One of the most often prescribed drug types in the world is proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). For several gastrointestinal disorders like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease, they provide significant, affordable relief.

Although PPIs are quite efficient in treating various hypersecretory illnesses, it is clear that their usage should be carefully supervised and that treatment should be stopped when no longer required to prevent side effects.

It should be emphasized that acid rebound hypersecretion is a possibility, and PPI tapering is advised. Public access to PPIs has rapidly increased due to their over-the-counter availability, which permits their long-term usage without direct supervision from a doctor. This has allowed patients to frequently receive prescriptions for these medications for "gut protection" or for other unspecified reasons with no goals for discontinuation.

Long-term PPI use has its drawbacks, and has been linked to a number of unfavorable clinical consequences. Long-term use of PPIs can cause malabsorption in the small intestine, increased risk of infection, bone fracture, and negative effects on the kidney.

The relatively recent side effect of hypomagnesemia can necessitate periodic magnesium infusions to lessen negative effects. Patients on long-term PPI therapy, particularly those with pre-existing comorbidities, are also more likely to die.

PPI use can also result in worse clinical results when combined with other viral diseases like COVID-19. PPIs should, in the end, only be prescribed with prudence and with the development of adverse events in mind.