However, this shouldn’t be interpreted as evidence that PPIs are inherently dangerous.
A review of the evidence notes that several proposed long-term risks come primarily from observational studies and that PPIs remain recommended treatments for appropriate medical indications.
If you’ve taken a PPI for months or years, ask whether you still need it rather than abruptly discontinuing it yourself.
- Decongestants
Cold and sinus products may contain decongestants such as pseudoephedrine.
These medicines constrict blood vessels to reduce nasal congestion.
That mechanism can also increase blood pressure in some people.
This becomes particularly important for people who already have hypertension or cardiovascular disease.
Read the active ingredients carefully because decongestants can be included in multi-symptom cold and flu products.
- Antihistamines
Antihistamines are widely used for allergies and sometimes as ingredients in nighttime medicines.
Older, sedating antihistamines can cause problems such as drowsiness, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation and difficulty urinating.
Sedation can also increase the risk of falls, particularly in older adults.
Not every antihistamine has the same effects, so don’t assume they’re interchangeable.
A pharmacist can help identify an option appropriate for your age, medical conditions and other medications.
- Sleep Medicines and Sedatives
Prescription sleep medicines and sedatives can be useful for specific conditions.
But some can cause daytime drowsiness, impaired coordination, confusion and dependence.
These concerns become particularly important when sedating medications are combined with alcohol, opioids or other drugs that depress the central nervous system.
Older adults can also be more sensitive to sedative effects.
If you’ve been using a prescription sleep medicine regularly for a long time, don’t suddenly stop it without medical guidance because some drugs require gradual dose reduction.
- Corticosteroids
Corticosteroids such as prednisone can be essential for controlling inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Short courses and long-term treatment have very different risk profiles.
With prolonged or repeated systemic use, corticosteroids can contribute to problems such as higher blood sugar, bone loss, increased infection risk, fluid retention and other complications.
That doesn’t make prednisone a “bad” medication.
For many conditions, its benefits can be substantial.
But long-term users generally need appropriate medical monitoring.
And corticosteroids should not always be stopped abruptly after prolonged use.
- Diuretics (“Water Pills”)
Diuretics are commonly prescribed for high blood pressure, heart failure and fluid retention.
They help the kidneys remove sodium and water.
They’re valuable medicines, but excessive fluid loss or changes in electrolytes such as sodium and potassium can cause problems in some patients.
That’s why doctors may periodically monitor kidney function and electrolyte levels depending on the medication and medical condition.
Don’t compensate by taking potassium supplements unless your healthcare professional recommends them—some medications can actually cause potassium to become too high rather than too low.
- Certain Blood Pressure Medications
