Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

I agree that we all need to research all of our own medications (as well as other medical treatments) and be informed health care consumers. Sometimes it’s difficult though when the data is confusing, inconsistent or conflicting.

I have been on PPIs for ten years and it worries me when I heard of the warnings. I had BE starting in 2008 and was told because of that, I must continue taking omeprazole ( I now take pantoprazole). I was increased from 20 mg daily to 40mg daily and then to twice a day until about three months ago. Now I am on 40 mg once a day, approved by my doctor. I cleared up the BE this year. However, I never did have much symptoms and now do not experience problems and wondered if I could go off them entirely. I watched and changed my diet and wonder if that is enough. However, I heard that there was such a thing as silent GERD so I am still a bit confused. I do forget sometimes now because I seem to e doing OK. I will be checked again in March Anybody have the same history?

@jackiem95 Linda, I presume BE means Barrett's Esophagus. I have that also but I was under the impression that it cannot go away. How did you clear it up? I would love to be able to do that. Mine is fairly minor so if it can be cleared up I don't think it would be that difficult. The only symptom I had before being diagnosed was hoarseness. I do still get a little bit hoarse on some days so I guess that probably means that I do still have it. If I could clear it up and get off of omeprazole though I would even give up coffee.
JK

I have been wearing a 24-hour blood pressure monitor, just took it off. I suspect that my blood pressure is mildly elevated and that my PCP will want to put me on a blood pressure medication. I plan to research them before I see him this week so I know exactly what we are talking about.
I was on BP medications for a while about 15 years ago and one made me cough constantly, which it turned out is a very frequent problem with that medication. As soon as I told the PCP I had back then that I had a constant cough she knew it was from the medication and changed me to a different one. I know my current PCP has a record of that.
If anyone knows anything about problems with any BP medications I would love to hear about them. Thanks.
JK

If you have fructose malabsorption, PPI's can cause acid reflux. At least Prilosec can because it has sugar(s) in it. You can look up any drug in Daily Med to see a copy of the package insert including side effects and so-called "inactive" ingredients. I made a posting in the Fructose Malabsorption discussion group about going to a list of different names for sugars and then looking up drugs in Daily Med.

I have IBS and I guess fructose malabsorbtion is s component of that. But I had acid reflux long before the IBS showed up. The reflux has just began bothering me again—so now it’s juggling two dietary concerns and further limiting what I eat.

Just received results from Comprehensive Metabolic Profile (Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit) after 9 years of 20mg omep. Everything right down the middle. See Robini post above.

I am going to see a Dr McFarlin at Henry Ford Hospital in 8 days. This is first time I remember seeing anyone also that has a doctor at HFH. I use to see a PCP in Plymouth but then switched over to U of M when MAC was not diagnosed. I do have problems with digestion that might be related to fructose and acid reflux. I had surgery for so much including Achalasia. Have you ever heard of this?

My computer has been off and on while sending and receiving messages. It might look like I wasn't paying any attention to you.

Not familiar with Achalasia. My only issue has been moderate long-term esophagitis. The CMP profile above indicates that omeprazole is not necessarily harmful and is a good way to control GERD for most. It just needs to be carefully monitored.