The widely used drug in Spain that is linked to the appearance of stomach cancer

Elton GardnerJanuary 8, 2023

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In Spain, the use of drugs for almost any ailment is quite widespread and it is common for each house to have a first-aid kit with commonly used medications such as ibuprofen or omeprazole, a stomach protector.

This last medication is indicated for, for example, the treatment of reflux esophagitis, burning sensation and acid regurgitation in gastroesophageal reflux disease but many people consume it to prevent something that, over time, can be harmful.

In 2017, the British Journal of Medicine (BMJ) published a study prepared by University College London and the University of Hong Kong on the relationship between the use of pills such as omeprazole and gastric cancer.

As a sample of the study, they used 63,000 patients who had overcome Helicobacter pylori and observed that those who had been treated with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) had twice the chance of suffering from cancer compared to those who had taken another treatment for the reflux.

In addition, the research showed that those who took omeprazole daily had up to four times the risk of stomach cancer than those who took it weekly. At the moment, the scientific evidence on the relationship between this drug and gastric cancer is not fully proven.

In another study published in the Alimentary Pharmacology and Therapeutics journal, it is argued that there is not enough evidence to confirm this link.

In any case, experts recognize that there is an excess consumption of this type of medication and advise reducing its unnecessary consumption and that they only be taken when prescribed by the doctor.