Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

Hi there- My dad was put on omeprozole in the hospital and had a long stay at both the acute care hospital, then a rehab facility. I was dismayed to find he was on it long term too after reading about the side effects.

(Disclaimer: If you went on it after talking to your doctor, of course, might make sense to talk with them about it.)

I used this as a guide to come up with a plan; it’s from the VA:
https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTHLIBRARY/tools/coming-off-a-proton-pump-inhibitor.asp
I’m not sure how long you’ve been taking the PPI, and that may affect how difficult it could be to get off it. My dad was on it a moderate amount of time, and he didn’t have trouble, thankfully.

He also took/takes a magnesium supplement, which you may want to consider, especially if you have symptoms related to magnesium deficiency (fatigue, leg cramps, nausea). PPIs have been found to inhibit absorption of magnesium and deficiency is more prevalent in older people. You can also be tested.

Basically we reduced the dose as slowly as we could reasonably cut the tablets down with a pill cutter. My dad is very sensitive to medications, so we’re used to having to taper and titrate slowly. I can’t remember the denominations we used, but most sources say it should take longer than two weeks to get off it.

I think it took us at least a month. He’d take a dose for a week, then lower again, and so on. Getting down to the end, we alternated every other day, then every three days until he was off it.

I believe it also helps to address lifestyle changes, like reducing or avoiding foods that tend to cause more acid while you’re getting used to being off the PPI, in my dad’s case it’s important for him to eat while being as upright as possible (he is recovering from a stroke), and doing breathing exercises.

Good luck. I agree and I feel it’s worth it to try to get off it. I feel like the consequences should be more well-known. The hospital that prescribed it didn’t even discuss it with us.

I have been reading the here about the long term side effects of omeprozole and am going to try to wean off. Suggestions? Thanks!

Hi there- My dad was put on omeprozole in the hospital and had a long stay at both the acute care hospital, then a rehab facility. I was dismayed to find he was on it long term too after reading about the side effects.

(Disclaimer: If you went on it after talking to your doctor, of course, might make sense to talk with them about it.)

I used this as a guide to come up with a plan; it’s from the VA:
https://www.va.gov/WHOLEHEALTHLIBRARY/tools/coming-off-a-proton-pump-inhibitor.asp
I’m not sure how long you’ve been taking the PPI, and that may affect how difficult it could be to get off it. My dad was on it a moderate amount of time, and he didn’t have trouble, thankfully.

He also took/takes a magnesium supplement, which you may want to consider, especially if you have symptoms related to magnesium deficiency (fatigue, leg cramps, nausea). PPIs have been found to inhibit absorption of magnesium and deficiency is more prevalent in older people. You can also be tested.

Basically we reduced the dose as slowly as we could reasonably cut the tablets down with a pill cutter. My dad is very sensitive to medications, so we’re used to having to taper and titrate slowly. I can’t remember the denominations we used, but most sources say it should take longer than two weeks to get off it.

I think it took us at least a month. He’d take a dose for a week, then lower again, and so on. Getting down to the end, we alternated every other day, then every three days until he was off it.

I believe it also helps to address lifestyle changes, like reducing or avoiding foods that tend to cause more acid while you’re getting used to being off the PPI, in my dad’s case it’s important for him to eat while being as upright as possible (he is recovering from a stroke), and doing breathing exercises.

Good luck. I agree and I feel it’s worth it to try to get off it. I feel like the consequences should be more well-known. The hospital that prescribed it didn’t even discuss it with us.

I have been reading the here about the long term side effects of omeprozole and am going to try to wean off. Suggestions? Thanks!

I went off omeprozole and started taking NEXIUM when it became available OTC in 2014. I had no problem.

What really helped me in the end was having a LINX Augmentation device placed in 2018. I was having acid reflux 84 times a day and nothing was helping. Since the procedure and a hernia repair I have not had any problems. Please research this solution. Best to you.

I weaned off of Pantaprazole by taking it every other day for 2 weeks and then stopped it. I was getting severe leg cramps from it feeling like I was tearing my calf muscle. I would wake up screaming from the pain. I get my EGD and Colonoscopy in October. Hopefully I can stay off of it.

I had no clue that Pantaprazole had the horrible leg pain side effects. I too wake up in such excruciating pain that it takes my breath away. My dr only told me to take Magnesium but nothing about WHY I was going through Hell every night, I just thought it was horrible neuropathy! Thanks for sharing

I had no clue that Pantaprazole had the horrible leg pain side effects. I too wake up in such excruciating pain that it takes my breath away. My dr only told me to take Magnesium but nothing about WHY I was going through Hell every night, I just thought it was horrible neuropathy! Thanks for sharing

I have been reading the here about the long term side effects of omeprozole and am going to try to wean off. Suggestions? Thanks!

I have been on a PPI now ( prilosec) for probably 20 yrs. It began back when they believed there were no significant side effects. Then a study was done stating of really significant side effects.I tried desperately to get off of it--weaning down on the frequency and dose, then stopping it. I was so ill I could not eat. Lost 20#. GI doc told me to get back on it. Since then I have developed this LPR thing, and am trying to accept this as my life now. I wish I would have made it off the drug. At least now they know that when they put a patient on a PPI. It should only be for a limited time.