Neuropathy + Proton-pump Inhibitor use?? Anyone had this experience?

I've responded to a similar inquires re PPI use and the development of peripheral neuropathies from members of the esophageal cancer forum. However, I am posting this recent publication in this month's edition of the scientific journal, Nature.

Proton-pump inhibitor use is associated with a broad spectrum of neurological adverse events including impaired hearing, vision, and memory
Download PDF
Article
Open access
Published: 21 November 2019
Proton-pump inhibitor use is associated with a broad spectrum of neurological adverse events including impaired hearing, vision, and memory
Tigran Makunts, Sama Alpatty, Kelly C. Lee, Rabia S. Atayee & Ruben Abagyan
Scientific Reports volume 9, Article number: 17280 (2019) Cite this article

37k Accesses

40 Citations

17 Altmetric

Metricsdetails

Abstract
Proton-pump inhibitors, PPIs, are considered effective therapy for stomach acid suppression due to their irreversible inhibition of the hydrogen/potassium pump in the gastric parietal cells. They are widely prescribed and are considered safe for over-the-counter use. Recent studies have shown an association between PPI use and Alzheimer dementia, while others have disputed that connection. We analyzed over ten million United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System reports, including over forty thousand reports containing PPIs, and provided evidence of increased propensity for memory impairment among PPI reports when compared to histamine-2 receptor antagonist control group. Furthermore, we found significant associations of PPI use with a wide range of neurological adverse reactions including, migraine, several peripheral neuropathies, and visual and auditory neurosensory abnormalities.

I don’t know if my peripheral neuropathy is linked to my 2+ year use of pantoprazole, but I would not be surprised as the timing is spot on. I stopped taking it 2 months ago because I was having stomach aches daily. I asked my GP if the PPI could be causing them and he said I was not the first patient in recent months to have this problem. He changed me to omeprazole and I had the same stomach issues. His suggestion was OTC famotidine, which I now take as needed only. I don’t understand why doctors leave us on these medications that are technically meant for short term use, and can actually heal many stomach issues they are prescribed for in a reasonably short period of time. I’m off-topic again. I am certainly going to bring this up with my GP in my August appointment. I had bloodwork come back yesterday with high B6 and plasma numbers. This is also something that may cause neuropathy. The human body is an anomaly to me and at 72 years of age, more oddities are cropping up every day. I’m afraid a lot of them are coming from medication I have taken or am taking currently. My ANA came back positive and my titer number indicates autoimmune diseases, also possibly medication induced. Stay tuned… I’ll let you know my findings. Good luck to you!