Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

Hi there: Has anyone had success in weaning off of Omeprazole? I take it for GERD. Thank you in advance!

If you've been taking the PPI for 3 years, then you have to wean yourself off slowly, otherwise you'll have rebound acid. So I suggest getting a 20 mg dose and reducing to that for a number of days (look on the internet - some say 10 days), and then if you feel ok you can stop the 20 mg one day but take it the next day and taper off slowly. Let us know how it goes.

Ok thanks for the suggestion. I’ve been taking Omeprazole just about : years. I only had one “attack” of intense bloating and gas before getting that upper GI that showed a sliding hiatal hernia. I’ll take it every other day then and see how that goes for a week or so. Then try every 3 days. It’s a capsule form. The doctor said just quit and manage it over the counter until the symptoms fade or I could go back to taking it. It’s an experiment I guess ..with me as the guinea pig.

Hi there: Has anyone had success in weaning off of Omeprazole? I take it for GERD. Thank you in advance!

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.

I've transitioned fairly well. I have occasional mild to moderate swallowing problems.

I was on it for years. I had Fundoplacation surgery and just stopped taking it. I was fine no side effects.

Hi there: Has anyone had success in weaning off of Omeprazole? I take it for GERD. Thank you in advance!

I was on omeprazole and then ranitidine for 10 years. I considered a fundoplication or linx at one point. I’ve been PPI-free for 2 years. Like others have said, tapering off is key. It’s really important to understand what is causing the reflux. In my case, it wasn’t a weak esophageal sphincter or excess stomach acid according to a manometry and other tests. After researching more alternative explanations, I think it was bad microbiome and low stomach acid along with too much processed food. What ultimately worked for me was elevating head of bed 6 inches, nothing to eat after dinner, high quality probiotics ( I take New Chapter), adding kefir and other fermented food items regularly, adding magnesium and zinc to my supplements, recognizing and avoiding my trigger foods, eating smaller portions, and chewing the heck out of food. I’m not recommending this regimen for you as I have no idea what is causing your issues and am not qualified to offer direction. I just want to share my success story because there was a time when it seemed hopeless that I’d get my situation under control. It’s not perfect, but much, much better. I wish everyone the best.

I was on omeprazole and then ranitidine for 10 years. I considered a fundoplication or linx at one point. I’ve been PPI-free for 2 years. Like others have said, tapering off is key. It’s really important to understand what is causing the reflux. In my case, it wasn’t a weak esophageal sphincter or excess stomach acid according to a manometry and other tests. After researching more alternative explanations, I think it was bad microbiome and low stomach acid along with too much processed food. What ultimately worked for me was elevating head of bed 6 inches, nothing to eat after dinner, high quality probiotics ( I take New Chapter), adding kefir and other fermented food items regularly, adding magnesium and zinc to my supplements, recognizing and avoiding my trigger foods, eating smaller portions, and chewing the heck out of food. I’m not recommending this regimen for you as I have no idea what is causing your issues and am not qualified to offer direction. I just want to share my success story because there was a time when it seemed hopeless that I’d get my situation under control. It’s not perfect, but much, much better. I wish everyone the best.