Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

Posted by blueorca @blueorca, May 5, 2018

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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Profile picture for Nanny23 @nanny23

I have Barrett’s esophagus and Apple cider vinegar is no good for me. I am on Dexilant now. It works well for me. Stay well

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Have they suggested surgery

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Profile picture for christinegipfert @christinegipfert

Thanks to my gerd. I have severe swallowing issue, barrettes esophagus, damaged vocal cords, chronic cough, delayed gastric emptying… getting my insurance to cover gastric bypass has been hell.. and stage 4 on barrettes

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Meds no longer work. I do baking soda and water on days I can’t take anymore. My acid is up to my sinusez

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Profile picture for Susan Maas @susanemaa

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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I’ve been on Prevacid my entire adult life. 27 years. Slowly transitioning off. I’m scared.

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Profile picture for Bonnie @nightngale1998

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

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I have horrible and painful GERD daily. Started in December after I had a cholecystectomy. On PPI now but still painful, now affecting voice with sore throat. Anyone experienced this? I do not want to take the PPI’s.
I am not overweight, do not drink and do not eat fried food, head of bed elevated too, still pain and it is unrelenting.
Anyone tried herbs? Acupuncture?
Ideas?

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Profile picture for marlaxyz @marlaxyz

I hesitate to write this because i am absolutely not an expert and am an experiment of one. With that said I will tell you my experience.

i was on Prilosec (prescription) for years and then there were a series of events and I stopped taking it. Surprise. NO problem. Then I had an endoscopy (for other reasons) and asked the doctor if he thought I should be taking Prilosec and he said he saw no reason. So I have not gone back to it.

What I did do was adjust my diet and stop eating citrus, tomatoes, and other items - i actually forget now because it is all in the past. I DO eat yogurt, cottage cheese, other cheese (not cheddar) peanut butter, meat, cooked (and non cruciferous) vegetables, yams, berries, bananas, other stuff. . I have a whole list somewhere if you want it, just PM me. I created the list by trial and error - if something gave me GERD, out it went.

One take away I came to was the gastroenterologists do like to prescribe Prilosec. If you have something it will probably fix it. I have other problems but Prilosec is not fixing them, still the GI doctor wanted me to take the Prilosec. . All medicines have an affect on our kidneys and livers. I have a sense Prilosec is not a bad medicine any more than any other (I went back to the original research and found it not compelling) ..it is just that all medicines have problems.

BTW - that vinegar. Yikes. NEVER or as Jackie above called it - "acid"

Best to you and good luck-

Val

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I am sorry you are having his problem, sounds much like what I am going through but mine won’t go away and I started on Omenrazole a PPI which hasn’t completely relieved it.
Now having voice evolvement with sore throat.
Have you tried the cider vinegar?

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Profile picture for tk1 @tk1

I have horrible and painful GERD daily. Started in December after I had a cholecystectomy. On PPI now but still painful, now affecting voice with sore throat. Anyone experienced this? I do not want to take the PPI’s.
I am not overweight, do not drink and do not eat fried food, head of bed elevated too, still pain and it is unrelenting.
Anyone tried herbs? Acupuncture?
Ideas?

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I tried acupuncture and it did nothing for me. I think that if you have terrible GERD then it's not enough to try herbs or cider vinegar and the like. Apparently, bile reflux is common after cholecystectomy. See details and treatment possibilities here: https://www.drmalladi.com/acid-reflux-after-gallbladder-removal/
Maybe you also have a hiatal hernia that is keeping the LES open. (I don't know if you've written more details ab out your situation previously, so apologize that I didn't see it.)
You should go to a gastroenterologist and see what they suggest. Maybe they'll do an endoscopy to see the situation. (With the sedation they give, it's a relatively easy procedure.)

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Profile picture for tk1 @tk1

I have horrible and painful GERD daily. Started in December after I had a cholecystectomy. On PPI now but still painful, now affecting voice with sore throat. Anyone experienced this? I do not want to take the PPI’s.
I am not overweight, do not drink and do not eat fried food, head of bed elevated too, still pain and it is unrelenting.
Anyone tried herbs? Acupuncture?
Ideas?

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Another thing, if it's bile reflux, which is common after cholecystectomy, then the treatment is different than for acid reflux. See a gastroenterologist and see: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bile-reflux/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370121
PPI may not be the right treatment, but if you do need it don't be wary of taking it

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Profile picture for tk1 @tk1

I have horrible and painful GERD daily. Started in December after I had a cholecystectomy. On PPI now but still painful, now affecting voice with sore throat. Anyone experienced this? I do not want to take the PPI’s.
I am not overweight, do not drink and do not eat fried food, head of bed elevated too, still pain and it is unrelenting.
Anyone tried herbs? Acupuncture?
Ideas?

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HI,
Sorry about your pain.
Call the surgeon's office and (try to) insist on a follow-up appointment. Maybe put it in writing on his patient portal messages. Definitely see a doctor. I suggest starting with your primary care doctor. Sounds like you are doing everything that you should, and it clearly started post-op, so it seems like a surgical foul-up, which they will deny probably. Stick to your guns (your evidence).
My grandmom's remedy: very slowly drink a tall glass of warm water.
Best of luck to you!

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Profile picture for Bonnie @nightngale1998

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

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Thanks for your advice, I will try the warm water. I am seeing the surgeon next week and fully aware that his defense well we to deny any relationship between the symptoms.

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Profile picture for t98 @t98

Another thing, if it's bile reflux, which is common after cholecystectomy, then the treatment is different than for acid reflux. See a gastroenterologist and see: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bile-reflux/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370121
PPI may not be the right treatment, but if you do need it don't be wary of taking it

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Thank for your response and info sharing.

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