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 poppy1946 @poppy1946

I have taken omeprazole for over 10 years, first prescribed after an endoscopy. I have never had typical GERD symptoms but I have had trouble swallowing, excess mucus and chronic cough. I think now it's called LPR. Reflux, just at the throat level. I als have Barretts although doc says it's not always discernable. I want to stop omeprazole as my kidney function is decreasing and I have osteopenia (I am 77). I am very afraid of losing kidney function and/or of breaking bones. My GI has told me that changes in diet won't do anything and I have to stay on omeprazole. I saw a suggestion here about seeing a nutritionist and that will be my next step. I stopped omeprazole on my own 3 days ago and very little in the way of symptoms, but I am nervous about it.

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I'm surprised you got off omeprazole without doing it gradually.
If you feel some of the LPR symptoms, then you need to treat but I can suggest trying something other than omeprazole:
famotidine (an H2 blocker instead of a PPI),
or Gaviscon Advance (the one with alginate - it creates a barrier that blocks the acid from moving from your stomach to your esophagus. you can take before bedtime, or if needed also after meals), or Tums or pepto bismol.
Also, don't eat too big meals (don't drink after your meal), move around after you eat or when you feel fullness (so the food pulls your stomach down out of your esophagus), I find that taking probiotics helps, and small amounts of pomegranate juice. And don't eat 3 hours before bedtime. You can sleep on a wedge and/or raise the head of your bed. If you continue to have Barretts esophagus and can't manage with other ideas, then you might need to go back on omeprazole so as to avoid esophageal cancer. Good luck

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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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May I suggest acupuncture. I was on Oneprazole for about a year and the side effects of that drug were awful. Acupuncture helped me and also digestive enzymes.

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Profile picture for poppy1946 @poppy1946

I have taken omeprazole for over 10 years, first prescribed after an endoscopy. I have never had typical GERD symptoms but I have had trouble swallowing, excess mucus and chronic cough. I think now it's called LPR. Reflux, just at the throat level. I als have Barretts although doc says it's not always discernable. I want to stop omeprazole as my kidney function is decreasing and I have osteopenia (I am 77). I am very afraid of losing kidney function and/or of breaking bones. My GI has told me that changes in diet won't do anything and I have to stay on omeprazole. I saw a suggestion here about seeing a nutritionist and that will be my next step. I stopped omeprazole on my own 3 days ago and very little in the way of symptoms, but I am nervous about it.

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I have been on omeprazole for about 10 years. In February I was taken off of it immediately because I was diagnosed as stage 3 kidney disease. I was given another medication and it doesn’t really work too well. I too have Barrett’s Esophagus. I didn’t know much about kidney disease prior to this, but it a horrible disease and involves much pain and suffering! Do all you can to avoid it!

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Profile picture for t98 @t98

I'm surprised you got off omeprazole without doing it gradually.
If you feel some of the LPR symptoms, then you need to treat but I can suggest trying something other than omeprazole:
famotidine (an H2 blocker instead of a PPI),
or Gaviscon Advance (the one with alginate - it creates a barrier that blocks the acid from moving from your stomach to your esophagus. you can take before bedtime, or if needed also after meals), or Tums or pepto bismol.
Also, don't eat too big meals (don't drink after your meal), move around after you eat or when you feel fullness (so the food pulls your stomach down out of your esophagus), I find that taking probiotics helps, and small amounts of pomegranate juice. And don't eat 3 hours before bedtime. You can sleep on a wedge and/or raise the head of your bed. If you continue to have Barretts esophagus and can't manage with other ideas, then you might need to go back on omeprazole so as to avoid esophageal cancer. Good luck

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Wow! Phase off? Why?
I had no problem at all because an E.R. doctor explained that those damnable pills (which SHOULD BE TAKEN OFF THE MARKET) were why I was vomiting more up than I keep down--and that due to the precise direction of an INCOMPETENT gastroenterologist. But in my view, aren't they all.
OLDER PEOPLE (as in anyone over 40) likely doesn't have too much stomach acid, but too little.
How did I stop vomiting everything up? I learned to take a hydrochloric acid pill with every meal. END OF VOMITING. END OF "HEARTBURN!"

