Protecting immunity system from drug abuse: PPI heartburn drugs that suppress stomach acid
Proton pump inhibitors or PPIs such as Nexium, Prevacid, and Prilosec powerfully block the secretion of stomach acid. This has the effect of reducing heartburn and nausea, but it also blocks one of the body’s main defenses against bacteria and viruses. According to a 2004 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), 70% of the hospitalized patients in the study received a PPI or other stomach acid-suppressing drug within hours of being admitted. The study showed that patients who were given PPIs had a 30% higher risk of developing pneumonia, further explaining why protecting immune system from drug abuse is not just an option but a must do thing if we have to live a healthy and more comfortable life, says doctor Dalal Akoury MD, President, and founder of AWAREmed health and resource center. For a couple of times, we have been highlighting some of the drugs to be weary of and we are not about to stop. Having talked of PPI we want to further into the discussion by exploring onto other drugs that are injurious to the immune system as follows.
Protecting immunity system from drug abuse: Statin Drugs to Lower Cholesterol
A medical group in Switzerland found that organ transplant patients who were taking statin drugs (e.g. Lipitor, Mevacor, Pravachol) did better than those who weren’t taking the drugs. Laboratory studies showed that statins did indeed suppress parts of the immune system, and the authors concluded, “This unexpected effect provides a scientific rationale for using statins as immune-suppressors, not only in organ transplantation but in numerous other pathologies as well.”
Protecting immunity system from drug abuse: SSRI Antidepressants
The selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressant drugs (SSRIs) such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil increase serotonin levels and in so doing also give the immune system a boost. This boost can be the good news or the bad news. According to expert researchers, this boost can push the immune system into autoimmune disease, where the body starts attacking itself. These types of immune system overreactions are also implicated in the “cytokine storms” that can create deadly inflammation in the lungs.
Opioid Drugs
Both short term and long term use of the painkilling opioid drugs such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, codeine, and morphine block the immune system’s ability to attack viral and bacterial invaders. Some painkillers drugs such as Tramadol combine an opioid with acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol), further compromising the immune system with acetaminophen’s toxic effects on liver function.
Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) is very hard on the liver, the body’s major organ of detoxification. A simple dosage mix-up, such as giving a teaspoon of liquid acetaminophen vs. a dropperful can cause liver damage, particularly in children. When the body is invaded by a virus or bacteria, the debris of the battle is processed through the liver. A compromised liver cannot effectively remove toxins caused by infection. From the listing above it is obvious that drugs have serious health effects on people’s health and this needs to be brought to manageable levels. You can always consult with doctor Akoury from time to time before you get so much into a given drug which could cause your serious health problems.
Protecting immunity system from drug abuse: PPI heartburn drugs that suppress stomach acid
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