When they really help
- Reflux with damage to the food pipe (oesophagitis)
- Healing ulcers, and H. pylori treatment
- Barrett's oesophagus
- Protecting the stomach in people on aspirin plus blood thinners, or other high-risk combinations
When to review
A short course of about 4–8 weeks is appropriate for reflux symptoms. If you've been taking a tablet daily for months without a clear diagnosis, it's worth a review: the need may have passed, or your symptoms may not be acid-related at all.
Are they dangerous?
Headlines about kidney failure and dementia come mostly from association studies, which can't prove cause. The real, modest risks include low vitamin B12 and magnesium and some gut infections. When there's a clear reason to take them, the benefits usually outweigh the risks.
How to stop safely
Stopping suddenly can cause rebound acidity for 1–2 weeks, which is why people get stuck. Instead:
- Check with your doctor that it's safe to stop.
- Halve the dose, or take it on alternate days, for 2–4 weeks.
- Use an antacid syrup for breakthrough days.
- Keep up the habits: dinner 3 hours before bed, raising the head end of the bed, smaller meals.