Famotidine for GERD

Posted by gigipatula @gigipatula, Sep 1, 2024

Went to the GI Dr. they said to take Pepsic AC max 20mg, twice a day for 2 weeks. I took it for 4.5 days and was mentally destroyed. Anxiety, depression, and an off feeling in my gut. I quit taking it and a couple days later got this horrible bitter taste in my mouth that I still have 7 days later. I'm hoping it will go away. Has anyone else experienced this on this drug? Thankfully mentally I'm feeling better, never again will I take this drug or any PPI!

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t98 | @t98 | Sep 6, 2024

In reply to @colleenyoung "Welcome, @anonymous999. You're quite right that members should always check with their doctor about their medical..." + (show)

He gave helpful suggestions. I would hope you would not remove such a post.
I'm not sure he's completely correct about everything, but quite a few other posters post questionable information, and these are not removed.
Many people try to suggest what could be considered a "medical tip", so I guess everyone should remember to say "maybe try..." "maybe you have..." and not give their medical title, if they have one, and that will follow the rules.
Thank you for the forum!

gigipatula | @gigipatula | Sep 11, 2024

Well, I have an appointment with my GP on 9/30 to get a Alpha Gal test done. Sadly I had 2 episodes of what felt like Alpha Gal reactions last week. Since then I have not had any mammalian meat products 🙂 And, so far so good, I feel much better even the heartburn is gone! So I am cancelling any GI dr' appointments, xrays etc until I get my results back! Fingers crossed this is Alpha Gal, which I had off and on since 1990 and never knew it till 2013. Then tested negative in 2017. I was bitten in the Spring by a Lone Star Tick and thought uh oh!!! Thank goodness I love chicken! Will update this once I get my test results. Thanks to everyone for all the helpful information!!!

leonardkite | @leonardkite | Mar 21 7:33pm

In reply to @pb50 "I went to pepcid 20mg once a day when i weaned off PPIs. No issues" + (show)

my GI doctor said take Pepcid 40 mg at night, about 30 years ago but I forgot that, now I am taking 20 mg twice a day, with some success. I forgot about the bland diet so I am paying the price for it now. thanks for reminding me to stay off the good food.

pb50 | @pb50 | Mar 21 9:37pm

Yea Pepcid works but not aa quickly as a PPI like Nexium. Taking on your schedule will help.

gigipatula | @gigipatula | Mar 22 8:31am

Not sure if I did update this post or not from before but ....I did indeed test positive for Alpha Gal. Since giving up mammalian meat my GERD symptoms are all but gone I still get the occasional heartburn, burping etc but nothing like before! I've also lost 12 pounds since my diagnosis. I had no idea that Alpha Gal could cause GERD like symptoms I was used to having the whole anaphylactic shock GI issues which were far more scarier! I now believe that every year when I get my annual blood work done I will have the AG test done as well.

crystalena | @crystalena | Jun 8 4:11pm

I don’t know what medication is causing MY skin problem . My skin peels constantly and after a shower I go into complete molt. We have tried discontinuing a Drug I was taking for acid reflux . It was fomotidene. ( I can’t spell it I guess). Any way it’s been about 20 days . I still cannot tell if it changed anything . Anyone had experience with this drug ?? BB , Crystalena

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jun 9 11:38am

In reply to @crystalena "I don’t know what medication is causing MY skin problem . My skin peels constantly and..." + (show)

Hi, @crystalena - because you mentioned a skin problem you believe is related to your taking famotidene for acid reflux, I moved your post here to this discussion where others are talking about this medication:

- Famotidine for GERD https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/famotidine-for-gerd/

How long did the doctor say you'd have to be off the famotidene to tell if that was the cause of your skin peeling/molting? Are you still peeling constantly?

crystalena | @crystalena | Jun 9 12:33pm

In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @crystalena - because you mentioned a skin problem you believe is related to your taking..." + (show)

The doctor just said to stop the drug Famotidine. I had taken 40 mg daily for a year. ( skin had started peeling then.) My acid reflux was still happening , so that is ( after a year)when Dr added 40mg a day of omeprazole. So I was for the next 6 mos taking both medications .
For the last 20 days I have not had any famotidine. But I am now taking 80mg of omeprazole a day. I think my lower arms and legs are not peeling so bad constantly . I will have to admit , I have not showered since the 20 th of may. I do diligent cleansing . Please understand that . But as far as a full shower not yet . And I have used the creams and oils etc. I have a soft raindrop shower attachment .They didn’t fix it . Thank You , Crystalena

t98 | @t98 | Jun 12 8:12am

In reply to @crystalena "The doctor just said to stop the drug Famotidine. I had taken 40 mg daily for..." + (show)

I take famotidine and have not had skin peeling. It is listed as a side effect that could be because of allergic reaction. It also says that if skin peels as a result of an allergic reaction you should contact a doctor right away. Have you been to a dermatologist? I think you need to go to a good diagnostician and do in depth tests to see what's causing this. Did you have any skin issues before the peeling started? A rash, for example?
(Aside from that, 80 mg of Omeprazole a days sounds like a lot. Do you have a large hiatal hernia? )

crystalena | @crystalena | Jun 12 8:52am

In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @crystalena - because you mentioned a skin problem you believe is related to your taking..." + (show)

I tried a brief afternoon shower after 20 days with no Famotidine . As always the next morning after shower the peeling persists . See pics . Bless all of you . Crystalena