not sure why on the acid reducer, I do have celiac so might be why they say to take. As for the nail, both nails on big toes ended up falling off, yes was slow over time. And sometimes after treatment, I would curl up in bed and just hang on. Was sometimes hard, just had to push through it. Eating at times was rough, sometimes just something that would slide down and drank energy drinks to help keep weight on. I always figured the treatment was better then the pain I had at the time. Best on your journey.