I’ve been prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Will I need to take it for the rest of my life?
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PPIs are excellent acid-suppressing drugs that in many cases completely relieve heartburn symptoms. Taking PPIs can keep heartburn under control in the long term and prevent complications associated with heartburn. However, you may not need a PPI for the rest of your life. Taking medication is only one part of an overall plan to manage your heartburn that also includes lifestyle changes and monitoring for complications. Once your symptoms are well controlled with a PPI, you should ask your health-care professional whether you should stop taking the medication or take a lower dosage on a trial basis, during which time you should report any relapse of symptoms to your doctor.
About the expert: Goutham Rao, M.D., is clinical director at the Weight Management and Wellness Center, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh (of UPMC); associate professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine (UPMC); and family physician at Bloomfield-Garfield Family Health Center in Pittsburgh.
Rao has served as director of medical informatics at UPMC St. Margaret Hospital. He is course director for introduction to medical decision-making at the UPMC, associate editor at the American College of Physicians Journal Club, and editorial board member and acquisitions editor at the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Home Study Self-Assessment (HSSA) program in Kansas City, Mo. Rao serves as assistant editor of the Journal of Family Practice and editorial board member of Family Medicine. Rao has also served as a member of the American Gastroenterological Association Institute/Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement®/National Committee for Quality Assurance GERD standards committee.
The material in this site is intended to be of general informational use and is not intended to constitute medical advice, probable diagnosis or recommended treatments. For severe heartburn or heartburn that persists after trying over-the-counter treatment or lifestyle modifications, visit your doctor to determine the right treatment for you. See the Terms and Conditions for more information.
