Although the acid secreted in the stomach is necessary for digestion, if its amount rises, one suffers from acidity. Aayushi Lakhapati tells you that antacids do help relieve the discomfort but prolonged use can result in many side effects

Heartburn, indigestion, and acidity are one of the most uncomfortable situations that result from many causes. Doctors usually recommend using antacids for a short period of time to overcome this. But are these antacids harmless? Yes, they are harmless if the consumption is limited to the extent that it does not trigger their side effects in the body. What are the side effects of frequent and long-term use of antacids? Read on to get an answer to this.

What is acidity?

The stomach is responsible for digesting the food that you eat. In order to digest all the components present in food, the stomach secretes gastric juice. One of the components of this juice is Hydrochloric acid. Although the acid is necessary for digestion, if its amounts raise in the stomach, you suffer from acidity. When this acid enters different organs of the body (other than the stomach), it can lead to conditions like heartburn and GERD.

The role of antacids and acid reducers in curing acidity

Antacids are over-the-counter medications that neutralise the acid produced in the stomach. Antacids are generally composed of salts of minerals like sodium, calcium, magnesium, and aluminium. These salts have the potential to neutralise the acid. Similar to antacids are the acid-reducers that reduce acid production by inhibiting acid production.

Side effects of long-term use of antacids

When antacids were discovered, several researches conducted on the effects of their long-term use stated that they could only be used for a short time to subside the acidity. Thus, the use of antacids must be restricted to a limited time period (according to your doctor’s prescription). Here are the seven side effects that arise due to prolonged use of antacids:

Impaired bowel movements

Overuse of antacid can cause constipation as well as diarrhoea according to the type of antacid you consume. Calcium and aluminum-containing antacids have been known to cause diarrhoea if consumed for the long-term. Magnesium containing antacids can also lead to recurrent diarrhoea as a result of their prolonged consumption.

Muscle and nerve function impairments

Antacids are packed with minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous. These minerals are released in the bloodstream through antacids. When there is an imbalance of these electrolytes in the blood, it directly affects the nerve and muscle functions. This can result in muscle weakness, tenderness, and pain. The symptoms can get severe with long-term use of antacids.

Elevated blood pH

Antacids containing bicarbonate salts of calcium and sodium can make the blood alkaline by elevating its pH when absorbed in the bloodstream. In order to compensate this alkalinity body slows down respiration that leads to severe fatigue and tiredness due to raised levels of carbon dioxide in the blood.

Increased risk of GI tract infection

As antacids reduce the stomach's acid, its prolonged use can affect one of the important host defense mechanisms of the body. They can also change the pH of the stomach and affect the gut microbiota. This can lead to frequent GI tract infections like gastroenteritis and diarrhea as a result of the infection caused by a wide range of pathogenic bacteria.

Impaired digestion and mineral absorption

Prolonged use of antacids can lead to a decreased amount of acid in the stomach. Hence, the food you eat does not get digested properly, and it can enter the esophagus resulting in nausea and vomiting. Apart from this, overconsumption of acid blockers can impair the absorption of minerals like zinc, iron, and magnesium.

Kidney stones

The hard, crystalline mineral depositions in the kidneys are termed as kidney stones. The higher the consumption of antacids, the higher is the amount of circulating minerals in the blood that further deposit in the kidneys. These stones can lead to severe back pain and bleeding during urination.

Vitamin B12 deficiency

Long-term consumption of acid blockers can reduce the absorption of vitamin B12 in the body. Moreover, it also affects the gut microbiota that is responsible for the production and absorption of vitamin B12 in the body. Nerve function can get affected due to Vitamin B12 deficiency, which may lead to conditions like dementia

Although antacids are now available over-the-counter, it is not advisable to consume them for a longer period of time. Prolonged use of them can lead to unimaginable damage to the human body if the amounts and frequency are not regulated. Do not consider a one-time prescription as a lifelong prescription for antacids.

The writer is Co-Founder, Nutritionist and the Chief Health Officer at 23BMI