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 drsletmedown @drsletmedown

I'm NOT doing it NOW but before I did & my reg Gastro said same thing I DID do awhile back & it seemed to help other than sometimes went the other way & got stopped up. Take an Imodium every other day. I just took a half of one once a day. For nausea I use Emetrol it's cheap at Wally World & usually works in about 15 mins.

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Emetrol doesn’t work for me . It’s just really sugar water if you read ingredients. I do take immodium if Diarrhea gets too much .
I tried RX of Verbazi but broke out in huge back rash and nausea within 10 days . It’s for IBS-D
Had to go off .
I just take Ultra Pepto daily 10 years now . Doesn’t help much anymore.
I can barely eat with all my symptoms now .
I’m getting worse each year.
Tried everything, did everything test . They know I have 8 diagnoses but can’t help me .
Thanks for response .

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Profile picture for pb50 @pb50

@drsletmedown
Remember the OTC PPIs that are only recommended for 14 days started out as Hospital IV only. The research studies were obviously double blind - pointed out probably just to emphasize it was credible research. Or perhaps the research to the market was not double blind and she is saying it deserves to be discounted and dismissed. . In any event it was modified to pill form and put on the market initially as prescription only in the 80’s.
As one who stayed on Prilosec or Nexium for FOURTEEN YEARS and am paying the price now with microscopic colitis. And my colon didn't show damage either. Until I got symptoms and biopsies of the colon proved to be collagenous colitis.
Ive weaned off Both Ibuprofen and PPIs since both are
medication triggers for
Microscopic colitis - a horrendous condition. I was successfully treated with a colin-specific steroid but it still flares from time to time. I take pepcid for reflux.

So I’m a traveling preacher now, screaming to get off drugs that have a shelf Life of 14 days. 🙂

I hope thats useful.

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Can you share the steroid they used to treat your colitis? I’m desperate for help !

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Profile picture for ripley @ripley

I've trying to slowly wean off pantoprazole. I've take it for 2.5 years, one year at 40mg then 20mg after that. Every few days, I substitute Pepcid 20mg twice a day instead. I've tried this before and wasn't successful. But like you, I have osteoporosis so really want to get off it. How did you transition and do you take only Pepcid now?

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Hi. I saw your comment @ripley, and understand exactly what you're trying to do. I have moved from 80 mg to 60 mg (very short term) to 40 to 20 to 10mg, using 10 and 20 every other day. Did that for a couple years, and finally was on 10 mg/daily for the last year when my PCP said why not just try Pepcid 20 twice a day, like you did. So far, so good. I'm not sure what you mean by not being successful, but i'm guessing we all have different diagnoses here and it is hard for one person to recommend to another what to do without being a doctor, and without knowing if we have the same symptoms. If your doctor says it's ok to try again, have you considered 40mg in morning and 20mg at night? Or even 40mg twice a day? It sounds like a lot but at least you'd be off pantroprazole and wouldn't have the osteoporosis concern.

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Profile picture for rozy288 @rozy288

Can you share the steroid they used to treat your colitis? I’m desperate for help !

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Budesonide. It is specifically targeted at microscopic colitis - both lymphocytic and collagenous types.

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Profile picture for rozy288 @rozy288

Emetrol doesn’t work for me . It’s just really sugar water if you read ingredients. I do take immodium if Diarrhea gets too much .
I tried RX of Verbazi but broke out in huge back rash and nausea within 10 days . It’s for IBS-D
Had to go off .
I just take Ultra Pepto daily 10 years now . Doesn’t help much anymore.
I can barely eat with all my symptoms now .
I’m getting worse each year.
Tried everything, did everything test . They know I have 8 diagnoses but can’t help me .
Thanks for response .

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The only other thing & I don't know IF it really helps ? Or just a pacifier mental thing ?Sometimes I'll take a half a 0.5mg Zanax & things seem better ? Again I don't like or want that either. I guess I was gullible & thought Dr's actually could fix things & the ER was this magic place. I didn't realize it really wasn't that human & mostly a business. Thankful to be on top of the grass not under it. Unless you are living it others just can't understand what it does to not only you but your loved ones.

