My doctor said to take 1/2 pill for 2 weeks, then 1/4 pill for 2 weeks, and then stop. I did this, except am still on the 1/4 pill for several months. Need to do the complete stop. 🙂

You don't have to quit gradually, but doing so helps you body adjust. Regarding splitting the capsules, you could just switch to over the counter Prilosec; those are pills, not capsules. Hope this helps.

@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.

@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...

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😊

@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.

I was diagnosed with this years ago but suddenly told I didn't have it. I would love to know what you find out.

I also got off of PPIs by taking Zantac and Tums combined. However, I did have a hiatal hernia repaired and a LINX Augmentation Procedure in September 2018 and now take nothing, no meds of any kind. No heartburn, no nausea, no pain. It was a godsend for me.

Do you have the ability to talk with the doctor? Omeprazole does not seem to help me. Did you ever go to Mayo in Rochester? I am due for first visit there soon.

I was followed in Plymouth, MI and then on to University of Michigan. I am extremely disappointed that I put off an appointment to Mayo Clinic from January to March. Gastro at Mayo seems to be hard to get into for some reason. I see a specialist this afternoon at U of M for Pulmonary (MAC and sarcoidosis) and will make an appeal to see if he will follow up with a better plan. He mentioned doctors at the Cleveland Clinic and did not follow through with this. Did you look up Achalasia as it is one of the most misdiagnosed diseases by gastro doctors.