FDA says heartburn drugs can interfere with Plavix

Yet another reason to stay/get fit.

"Federal health officials said Tuesday a popular variety of heartburn medications can interfere with the blood thinner Plavix, a drug taken by millions of Americans to reduce risks of heart attack and stroke.

The Food and Drug Administration said the stomach-soothing drugs Prilosec and Nexium cut in half the blood-thinning effect of Plavix, known generically as clopidogrel.

Regulators said the key ingredient in the heartburn medications blocks an enzyme the body needs to break down Plavix, muting the drug's full effect. Procter & Gamble's Prilosec is the over-the-counter version of AstraZeneca's Nexium, which was first approved in 2001.

'Patients at risk for heart attacks or strokes who use clopidogrel to prevent blood clots will not get the full effect of this medicine,' the agency said in a statement."

These meds have been around for years and they are just now finding out about this problem.

Just as they will with other drugs, including the IMHO malpractice known as diet drugs.

In general, fit people need fewer meds and with fewer drugs come fewer meds-related problems.