Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are among the most commonly prescribed medicines and overuse is widespread in both primary and secondary care [1]. Although generally well tolerated, PPIs can cause serious adverse reactions, such as community-acquired pneumonia, Clostridium difficile diarrhea [2] or hip fractures [3,4] and have been reported to increase all-cause mortality [5]. PPI-associated hypomagnesemia is a rare but potentially life-threatening side-effect that has recently emerged as a consequence of their massive use, but the prevalence has not been established [6–8].
