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Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use
i am an 18-year user of daily OTC Prilosec. It does a perfect job of controlling my GERD but I am constantly battling side effects of nutritional deficiencies in iron, B-12, magnesium, etc. For example, my hair is extremely thin and loss of energy is a constant problem. I am looking for specific help in knowing which supplements to take for this and in what doses and formats and on what schedule. All the nutritionists I've found locally are not well-versed in Prilosec use. Is there a medical provider out there who specializes in this? And would they be willing to work with me long distance?
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1 Reaction@dandi apple cider vinegar exacerbates my GERD too.
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1 ReactionWow, this is an old post. No longer taking Zantac since it is reported that it causes cancer, at least the old formulation did.
10 years ago or so, I had severe symptoms of having food stuck in my esophagus and not being able to swallow or bring food back up. This put me in the hospital a few times until an endoscopy diagnosed me with a schatzki ring. My gastroenterologist nipped it in one or two places and prescribed omeprazole 20 mg once per day. This worked fine for years. My current primary care physician wants me to come off of this proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and use an H2 blocker instead. I agree. I tried about a 10-day transition alternating between the two medications and then went to the H2 blocker (Famotidine) for 3 months with no omeprazole. I had swallowing difficulty symptoms almost every meal. They were mild to severe ( inability to swallow or bring food back up for 20 minutes with a production of fluid [saliva?] which required spitting and some small amounts of food coming up). So, I went back on Omeprazole about a month ago. Now I have obtained a prescription both. I would like to try to wean myself off of the PPI and onto an H2 blocker again. Here is my plan:● Alternate omeprazole 20 mg /day early am with famotidine 20 mg before breakfast and dinner for 14 days. Then alternate with PPI every 3rd day for 14 days. Then alternate with PPI every 4th day for 14 days.Does anyone have any experience with this transition? Any suggestions.
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2 ReactionsAnything acidic will exacerbate GERD
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1 ReactionI drank about 2 tbsp ginger juice mixed with about 12 oz hot water daily for the past 8 mos along with many diet changes and famotidine 20mg am and pm. No caffeine, low-fat diet, head of bed at 30 degrees, decreased alcohol, etc. It was a lot of work but worth it.
Are you treating GERD or damage to the stomach lining? I don't have GERD but damaged my stomach with NCAID use. Diagnosed with reactive gastropathy. I still take famotidine 10 mg. as needed. Did they try PPI with you initially? Glad to hear you also get relief with ginger. Have you tried de-glycerised licorice? I also try to stay low on acid diet but its not easy. Low acid coffee seems ok. Thanks for sharing.
I have been on Omeprazole for over 5 years now, it works well, why transition off of it? I had an esophagectomy with partial gastrectomy and a pull through for esophageal cancer at the junction. I know my anatomy is a little different, just wondered why if it is working for you.
Sue
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1 Reaction@fatherofstickyrice, have you also had esophageal cancer? Like @susanmaa, I'd also like to understand why you wish to transition from PPI to an H2 blocker. Is your doctor suggesting this?
No, thankfully, I have not had esophageal cancer. My doctor has recommended that I transition from a PPI to an H2 blocker because of the association of long-term use of PPI's with bone density loss (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6914803/).