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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 some research to do on Omeprazole! I've been taking it for years with none of my doctor's telling me to go off it... Until a new PCP told me that I should not be taking it everyday for this long. I haven't been able to tackle researching an alternative yet, but I am definitely encouraged to do so soon from all of your informative posts.

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Profile picture for vkzimmer50 @vkzimmer50

I have some research to do on Omeprazole! I've been taking it for years with none of my doctor's telling me to go off it... Until a new PCP told me that I should not be taking it everyday for this long. I haven't been able to tackle researching an alternative yet, but I am definitely encouraged to do so soon from all of your informative posts.

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Please let me know what your research shows. I'm 77 yo and have been on omeprazole 20mg for over 25yrs. My renal labs are checked every year and are within normal limits. Without it, I suffer. Thx

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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 been off omeprazole for about 7 months now. I was taking 40 mg twice per day. I had been on it, on and off, for almost 20 years.
I wanted to stop because it wasn’t really helping me. It did for awhile, but it stopped working, and I just couldn’t see the point in filling my body with medication that was doing nothing.
It was hard going for quite awhile…I stopped all at once…but no harder than with it.
I found out about a book, The Gastritis Healing Book by LG Capellan, and I’ve been following the lifestyle changes and recipes in it, and it really is helping me. I would recommend it to anyone suffering with this problem.
I used to have crippling attacks of stomach pain and reflux almost all day, almost every day, and now I have bouts of pain only once in awhile. It has changed my life in a relatively short amount of time ( about 2 months now ).
Please try it! I feel like I’ve finally got my life back!

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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 been on Protonix for many years. I want to phase off of that. When I asked my gastroenterologist to take me off of it, he lowered it from 40mg to 20mg. That was a year ago.
I plan to phase myself off of that
I too discovered Gaviscon Advanced which works great- I will use that.
I have seen my gastroenterologist for 20 years and always had great faith in him. Not so much now. He’s semi-retired, seems disinterested in my condition, and I believe writes my gastro issues off as being due to anxiety.

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Profile picture for debraj63 @debraj63

I have been off omeprazole for about 7 months now. I was taking 40 mg twice per day. I had been on it, on and off, for almost 20 years.
I wanted to stop because it wasn’t really helping me. It did for awhile, but it stopped working, and I just couldn’t see the point in filling my body with medication that was doing nothing.
It was hard going for quite awhile…I stopped all at once…but no harder than with it.
I found out about a book, The Gastritis Healing Book by LG Capellan, and I’ve been following the lifestyle changes and recipes in it, and it really is helping me. I would recommend it to anyone suffering with this problem.
I used to have crippling attacks of stomach pain and reflux almost all day, almost every day, and now I have bouts of pain only once in awhile. It has changed my life in a relatively short amount of time ( about 2 months now ).
Please try it! I feel like I’ve finally got my life back!

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I purchased his book and yes it is I formative and can help. I recently stopped following it for a few reasons. The food you are able to take although good for gastritis are very limited. I think you don't get the proper nutrients. I joined the fb for this book. It did help alot of people but alot also were malnutrition when they went to doctor or ER. He wrote a very good book but he's not a doctor so what might have been good for him for the most part might not be good for someone older or perhaps female. I'm basically now just trying to eat what's healthy and trying not to lose anymore weight which gastritis causes. Have your last weight? I wish you the best with this diet or whatever you decide to do.

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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 was able to get off Omeprazole after taking it for more than 15 years. I alternated taking it one day and not the next for two weeks. I am 78,

I had GERD and a large hiatal hernia for many years. I had the hernia repaired four years ago and had a Toupet fundoplication. No more reflux! My gastroenterologist, however, kept me on Omeprazole because I was taking baby aspirin per my cardiologist. Last month, after discussions with my GP, I stopped taking baby aspirin and started taking a supplement called Pycnogenol 100 mg. Some studies say it is better than 81 mg aspirin for reducing platelet aggregation but without the bleeding risk to the stomach or brain.

It has been one month without Omeprazole or baby aspirin. So far so good.

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