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Profile picture for drsletmedown @drsletmedown

Short version of a long story. I'm male 71. My Gerd/Reflux started 30 years ago & I was given Prilosec 20mg daily & it worked. I've had EVERY issue I am NOW reading about as side effects & that it was only intended for 14 days ? I've been to Gastros & had colonoscopies & indoscopies as recent as June 2023 & numerous negative stool cultures & ASK for HELP from NUMEROUS Drs over the years to NO avail. I've been hospitalized several times with my diarrhea & low magnesium & NOW to ME it ALL is starting to make SENSE. My biggest concern is I'm muscle wasting & have had testing done & told NO muscle disease. ALL sorts of labs & blood work. CT & MRIs. I'm really getting a lot of loose skin ALL over. I'm weak 40 lbs feel like lifting 100lbs. Aches & pains pretty much everywhere. Hips & knees & shoulders. Have xrayed everything & all I get is you have Osteoarthritis. Offer up MORE pills. I feel like NO one will address it I think since they have continued prescibing it so long & NOW there is so much BAD about it that they are AFRAID to say anything ? My kidney labs are always out of range, borderline anemic & other labs are out of range & when you READ about what they CAN mean a lot lead back to cancer. It's SCARY to THINK this may be related to talking this medication but when I question several years of labs out of range I'm told its OK & expected for my AGE ? Spinal surgeon & Rheumatologist both said Spinal Stenosis in his opinion was causing it & surgery could supposedly stop or slow it but a 6 hr surgery & 3 month recovery sounds scary. ANYONE going through anything like this ? Occular migraines are more & more frequent too does any of THIS sound FAMILIAR to anyone on Omeprazole 20mg. long term? It works but if the drug ruins your quality of life why take it. I tried once to get OFF this & the rebound was awful. I've rotated every other day with Famotidine 20 mg but it falls shot by mid day the next day. Thinking about trying morning & night ? Drs really NO help. I see a lot of lawyers taking cases ? I just want my life BACK & a REAL fix.

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Profile picture for drsletmedown @drsletmedown

Short version of a long story. I'm male 71. My Gerd/Reflux started 30 years ago & I was given Prilosec 20mg daily & it worked. I've had EVERY issue I am NOW reading about as side effects & that it was only intended for 14 days ? I've been to Gastros & had colonoscopies & indoscopies as recent as June 2023 & numerous negative stool cultures & ASK for HELP from NUMEROUS Drs over the years to NO avail. I've been hospitalized several times with my diarrhea & low magnesium & NOW to ME it ALL is starting to make SENSE. My biggest concern is I'm muscle wasting & have had testing done & told NO muscle disease. ALL sorts of labs & blood work. CT & MRIs. I'm really getting a lot of loose skin ALL over. I'm weak 40 lbs feel like lifting 100lbs. Aches & pains pretty much everywhere. Hips & knees & shoulders. Have xrayed everything & all I get is you have Osteoarthritis. Offer up MORE pills. I feel like NO one will address it I think since they have continued prescibing it so long & NOW there is so much BAD about it that they are AFRAID to say anything ? My kidney labs are always out of range, borderline anemic & other labs are out of range & when you READ about what they CAN mean a lot lead back to cancer. It's SCARY to THINK this may be related to talking this medication but when I question several years of labs out of range I'm told its OK & expected for my AGE ? Spinal surgeon & Rheumatologist both said Spinal Stenosis in his opinion was causing it & surgery could supposedly stop or slow it but a 6 hr surgery & 3 month recovery sounds scary. ANYONE going through anything like this ? Occular migraines are more & more frequent too does any of THIS sound FAMILIAR to anyone on Omeprazole 20mg. long term? It works but if the drug ruins your quality of life why take it. I tried once to get OFF this & the rebound was awful. I've rotated every other day with Famotidine 20 mg but it falls shot by mid day the next day. Thinking about trying morning & night ? Drs really NO help. I see a lot of lawyers taking cases ? I just want my life BACK & a REAL fix.

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Gonna get this test. ANYONE had this ?
https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/abdominct

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Profile picture for drsletmedown @drsletmedown

