Getting Off of Omeprazole: Share your success stories please.

@contentandwell You are suppose to do it gradually. I take 40 mg 2 x a day now. I have just quit taking all at once and have done both gradually stopped it. Ether way when I stop. I am good for about 3 weeks or 4 weeks without it. Then bam it's back with a fury. I think maybe you can quit taking it, but you are talking about a tremendous lifestyle change in the way you can eat. ,
I started out with acid reflux,then it turned into gerd,and now barretts.. When you have barretts it is difficult to stop this medicine.
Possibly cutting back to 1 pill a day. But you need to give up everything just about. Live on a diet of fruits, vegetables, and lean meat. No sugars,sweets, or fattening foods, and knock your weight to looking like scarecrow. Not counting staying away from any acidic foods, my favorite chocolate.
I wish everyone good luck who is trying to do this. I know I am trying myself too.

@travelgirl As I mentioned, I too have Barrett's but with my last endoscopy, a little over a year ago, the doctor said I didn't need to have another one for two years.
I must admit, I do not follow as rigorous diet as generally prescribed for Barrett's but have no ill effects, I must have a very mild case of it. I only take one omeprazole, 20 mg a day. It's funny that I never had acid reflux or GERD, the only symptom was hoarseness.
I love fruits and vegetables but of course citrus is out, and I don't recall being told I had to lose weight despite having been overweight at the time -- actually I still am, but not nearly as much as I once was. My BMI is just over 25 now whereas it used to be over 30. I don't eat a lot of sweets but that too is something I do not recall being told to stay away from. I don't eat them because I am mildly diabetic. I do generally eat a square of very dark chocolate every morning, but I do not overdo.
The things I remember being told to stay away from were citrus, tomatoes, and coffee.
JK

@contentandwell I do also have a hernia so maybe the combo of a hernia and barrett's Being combined worsen my symptoms? That's why they said to loose weight?? Yes Coffee, Tea, Tomatoes, Citrus, Garlic, Onions, Fatty Foods, Fried Foods, Soda's, Sparking Water, ZERO Alcohol, Sugar,Chocolate, Eat several small meals a day. No food 3 hours before bedtime, no water 2 hours before bedtime. Sleep on an angle.
Might as well wire my jaw shut. LOL. Cause everything I love is on the DO NOT EAT LIST...

@contentandwell

I have been told to avoid all of those foods as well and it's been since August 2018, I have been sort of adjusting to a new life style. I've become an avid label reader now. I don't know if anyone is spiritual here but my faith has truly helped me and blessed me. It's not easy but I'm pushing forward😊

@travelgirl I think you may be right, some of your restrictions may have to do with your hernia. I do sometimes have a snack before bed, but not much recently, and I do sleep on an angle. The doctor suggested that we put something under the legs of the bed at the head end so we did. I have a wedge pillow too but don't find it that comfortable and tend to slip down on it.
I may be forgetting some restrictions but I don't recall alcohol being one of them, and I think I would have remembered that. I can't drink alcohol now due to having had a liver transplant. I rarely eat fried foods either, I have found as I have gotten older they are just not as easily digestible, plus of course frying piles on the calories.
JK

@kay57 I presume then that my doctor did not suggest that I adhere to such a strict food regimen because my Barrett's is very minor. He was more of an advocate of things in extreme moderation, and he is considered to be an expert in Barrett's. Unfortunately he moved to NYC, I really liked him and he has a great reputation.
JK

@contentandwell I believe Barrett's is measured to the amount of visual damage they see. Barrett's really has no symptoms. What barrett's is cause by is the erosion that is created by GERD symptoms. Which can be silent for many. I get a severe sore throat, hoarse voice, stomach ache,and chest pains. It's like I feel it just about all. The chest pains feel like a dagger is going through my chest bone. The sore throat feels like strep throat without a fever. If I eat any of those foods I am seriously in severe pain for about 10 days. It's brutal..
My biggest thing now is motivation and will power to not fall for one taste of coffee. My biggest downfall.. I love coffee and it tears my throat, and stomach apart. I get stabbing chest pains from drinking it. I loved Dunkin Donuts coffee, 1 large Black Coffee with 2 shots of espresso. sighing and I love Cuban Coffee. Can't drink it.

@travelgirl Jackie, I really have NO other symptoms other than the occasional hoarseness, which was constant before I started taking omeprazole. It's odd, but in many conditions I tend to be somewhat asymptomatic. You should ask your doctor if you can drink low-acid coffees, that might be OK. Surprisingly the dark roasts have less acid because the extended roasting burns off the acid! I believe that decaf has less acid also, but not sure of that.
I am sorry you have so much pain, you make me feel very fortunate with my Barrett's. By the way, what is Cuban coffee?
JK

Been there, done that. Zantac is supposedly "safe." NOT - depends on the individual. There is a lot bogus (statistically invalid) data re the use of Prilosec that should be rejected. I'm back on a half dose of (10 mg) of Prilosec and may stay with that; whatever works, no magic.