I've been on 20 mg of Omeprazole for 20 years for Baretts. I recently read about the side effects of long term use and now realize that my poly neuropathy and kidney disease could very well have been caused from taking this drug. My Gi doc, keeps telling me would I rather have Esophageal Cancer or the side effects. So recently I ask to be put on famotidine and after three day started having major reflux that continue for four days straight until I went back on Omeprazole. The problem I have is I'm on Prednisone, and Mycophenolate both of which can cause or lead to reflux. My PMR is in remission, and I am hoping to return to famotidine after I get step-down off prednisone and Mycophenolate.
@murphy2370, I completely understand your concern about the long-term effects of Omeprazole, and it's frustrating when you feel caught between difficult choices. Did your doctor say anything to you that there's a rebound effect when stopping PPIs like Omeprazole, especially after 20 years of use?
Or did the doctor simply asked you to stop and start taking famotidine? If so, switching directly from Omeprazole to famotidine after two decades is essentially going cold turkey, which almost guarantees severe rebound hypersecretion. Your stomach had been suppressing acid production for 20 years, and suddenly removing that suppression causes it to overproduce acid temporarily—it can last 2-4 weeks (or even a few months) and can be intense.
Would your GI doctor be willing to work with you on a structured tapering plan? If not, seeking a second opinion might be worthwhile. Your concerns about long-term PPI effects are valid and deserve a more nuanced approach than "take it or risk cancer."
If you do a web search for "how to wean off ppi medication" you'll find some helpful articles on the above.
Interesting comments from everyone! I had read about the dangers of PPI's, but my doc who did my endoscopy insisted I take omeprazole for eight weeks after seeing my inflamed esophagus. I did the eight weeks, and have now weaned off with an Acid Relief tab from Terra Health. I only take it once or twice a day. Interestingly enough, my first endoscopy did not show any polyps in my stomach. After the eight weeks on omeprazole, the second endoscopy showed several polyps. I will raise the head of my bed, eat a lot earlier, etc., and hopefully never have to take omeprazole again. BTW, the second endoscopy showed a perfectly normal esophagus, so the PPI DID work for that.
Does anyone who has IBD - ulcerative colitis, know how famotidine will affect it? I have reflux, sometimes very bad, and just suffer because I choose that over uncontrollable diarrhea. But I know the long term problems with reflux and need some relief.
@jlmp
i have microscopic colitis and PPIs (Nexium, Prilosec) are known triggers. Thus my switch to Famitodine/Pepcid on advice from my Gastrologist. Does not trigger relapse of my colitis. But check with your gastro doc…
@jlmp
i have microscopic colitis and PPIs (Nexium, Prilosec) are known triggers. Thus my switch to Famitodine/Pepcid on advice from my Gastrologist. Does not trigger relapse of my colitis. But check with your gastro doc…
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@murphy2370, I completely understand your concern about the long-term effects of Omeprazole, and it's frustrating when you feel caught between difficult choices. Did your doctor say anything to you that there's a rebound effect when stopping PPIs like Omeprazole, especially after 20 years of use?
Or did the doctor simply asked you to stop and start taking famotidine? If so, switching directly from Omeprazole to famotidine after two decades is essentially going cold turkey, which almost guarantees severe rebound hypersecretion. Your stomach had been suppressing acid production for 20 years, and suddenly removing that suppression causes it to overproduce acid temporarily—it can last 2-4 weeks (or even a few months) and can be intense.
Would your GI doctor be willing to work with you on a structured tapering plan? If not, seeking a second opinion might be worthwhile. Your concerns about long-term PPI effects are valid and deserve a more nuanced approach than "take it or risk cancer."
If you do a web search for "how to wean off ppi medication" you'll find some helpful articles on the above.
Best of luck!
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1 ReactionInteresting comments from everyone! I had read about the dangers of PPI's, but my doc who did my endoscopy insisted I take omeprazole for eight weeks after seeing my inflamed esophagus. I did the eight weeks, and have now weaned off with an Acid Relief tab from Terra Health. I only take it once or twice a day. Interestingly enough, my first endoscopy did not show any polyps in my stomach. After the eight weeks on omeprazole, the second endoscopy showed several polyps. I will raise the head of my bed, eat a lot earlier, etc., and hopefully never have to take omeprazole again. BTW, the second endoscopy showed a perfectly normal esophagus, so the PPI DID work for that.
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3 Reactions@jlmp
i have microscopic colitis and PPIs (Nexium, Prilosec) are known triggers. Thus my switch to Famitodine/Pepcid on advice from my Gastrologist. Does not trigger relapse of my colitis. But check with your gastro doc…
@pb50 I switched to Famitodine. No issues.
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