I have appreciated the excellent suggestions made from this posting. Thank you!

Bonnie

I am wondering if anyone else taking PPI medication is having the concerns that I have. I do not like taking a lot of pills so am concerned sbout having to take 40 mg twice a day. I don’t seem to be having problems with GERD now that I am watching my diet and eating small amounts. I want to do what is best but I want to stop taking so many pills when I seem to do well when I skip them. Any thoughts from others? Of course I have talked with the doctor and they want me to continue but when I forget snd take less I feel I am fine. I cannot tell that I am having GERD.

Hi @nightngale1998 and members in this discussion,

I thought you might be interested in reading this recent article published in the journal of Gastroenterology:
– https://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(17)35623-8/fulltext

Based upon numerous studies which evaluated the long-term use of PPIs like Omeprazole, researchers conclude that (copied):

– Despite the recent alarm generated by some high-profile, newsworthy publications, few (if any) of the recent scare stories have attempted to balance the benefits of PPIs with their alleged risks.
– A great number of patients are receiving PPIs unnecessarily for conditions or symptoms for which they would not have been expected to provide benefit. Furthermore, many patients who are on PPI treatment for appropriate indications are receiving excessively high daily doses.
– For some patients, treatment may need to be lifelong. However, multiple “false alarms” related to the safety of PPIs could ultimately lead to inappropriate discontinuation of treatment with potentially serious consequences for some patients.
– Much of the current evidence linking PPI use to serious long-term adverse consequences is weak and insubstantial. It should not deter prescribers from using appropriate doses of PPIs for appropriate indications.

@kanaazpereira Thank you.. I have confidence I am getting properly treated. I just wish I didn't need to take the pills. But I shall keep taking them cause it is virtually impossible for me to eliminate everything from my diet that cuases me issues. I would be living on water alone.

OK, here goes. I suspect this may be long. Omeprazole and Pepsid are the same thing. Reglan caused me to have involuntary movements of my tongue and feet. I’ve been off of it for over a year and the feet are in constant motion-the Doctors do not think it will resolve. I currently take 40 mg Omeprazole in the morning and 8 mg Ondansetron 2-3 times a day for nausea and vomiting. If I do not take them before my feet hit the floor, I will throw up. I had a hiatal for about 15 years before I had surgery to repair it (fundoplication). All was good for about 6 years. I had been told that that was about all I could expect. About 12 years ago, it was back and I started to vomit bright red blood, which resulted in esophagitis. Many tests and hospitalizations later, it was discovered that I also had gastritis and gastroparesis (delayed emptying of the stomach). The esophagitis and gastritis resolved with antibiotics and some minor diet changes. I am being followed at Emory University Hospital and have been for 33 years. I had a kidney transplant there 20 years ago as a result of untreated strep throat. My gastroenterologist has referred my to another Emory gastroenterologist who is specially trained in a procedure called G-POEM (look it up). Not many hospitals perform it as it is fairly new. They believe this should solve many of my problems caused by Gastroparesis. I expect to hear this week if I am a candidate. The procedure is 80-90% successful. The procedure is done through the mouth ((no external incision) and takes approximately 2 hours with 1 night in the hospital. The diet afterwards is gradual over a period of time -clear liquid, full liquid, soft then finally, regular. After extensive research, I feel that the possible reward outweighs the risk. I strongly suggest you contact the nearest teaching hospital for an evaluation. I wouldn’t consider going anywhere else for anything! Good luck and good health to all of you! Thank you for sticking with me through this epic journal.

how long have you been on reglan? I ask this because the involuntary movements of the tongue are caused by reglan ( motility drug to promote movement of food thru the stomach). This phenomena is called tardive dyskinesia. If you were on it for a long time then than involuntary movement of the tongue may not go away. Your doctor may know. Pro motility drugs canhelp move the food out of the stomach. Years ago there was a very good drug for this called propulsid. however it was later banned because it caused heart ptoblems. There is another motility drug called domperidome. It can be obtained from canadadrugsonline.com but you need a script. It is not sold in the USA. I tried it once and after the second day i had a very bad body itch, but that is my body.The pills are 10 mg-3 times a day. My friends husband also tried it for about 2 months, but it started to give him tardive dyskinesia and he had to stop. .... kozlo52

I drink one cup of instant Kava coffee a day which is acid neutralized and buy it by the case from the company as it doesn’t get shelf space at local grocery stores here. I also drink low acid Tropicana orange juice. I avoid fried foods, spicy food, high fat food and acidic foods. Yet I still need my 40mg omeprazole each day. I have been on it over 30 years and tried substitutes without success. Before omeprazole I would vomit acid so I rely on it to prevent damage to my throat and stomach. No alcohol for me either as a generous serving of Mogan David wine a few years back set me up with a stomach ulcer which was very painful. I am 72 and as long as I stay this course my digestive health is tolerable.

Last night I was eating cherries, and I can actually feel my throat burn as they go down my throat. I also forgot to take the omprazole in the morning. Only took it at night. So I assume this maybe the cause?

@nightngale1998 I was put on a PPI in 2005 after having a pancreas transplant. I don’t have GERD. I think it was to ward off any GI symptoms due to the increase in meds post transplant. Over the years I was on Prevacid, Prilosec, generic Omeprazole, Nexium, Zantac and other antacids. In 2016 I was seen at Mayo for a kidney pretransplant evaluation. I met with a pharmacist for a med review. I asked about weaning off of Omeprazole since I don’t have GERD. She gave me a weaning off schedule that gradually decreased the dose over a 2 month period. (My primary and nephrologist had said I could do this if I wanted to.) I got off the Omeprazole after a few months. Sometimes if I have spicy or fatty foods to late in the evening I’ll wake up with a tummy ache and I take OTC antacid like Tums.

I have been so sick for months and Prilosec has worsened conditions. I need help but can’ t help when trying to talk with PCP. My doctors can’t listen to side effects. Lost well over 30 lbs because I cannot Sleep or eat. I also am told this is all in my head. Two years ago, same doctor tells me I have MAC but reaction to meds was very bad. I saw someone made up list of foods she has played around with but can’t find her. I have had achalasia but told before surgery this was all in my head.