Osteoporosis patients who take a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) may be putting themselves at increased risk of fracture, a study has shown.

Co-prescribing a PPI for a post-menopausal osteoporosis sufferer who is taking a bisphosphonate increases his or her risk of hip fracture by 21 per cent compared to bisphosphonate monotherapy. 

The findings are of particular interest in light of the fact that patients on bisphosphonates are five times more likely to suffer from upper GI symptoms such as dyspepsia – frequently treated with a PPI.

The research was presented at last week’s National Osteoporosis Society conference in Edinburgh.