Short version of a long story. I'm male 71. My Gerd/Reflux started 30 years ago & I was given Prilosec 20mg daily & it worked. I've had EVERY issue I am NOW reading about as side effects & that it was only intended for 14 days ? I've been to Gastros & had colonoscopies & indoscopies as recent as June 2023 & numerous negative stool cultures & ASK for HELP from NUMEROUS Drs over the years to NO avail. I've been hospitalized several times with my diarrhea & low magnesium & NOW to ME it ALL is starting to make SENSE. My biggest concern is I'm muscle wasting & have had testing done & told NO muscle disease. ALL sorts of labs & blood work. CT & MRIs. I'm really getting a lot of loose skin ALL over. I'm weak 40 lbs feel like lifting 100lbs. Aches & pains pretty much everywhere. Hips & knees & shoulders. Have xrayed everything & all I get is you have Osteoarthritis. Offer up MORE pills. I feel like NO one will address it I think since they have continued prescibing it so long & NOW there is so much BAD about it that they are AFRAID to say anything ? My kidney labs are always out of range, borderline anemic & other labs are out of range & when you READ about what they CAN mean a lot lead back to cancer. It's SCARY to THINK this may be related to talking this medication but when I question several years of labs out of range I'm told its OK & expected for my AGE ? Spinal surgeon & Rheumatologist both said Spinal Stenosis in his opinion was causing it & surgery could supposedly stop or slow it but a 6 hr surgery & 3 month recovery sounds scary. ANYONE going through anything like this ? Occular migraines are more & more frequent too does any of THIS sound FAMILIAR to anyone on Omeprazole 20mg. long term? It works but if the drug ruins your quality of life why take it. I tried once to get OFF this & the rebound was awful. I've rotated every other day with Famotidine 20 mg but it falls shot by mid day the next day. Thinking about trying morning & night ? Drs really NO help. I see a lot of lawyers taking cases ? I just want my life BACK & a REAL fix.

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Oh my gosh. I so understand you and found myself nodding in sync with your comments. I live in the Seattle area and have been through thr circuit of G.I. docs, all of whom do not wish to listen and solve my puzzle. It is medicine 2024 and I hate it. It's also medicine post-COVID. I have a dining room table with a large Amazon box on top. Inside the box are 50 or so past Rx's and various other OTC meds. I have an "open house" and invite my friends to take anything. Of course the early birds caught the "best" worms: the opiod based meds, none of which I can tolerate and won't due to my constipation.
I do believe, unfortunately, you are suffering from some degree of Rx overload. It makes sense to me. Have you tried getting into the Mayo Clinic. I personally am waiting to hear from them. Nobody can solve my issue and have severe constipation and bloat. I am 67 and for 65.5 years have been extremely healthy. It sucks!

Best to you.

Beth

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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 taken omeprazole on and off for over 20 years. I was treated for helicobacter pylori infection and prescribed omeprazole from then on.
As time has gone on, my GERD symptoms have become progressively worse. Right now, I am in pain almost constantly. I don’t really feel acid coming up in my throat much, but the chest pains and pain in my side are almost unbearable. It affects my life tremendously.
My doctor basically seems to think it’s largely in my head, and he does nothing but prescribe increasing amounts of omeprazole. My current dosage is 40 mg 2x per day. And it does absolutely nothing.
I had been reading about acv and reflux, so I figured why not. I stopped the omeprazole and started 1 tbsp acv in water before each meal. Miraculously, it seemed to work! For a whole week I had the best week in 20 years…then the pain started to return.
I am thinking of dropping the acv…I’ve been on it for 2 weeks now, and also staying off the omeprazole…because it was also not helping. I am at a loss as to what to do though, since I’m in so much pain I don’t even feel like living anymore.
If anyone has suggestions, I’m listening.

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Profile picture for debraj63 @debraj63

I have taken omeprazole on and off for over 20 years. I was treated for helicobacter pylori infection and prescribed omeprazole from then on.
As time has gone on, my GERD symptoms have become progressively worse. Right now, I am in pain almost constantly. I don’t really feel acid coming up in my throat much, but the chest pains and pain in my side are almost unbearable. It affects my life tremendously.
My doctor basically seems to think it’s largely in my head, and he does nothing but prescribe increasing amounts of omeprazole. My current dosage is 40 mg 2x per day. And it does absolutely nothing.
I had been reading about acv and reflux, so I figured why not. I stopped the omeprazole and started 1 tbsp acv in water before each meal. Miraculously, it seemed to work! For a whole week I had the best week in 20 years…then the pain started to return.
I am thinking of dropping the acv…I’ve been on it for 2 weeks now, and also staying off the omeprazole…because it was also not helping. I am at a loss as to what to do though, since I’m in so much pain I don’t even feel like living anymore.
If anyone has suggestions, I’m listening.

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I found a study that shows amla (indian gooseberry) powder is as good as famotidine in handling reflux so I tried this natural solution and haven't taken medication since and its been years.

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