein is bound to be impaired. PPI’s also may slightly reduce the body’s absorption of folate. By also reducing the stomach acid levels, PPI’s also interfere with the absorption of iron, zinc, and perhaps other minerals.


Nadine Janacek Rexall #0202
Blog Reporter