How to Quit Pantoprazole?

Posted by ksdm @ksdm, Mar 16 8:23am

I have been on Pantoprazole for the last two months to combat the acid stomach I got from taking pain meds. I am feeling good now and want to know how to stop taking this drug. I still feel a little acidy when I wake up but couldn't I take something else for that?

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graceym1 | @graceym1 | Mar 19 6:23am

I m down to one a day along with famitadine which is an h2 blocker not a ppi. It helps a lot!

ksdm | @ksdm | Mar 19 7:42am

Thank you! That was my thought to try. I will check with my Dr. first.

wilks13 | @wilks13 | Mar 19 8:59am

I was on a PPI and was on it for four months. Totally messed up my stomach lost my stomach acid I believe… Talk to your doctor they will help wean you off.

t98 | @t98 | Mar 20 3:43am

You need to wean off the PPI gradually. Can take it every other day, then every 3 days, etc... Or, replace in the same gradual way with an H2 blocker like famotidine. At the same time, look on the internet for lifestyle changes for acid reflux reduction (no caffeine, no chocolate, don 't eat 3 hours before bedtime, raise the head of your bed or sleep on a wedge, don't slouch especially when/after eating, etc.), and you can also take Gaviscon advance before bedtime, or if that's not enough, then famotidine before bedtime. Best of luck.

bosco17 | @bosco17 | Mar 20 4:37pm

I am looking at the Linx proceedure. Its a cure not a patch. PPIs are bad news!!!!!!!!!!!!

wick27 | @wick27 | Apr 8 8:07am

In reply to @carolinlv "I was taking pantoprazole for over three years for Gerd and all the uncomfortable symptoms associated..." + (show)

@carolinlv

I was taking pantoprazole for over three years for Gerd and all the uncomfortable symptoms associated with it. The pantoprazole was a dream, until it wasn’t. I had lower stomach pain that would not go away. I still had no symptoms of Gerd, but my doctor was thinking possibly the pantoprazole had changed in formula. Evidently, the non-active ingredients in a med can be changed randomly. He had multiple patients complain of stomach pain and we were all taking pantoprazole. He didn’t think it wise to take me off an antacid completely so he changed me to omeprazole and the same thing happened. Guess that wasn’t my problem. We finally decided I had been on it so long, maybe I didn’t need it any longer, so I stopped taking it. That was four months ago. I’ve needed an occasional dose of Mylanta or Tums, but that was it. Well, this week I have started to have some Gerd symptoms again. I’ve woken up a few times in the middle of the night with nausea and a headache. I’ve had difficulty sleeping, which is not all that odd for me, but waking up at 2:30 and unable to go back to sleep at all. Now I’ve got the stomach discomfort again. Has anyone stopped taking a PPI because it was making you as sick as the illness you were treating? I have read Gerd returning is common, but these symptoms are slightly different. I don’t have heartburn. I have all this other middle of the night stuff instead. I’m afraid to start a PPI again, especially after reading so much about them when I stopped. I have read you can take them for 6 to 8 weeks 3-4 times a year to heal esophageal problems. Has anyone ever done this type of short term treatment? I can handle a lot, but I have to have at least five hours of sleep. Right now, I’m lucky to get that. Just in case anyone has this thought, I had an endoscopy in February of this year, so I don’t think it’s anything serious unless it’s something that came on quickly. I was prescribed medication to heal a very small ulcer that was found, which was also meant to heal the minor Gerd symptoms noticed. Any thoughts out there?

