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Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use
i am an 18-year user of daily OTC Prilosec. It does a perfect job of controlling my GERD but I am constantly battling side effects of nutritional deficiencies in iron, B-12, magnesium, etc. For example, my hair is extremely thin and loss of energy is a constant problem. I am looking for specific help in knowing which supplements to take for this and in what doses and formats and on what schedule. All the nutritionists I've found locally are not well-versed in Prilosec use. Is there a medical provider out there who specializes in this? And would they be willing to work with me long distance?
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I was on Nexium for 12 years. I ended up with osteopenia at 40 years old and necrosis in my knee. I did my own research and found you’re not supposed to be on paid for more than 6 months!!! You have to wean slowly. Half dose for a few months. Your gastroenterologist can help with this. So sorry you’re dealing with this. It will get better!!!❤️🩹 keep in touch. Fight for yourself. Gotta be your own advocate all the time! You can do this.
My Gastro doc had me stop the proton pump inhibitors -PPIs - like Nexium and Prilosec - because they cause all manner of long term issues. I was on one or the other for 15 years and ended up with microscopic colitis. He put me on an H2 antagonist instead - Pepcid. It not as good but if you make a few dietary changes, you can make the transition. *Eat less in any single turn at the trough. *Eat at least two hours before lying down. *Eat less fat-dense foods - fried, added butter or margarine, chips etc *Stop drinking any form of carbonated sodas. Just stop.
If you do that and stop your nexium or Prilosec, take pepcid a couple times a day to start and then back down to one.
That approach worked for me. Try it or one of your design. But get off the PPIs.
my doctor prescribed a PPI for 30 days. Did that, felt great and now, after the 30 days are up, I am starting to feel a slight unrest in my stomach. Can eat and feel hungry, and feel good once I've eaten, but can I expect this to go away on its own??
Eventually. In my layman opinion, PPIs are as addictive as narcotics. I became used to eating whatever, whenever with no pain. I find I don’t want to limit volume or content.
So take your one trial to heart. I transitioned to an H2Antagonist - Pepcid/Famitodine if i need something. But i try to manage without a drug.
I am so disheartened to read all the comments here. I too was on a PPI and was told "we don't worry about it until you've been on it for a year." I told myself I'd try it for 6 months. At 6 months I felt a bit better but I had no idea what it was doing to my insides and I told that to my doctor. She immediately got on the phone with the GI department and I was scheduled for an endoscopy (my 3rd) in 2 days. The GI told me to never take a PPI again, that. my cells were hypertrophic. So....where did that leave me? I said to myself. So on my own, after reading some articles, I went gluten free, sugar free and dairy free and after 2 weeks I felt a lot better and I was on to something but what? I decided then it was time for aa change in doctors and switched to functional medicine after reading about a man named Chris Kresser who had had a 10 year battle trying to find an answer and he did it on his own, became a functional medicine specialist and opened up the CCFM - California Center for Functional Medicine. I researched functional medicine and realized I would find an answer to my issues and found one near me. She tested me thoroughly for a CAUSE of my symptoms ( doctors we've all been to treat the symptoms, not the cause!!!). I was found to have SIBO (small intestinal bacterial infection), a fungus, a parasite and a yeast infection! WOW was my reaction - foods I was eating, traveling, stress were all contributing causes. She prescribed a number supplements, her nutritionist helped me with foods to omit (not forever but for a period of time) until we could build up the permeability of my digestive tract - or leaky gut. Once your gut has its permeability destroyed, all kinds of toxins and infections can set in. If you are interested in finding a functional medicine doctor, go to the website ifm.org (institute of functional medicine). You can find one by city and state and look for one who specializes in digestive disorders. It worked for me.
I wish all the very best in finding answers and relief - you all deserve it. Don't give up! Find someone who knows how to help you specifically with the symptoms you have to test for the root CAUSE(S). TAKE CARE!
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3 ReactionsI took Prilosec for years.
Reading all the press about Prilosec, as well as it didn't seem to be helpful anymore, I have avoided my largest trigger of anything made with a tomato base.
If i do have chocolate close to bed, that also triggers it.
If needed, I take 2 Famitodine and it does help.
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1 ReactionI am sorry you are going through all this. I was on omeprazole for four years and it screwed up my digestive system, kidneys and bones (osteoporosis, which of course is attributed to my age). I don't have the other issues you do. But if you don't have enough stomach acid to digest your food, you aren't getting optimal nutrition. To me, that affects the whole body, organs and bones. So old age or PPI for your conditions? I couldn't say, but I would wonder. At this point though it doesn't matter. You have issues.
I weaned off the omeprazole over two months, reducing dosage. then I subbed famotidine for a few weeks, and cutting those pills up to complete the weaning process. A pharmacist said I could cut those pills, so I took them daily but decreasing the dosage very slowly.
Also went on a whole food, low-acid diet. Am doing better but it takes time (though fortunately my kidney values rebounding from CKD stage 3 to just over into the reference range. Don't know if that's possible after 30 years on that drug). There are two ENTs who have put out diet books/advice on how to manage GERD through diet and lifestyle changes. One is Dr. Aviv, and there is a FB group that offers a ton of recipes to supplement recipes in his book: https://www.facebook.com/groups/199013402360712. Koufman has a website that has a lot of free information about gerd and silent reflux (which affects the throat, nose, ears, which is why you have two ENTs talking about acid reflux): https://jamiekoufman.com.
When I stopped completely my reflux rebound lasted about three weeks. My perspective was that if I couldn't completely get off drugs I would switch to famotidine, which as an h2 blocker doesn't suppress acid nearly as much as the PPIs do. For me, if I follow the diet strictly and lifestyle changes such as sleeping with head propped up, giving myself a lot of time between eating and exercise, things like that, I do okay. Admittedly I don't follow the rules all the time, and then trouble erupts. I am still doing better than I was before starting omeprazole as far as reflux attacks go. My digestive issues such as horrible gas buildup causing abdominal pain has subsided. It is tough getting off a PPI after years of taking one (my doctor had told me I needed to take it daily for the rest of my life or else get cancer). I have no idea if you have esophagitis or Barrett's or anything else that would make taking a PPI more pressing. Whatever course you take, I wish you well.
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1 ReactionI let acid reflux go untreated for about 20 years — just ate lots of Tums — and ended up being diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus at age 45. I’ve been on Prevacid for over 25 years. If I miss one dose, the pain from the acid reflux is excruciating. So I have no desire to stop taking it. Fortunately I haven’t had the bad side effects that y’all have experienced — I’m so sorry for all of you who are dealing with those issues.
And by the way, my gastroenterologist explained to me years ago that although prevacid wasn’t intended for long term use, I would have to be on it for the rest of my life.
@pdilly you can still transition very slowly to a short acting med like Pepcid or Zantac. I understand you don't want to, but for the sake of others in the same boat, it is possible. I have osteoporosis so doing short acting vs Prilosec or Prevacid was important for my health.
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1 ReactionI've been on a PPI for 6 years. I went off of it and developed peptic ulcers so my GI said PPI'S for life. My last EGD showed No Barrett's Esophagus or ulcers! That makes it worthwhile for me to continue on them for life. I'm turning 69 so I'm almost at the end stage of life for a male.
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