Acid-blocking drugs harm kids more than help, warns paediatric study

Sumit Jha

Sep 22, 2025

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Parents rushing to paediatricians with crying babies or kids complaining of stomach ache may be getting powerful acid-blocking medications which their young ones don’t really need. 

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These drugs could be causing more harm than good, according to a major new study by India’s leading child health experts.

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A comprehensive review by 24 senior paediatricians from across India has raised serious red flags about the rampant overuse of gastric acid-reducing medicines in children.

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These medications, commonly known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and H2 receptor blockers, are frequently prescribed for acidity, reflux, ulcers, and related stomach problems. 

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But the evidence suggests doctors are prescribing them far too liberally, sometimes without solid medical justification.

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The mounting evidence links long-term use of these medications in children to a frightening array of health problems that many parents and even some doctors may not be aware of.