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My experience exactly. I had a Lap Chole 4 years ago and was put on Pantoprazole following the procedure to deal with severe GERD, stomach pain from acid and abdominal cramping.
During the 4 years on Pantoprazole I experienced 24/7/365 stomach pain, abdominal cramps, dizziness, bloating and GERD. I was beyond miserable.
My GI Doc and PC Physician had no clue.
One morning I decided to take 20mg of Famotidine and toss the Pantoprazole in the trash. That day ALL of my symptoms ceased to exist and, to this day, they are just a memory. I can now drink coffee every morning which was NEVER possible before.
Researching Pantoprazole will educate you on the COMMON side effects of PPI’s which include stomach pain, abdominal cramping and dizziness.
Sometimes the prescribed medication is actually the problem itself and you cannot rely on your physician to either know or research the drugs he/she prescribes - they just “do” what seems logical. It is up to you to navigate your list of meds and their possible side effects and interactions. Good luck on your journey!

ksdm | @ksdm | Apr 9 7:52am

In reply to @carolinlv "I was taking pantoprazole for over three years for Gerd and all the uncomfortable symptoms associated..." + (show)

@carolinlv

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I was on pantroprazole for a few months to get rid of an acidy stomach that came on from taking pain pills. My doctor "weened" me off the med slowly and I think that is important.

gigi4 | @gigi4 | Apr 9 2:52pm

In reply to @cgper "I’ve suffered for many years from it. On and off all kind of medication and some..." + (show)

Changes in foods eaten is critical to get rid of GERD. A PPI or similar meds treat the symptoms not the CAUSE of GERD. I’ve been there. Get tested for what’s causing your SYMPTOMS. It could be a bacterial infection, a fungal infection, a yeast infection, parasites. I had three of these causes. Changes in what I ate were necessary- I stopped eating anything with gluten, went off dairy products for a while, omitted sugars and high sugar products. I shoot for no more than 10% sugar in packaged or bottled products. Prebiotics and probiotics are helpful to build the intestinal wall that has been damaged. Consult with a nutritionist who can help you if it all sounds overwhelming.

jackielb | @jackielb | Apr 10 12:04am

In reply to @carolinlv "I was taking pantoprazole for over three years for Gerd and all the uncomfortable symptoms associated..." + (show)

@carolinlv

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Also Alkaline water helps. I buy mine from Costco. At least 32 ounces of it a day. Eat 6 small meals a day instead of 3 large. Chew food well and slow. There's Reflux Gourmet that u can buy. Avoid trigger foods. Sleep using a wedge pillow. Famotidine might work. Try it once a day in the am. And if that doesn't work add another dosage at bedtime.

blessedwildapplegirl | @blessedwildapplegirl | Apr 11 11:49am

In reply to @carolinlv "I was taking pantoprazole for over three years for Gerd and all the uncomfortable symptoms associated..." + (show)

@carolinlv

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I know it’s terrible to live with Gerd, but those proton pump inhibitors are truly deadly. They keep your body from absorbing B12, they reduce stomach acid so your stomach can’t fight harmful bacteria and they definitely erode bone mass. And also, it’s very common for someone to have what they call acid reflux rebound after they stop them. I don’t know what your problem is because I’m not a doctor, but I do know that as we age, we produce less stomach acid and I’ve heard of people completely eliminating their Gerd by either taking hydrochloric acid supplements. (read the directions very carefully – look online) or drinking a teaspoon to a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in water before they eat. Again, I’m not a doctor and I don’t know exactly what your issue is, but I do know from experience that those pills can be deadly. They don’t cure anything; they simply mask the symptoms. So I’m not surprised that your Gerd came back. Unfortunately, doctors aren’t great anymore at finding out the cause of the problem. I’ve been referred to a clinics that specializes in gastrointestinal issues by a person I know who had extremely good luck there with no other doctor could find out what was wrong with her, so, even though I’m nervous about traditional medicine, I’m going to go and see if they can figure anything out. Maybe you can get a referral from someone you know? Sounds like they’re not getting to the bottom of it. Again, I don’t know your situation, and I’m not trying to butt in, but Nexium and Prilosec killed my mom, and I think they should be taken off the market. I hate to hear of anyone taking them. Again, I know acid reflux is miserable, but it can sometimes go away. I began to blend all my food, and after a couple of months, my acid reflux actually did. I’m still suffering from terrible IBS, but at least it’s mostly staying down lower where it used to. I wish you good luck! It’s so miserable to have a stomachache. I’m always tired because I can’t eat enough. But I’m getting better slowly. Take care!