Certain acid reflux medication may be dangerous for some heart attack patients

A study tracking thousands of heart patients finds those who were taking certain acid reflux medications, along with the blood thinning drug PLAVIX, were more likely to suffer a second heart attack.

Patients who suffer a heart attack are typically prescribed blood thinning medication to reduce the chances of a second heart attack in the future. But new research finds that common acid reflux medications may interfere with the blood thinner PLAVIX, making it less effective.

Doctors from Toronto, Canada studied thousands of heart attack patients over a period of six years. They found those who experienced a second heart attack were 27 percent more likely to be taking reflux medications called proton pump inhibitors; drugs such as Prevacid and Prilosec.

These drugs block a key enzyme that is necessary for PLAVIX to function properly. Patients who were not getting the full benefits of PLAVIX were more likely to suffer a second heart attack.

Other reflux medications such as Tagamet and Zantac did not affect heart attack risk because they do not interfere with PLAVIX.

The FDA is currently studying the issue, but for now they are urging doctors to reconsider whether their heart attack patients need to be taking reflux medications in addition to PLAVIX.