Doctor urges patients to reconsider long-term use of Omeprazole and Lansoprazole

In a YouTube video, emergency-medicine doctor Alex Wibberley cautioned that chronic use of proton-pump inhibitors like Omeprazole and Lansoprazole has been associated with a range of adverse outcomes, including gut infections, reduced absorption of magnesium, vitamin B12 and calcium, increased risk of bone fractures, chronic kidney disease, and possibly gastric, oesophageal and colorectal cancers. He clarified that the evidence comes from observational research, which shows correlation rather than direct causation, and noted that long-term users tend to be older and on multiple drugs, complicating risk attribution.

The most solid finding, he said, concerns nutrient deficiencies, with studies reporting a 12-18% drop in B12 levels after a year of use. Severe magnesium depletion has been linked to heart rhythm disturbances and muscle spasms. While the NHS maintains that PPIs are safe when prescribed after weighing benefits and risks, Wibberley advises patients to have their nutrient levels monitored and to discuss tapering or stopping the medication with their GP.