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Mother has osteoporosis, heart burn, and is a breast cancer survivor. I notice she's been popping antacids like candy lately. I seem to recall this isn't good for her bones but I can't find that information. Should we be concerned?

Antacids can be helpful in managing the uncomfortable symptoms of heart burn. But if someone is taking them too often, medical attention may be needed. There may be other, more effective medications that can be used. Or there may be a more serious problem causing the symptoms.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease often referred to as GERD is the most common cause of heartburn. This condition can be aggravated by certain foods (chocolate, peppermints) or drinks with caffeine. The use of estrogen therapy can also influence GERD. Obesity is another risk factor for heartburn.

In postmenopausal women, heartburn can be a sign of heart problems and shouldn't be ignored. And as you suspected, some antacids can cause bone problems. Watch out for antacids that contain aluminum compounds. The aluminum binds with phosphate. Not enough phosphate in the system can cause bone disease. This should be avoided in someone with known bone loss from osteoporosis.

A medical evaluation may be the best way to approach this problem. It may not be enough to just stop using antacids or to switch to a different kind. It may be best to find out the underlying cause of the problem and treat that instead of just managing the symptoms with antacids.

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