Pernicious Anemia

[2009 July] 'Heartburn pills wrecked my life': How antacids can have serious side-effects  her problems stemmed from the lack of an everyday vitamin, caused by medicine commonly prescribed for ulcers and heartburn - and that Andrea discovered the problem herself by searching on the internet.  Andrea was suffering from pernicious anaemia, because of a deficiency of vitamin B12. This vitamin is essential for producing red blood cells and for maintaining a healthy nervous system, specifically the fatty sheath that protects the nerve cells.