Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

Thanks so much.

I was taking 20 mg omeprazole for 15 years. I lost 30 pounds over that time. I became anemic the last few years. Tried cold turkey using prepaid for 20 days. Thought I was dying. Doctors are no help. My brother in law said he was taking a med for heartburn. Said it was pantoprazole. He was taking 40 mg every other day. He gave me a bunch of them. Through research I learned 40 mg is equivalent to 20 mg omeprazole. I switched to pantoprazole 40 a day. I then cut back to every other day. Worked perfect. I got a script for 20mg pantoprazole and was taking one a day. Then I cut back to one 20mg every other day. I am digesting my food now and gaining weight. So happy to be off of omeprazole! Not anemic anymore. 20 mg a day for 30 days cost $100.00. Every other day $50.00 a month. My Medicare pays for it. It's a godsend! I hope this helps you!

I did NOT have success getting off of Omeprazole and feel like I am trapped in a loop of a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. Background is I am asthmatic and suffer from EOE and Gerd which apparently asthma and EOE go hand in hand. I have had an endoscope which also pointed out Barretts Esophagus. I have been taking Omeprazole for almost 4 years- started with taking 20MG evening and morning. Eventually I started taking just 1- 20mg in the morning and everything was going along fine for the past few years- was seeing slight improvement in my swallowing from the EOE but last year came across some articles about the risks of taking omeprazole long term (lack of b12 absorption causing weak bones, kidney issues, stomach cancer and dementia) so obviously concerned about that. I read a lot about getting off of omeprazole and the first two weeks to expect hyper secretion of stomach acid and then it should go back to normal function. The reasoning I thought I could get away from omeprazole was prior to being put on & having EOE I was drinking orange juice if I woke in the middle of the night thinking it was healthy and I also did not monitor how close to bed time I was eating so once I discovered this I have not done those habits in years. I was thinking I was only taking 20mg a day so I stopped and for about 2-3 days was normal, Three weeks ago was when I attempted to get off of omeprazole and these were the results: I guess the drug was still leaving my system as then what I read was true, extreme secretion of stomach acid for two weeks then it slowed up but at night it was active to where after two weeks my throat felt burnt and constricted so I gave it couple of nights taking tums thinking it would get better and finally made the decision to get back on omeprazole and it is starting to help but it's only been two days of back on omeprazole so hoping my throat and esophagus can continue to heal & I'll get back to where I was prior to my attempt. The other issue I experienced after a couple of weeks was I did seem to have lung/ issues as possibly the acid was affecting my lungs to where they were constricting to block the acid. Ultimately, I am trying to avoid esophageal cancer in the future and hope my EOE symptoms will continue to improve and I'll to gamble that the omeprazole side effects are just something I read about and not experienced. I will say this for the 2 weeks off of omeprazole and did not have any headaches. I am going to try and drink some aloe vera juice as well to see if that helps bring down the inflammation in my throat. I'm regretting even attempting to stop omeprazole at this point and after things heal again will speak with GI Dr. to see if any other alternatives. I wish everyone that is in the position of eliminating Omeprazole the best of luck & success!

If you want the positive effects of apple cider vinegar without the negative ones, try doing apple cider vinegar pills instead. I am on 2 different
PPTs for gastric reflux and issues with a cough that gets worse when I am lying down. I also have a lack of pancreatic enzymes, so I don’t digest and absorb the food I’ve eaten. I would not stop the omeprozole unless your doctor approves it. They can monitor any potential problems you may develop. The best thing is to keep track of any unusual symptoms you may notice, and tell your doctor right away. You know how your body should feel, and if things feel off, let your doctor know! That’s what he/she is there for. Don’t assume you know more than your doctor does. You can question him or her about the side effects and you should, but they have more medical knowledge than you do, and with the right equipment, they can help you make the right decision for you and your body

