PPI use and side effects

The Greek yogurt that I eat makes the problem even worse. Perhaps I am lactose intolerant.

Diarrhea is ONE side effect of omeprazole. I had that, and discovered rather late in the game that I also had chronic kidney disease and osteoporosis. You may want to ask your doctor to monitor you for other side effects. For example testing your EGFR will give you good insight into your kidney function, and rating as to whether you are in the reference range for kidney function, or in the CKD range. You may want to get a DEXA scan, though be aware if you are found to have low density then you are confronted with the choice of whether to take another med, or not. Recent articles reported that researchers are seeing a link between PPIs and dementia. My gastroenterologist doesn't believe that PPIs have these side effects, but my kidney function improved once I stopped omeprazole. I have started taking famotidine, an H2 blocker which isn't as powerful as a PPI. I read on the box not to take the drug if one has kidney disease. Why would the manufacturer warn that if these acid suppressors didn't affect the kidneys? Some people are on them for a lifetime with no problems. I always suggest monitoring for the side effects, though. My own path is to get off the medication completely. I am working toward staying on a low-acid, low-fat diet (there are FB groups with recipes based on the work of Dr. Aviv and Dr. Koufman), sleeping with my head elevated, chewing gum to increase saliva while I am exercising or after eating to aid in digestion, things like that. As for your original question, I don't take a probiotic anymore and have no idea which are best for your problem. All I know is the diarrhea stopped after I stopped omeprazole. In my case, I had trouble once I did stop the drug, eventually developing SIBO-like symptoms and needing to do the FODMAP elimination diet for a few weeks. Good luck on your journey to improve your gut health.

Thank you so much for this information about omeprezole. I took it for a year and during that time I had diarrhea littetally every day, except one day when I ate fried chicken. My doctor told me to do the FODMAT elimination. After trying all foods, I finally stopped diarrhea by eliminating omeprezole. I stopped omeprezole and changed doctors. The next doctor put me on rabeprazolr. Then the gas started. My doctor said it was not a medical problem and I should get a dog.
Not funny! I am working to get off Rebaprezole on my own now and trying famotidine. My GP is no help. What kind of professional would know more? Dietition, nutritionist, gastroenterologist?

Try a Functional Medical Dr .
Mine new one just did lots of tests and extensive bloodwork on me . He’s also a Chiropractor.
I’ve been suffering 10 yrs and have seen 6 Gastro Drs . Even Mayo Clinic . My most recent was a week ago at Gastic institute of Orlando. Have had every test done in 10 years. 7 Diagnoses… yet nothing and no one has helped yet .
I’m hoping this New Functional Medicine Dr. Can .
The new GI put has me trying a different anti depressant that is supposed to help gut .
I’ve tried others to no avail . I’m on 5 th day .
My symptoms are about same . I’ll give it 8 weeks .
Praying 🙏 you find help as well . It’s so hard to live w/ this stuff!!

How did you find a functional medical doctor?

Someone suggested ifm.org to find a functional medicine doctor. I'm going to try that today.

Find a Holistic doctor/integrated medicine doctor. Google these types of doctors in you area and make sure you get at least a 4* from whichever one you choose.

Thank you!

Just google functional medicine Drs ( or APRN ) some Chiropractors are them too like mine .
Or Naturopathic type Dr.
( more holistic).
Keep us posted .

Don't get me started on PPI's. I have a hiatal hernia and esophagus motility issues. When I was on Omeprazole, I had very lose stools, cramping, and terrible gas so my doctor put me on Esomeprazole 40 mg per day. It helped the acid reflux tremendously but then I became constipated to the degree of it being extreme, felt awful, and still have the terrible gas. I have tried other acid reflux medications to no avail. Now I have a redundant colon. I didn't have this condition before I started taking PPI's. I've been trying to manage this for a year now and it has affected my quality of life. My PCP sent me to a surgeon but he said he didn't feel surgery was the answer unless it gets worse so I went back to my gastroenterologist. He told me that treating a redundant colon is difficult and he put me on high doses of Miralax to clean me out (like a colon prep). I did that routine twice and he said to continue with 3 capfuls of Miralax a day for maintenance. That was way too much and I was having bathroom accidents. What a journey this has been trying to figure out what works for me. As far as the Esomeprazole, I stopped taking it and I watch what I eat. Nothing spicy and I cut back on coffee from 3-4 cups per day to 1 cup and I drink green tea. So far, I have been able to manage the acid reflux without medication. But back to the bad gas, I still have it. My
gastroenterologist told me that the bad gas is from the constipation. Right now I am taking just one capful of Miralax in the mornings but it just depends on what day it is to whether I get relief. I also tried a magnesium supplement called Cleanse More and my doctor said it was safe to take, and prescribed 2 capsules, every other day but 2 capsules are too much and 1 capsule isn't enough. Trying to figure this out is driving me crazy. I'm getting ready to go on a trip with my brother, his wife, and my niece and I will be sharing a room with my niece and I am stressing because of the terrible gas issue, it's so embarrassing! Sorry for the long rant!