Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth In chronic Stomach Acid Suppression.

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“Sir,please prescribe the medicines I am continuing”, is a standard request by the employees of organizations getting free treatment; be it an analgesic, vitamin, calcium or any other thing. I sometimes think, how these people will cope up after retirement. This is abuse of drugs to some extent. These people react violently when an advice to discontinue the drugs will be given.


Now, it has been found that chronic use of stomach acid suppressing drugs may be associated with overgrowth of intestinal bacteria. Those produce hydrogen and methane. There was speculation earlier, when proton pump inhibitor drugs were introduced for the purpose, that there is risk of benign adenoma formation in the stomach. Later on it was published that the apprehension may not be correct. But there is sufficient reason to believe that stomach acid suppression may cause an intestinal bacterial overgrowth. So, these group of drugs should be used judiciously. Those need these drugs, must not be denied. But, it should be improved in such a way that, there will be stomach acid suppression not to the extent that, it will promote intestinal bacterial overgrowth. This bacterial overgrowth may lead ti flatulence and may be, irritable bowel syndrome.

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