Short version of a long story. I'm male 71. My Gerd/Reflux started 30 years ago & I was given Prilosec 20mg daily & it worked. I've had EVERY issue I am NOW reading about as side effects & that it was only intended for 14 days ? I've been to Gastros & had colonoscopies & indoscopies as recent as June 2023 & numerous negative stool cultures & ASK for HELP from NUMEROUS Drs over the years to NO avail. I've been hospitalized several times with my diarrhea & low magnesium & NOW to ME it ALL is starting to make SENSE. My biggest concern is I'm muscle wasting & have had testing done & told NO muscle disease. ALL sorts of labs & blood work. CT & MRIs. I'm really getting a lot of loose skin ALL over. I'm weak 40 lbs feel like lifting 100lbs. Aches & pains pretty much everywhere. Hips & knees & shoulders. Have xrayed everything & all I get is you have Osteoarthritis. Offer up MORE pills. I feel like NO one will address it I think since they have continued prescibing it so long & NOW there is so much BAD about it that they are AFRAID to say anything ? My kidney labs are always out of range, borderline anemic & other labs are out of range & when you READ about what they CAN mean a lot lead back to cancer. It's SCARY to THINK this may be related to talking this medication but when I question several years of labs out of range I'm told its OK & expected for my AGE ? Spinal surgeon & Rheumatologist both said Spinal Stenosis in his opinion was causing it & surgery could supposedly stop or slow it but a 6 hr surgery & 3 month recovery sounds scary. ANYONE going through anything like this ? Occular migraines are more & more frequent too does any of THIS sound FAMILIAR to anyone on Omeprazole 20mg. long term? It works but if the drug ruins your quality of life why take it. I tried once to get OFF this & the rebound was awful. I've rotated every other day with Famotidine 20 mg but it falls shot by mid day the next day. Thinking about trying morning & night ? Drs really NO help. I see a lot of lawyers taking cases ? I just want my life BACK & a REAL fix.

Bless your heart.
Couple Of questions - have you been tested for microscopic colitis - meaning did they do random biopsies along the colon during a colonoscopy to evaluate whether you may have either collagenous or lymphocytic type of MC (microscopic colitis). Usually causes relentless diarrhea until treated. If you don’t have that, don't bother to bring it up. I bring it up because it is triggered by long term use of PPIs, along with NSAIDs , some SSRIs, and some Statins. I have been on most of them - 3 of the 4 - and 2’of the 4’for decades. Those were PPIs like Prilosec or Nexium and nsaid - like ibuprofen. I stopped Ibuprofen, tough to do since I, too have RA. And i switched from a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) like Prilosec. I began taking Famotidine, known as Pepcid, which is an H2 antagonist instead of a PPI. It’s not as good. But i took it twice a day to start, modified the type, volume, and timing of my diet to start, bought aadjustable bedframe that allows me to elevate my head ( and esophagus) and practiced patience. A year later it’s working fine. I’m off ibuprofen and prilosec and the condition it caused

Sorry to write so much but this is all connected - and complicated.

Good luck!!

I got off by using famotidine (Pepcid or Zantac). Maybe try a slower switch over. Every other day may be too fast. And yes, maybe do famotodine twice a day- once the taper is done- then once, then 1/2, then as needed.

I had to dedicate a couple of months to this. The body learns to make more acid when on PPI's and needs to relearn normal acid production.

I never eat after 5 or 6pm, and sleep at an angle.

The taper does work but it takes time!

My heartburn was so bad i had no confidence i could find a path to being comfortable without a PPI. But I was wrong.

I too was on Prilosec 40 mg daily for 6 years. In that period of time I went from normal testing to osteoporosis with bone fracture, kidney disease stage 3 and low platelets. My gastroenterologist discontinued it. I guess the damage is irreparable!

Yes most people don’t know PPI’s are for short term use. No more than 4 weeks . No Dr’s tell you this . I learned by googling it .
I took a few different ones short term but non helped ( not even Protonix RX or Delaxiant RX .
I have 10 years of chronic digestive disorders. 7 diagnosed through tests. Had 3 rd colonoscopy & endoscopy w/ biopsies recently .
Gastritis, GERD , small hiatal hernia, diverticulosis, Esophagitis , small non cancerous flat polyps on stomach lining . IBS.
Deep wet belching over 1000 x a day and night , upset and churning gut . Hate to eat anything.
Tried everything RX , holistic, diet wise , every supplement for stomach issues they make .
I’m 62 yr old female and this started 52 .
I also have such chronic fatigue the last few years w/ it .
I eat healthy at home 🏠 and rarely eat out .
I live on Ultra Pepto . Take anti anxiety med as needed .
Tried Antidepressants for IBS but bad side effects.
It’s a long hard road to walk . I’m sorry you are going through so much as well .
Quality of life def goes down this way .
No hope in site for me at this point.
🙏🙏