Why take PPI only 2 weeks?

Posted by seapen @seapen, Nov 8, 2023

My doctor says to take PPI indefinitely. The drug instructions say to only take it for 2 weeks. Why?

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I’m in my early 40’s. I was on PPIs for several years over a decade ago. At least one I used was Zegerid when it was only available via prescription. I started having brain fog, problems coming up with words, etc. Then one day they just stopped working. I’m on famotidine aka Zantac 20mg four times a day; it is an H2 blocker instead of a PPI. Less helpful occasionally, but I’d rather not risk my life over that. Particularly, dementia runs in my family.
Additionally, there are lots of medications that PPIs interact with. Check your prescriptions and supplements; ask a pharmacist.

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@rosemaryhow

I am a retired RN, and have had GI issues for many years. My Primary care doc. put me on PPI's many years ago when they first came out. He said "you might as well just stay on it", so I did. Like a lot of drugs, side affects were minimal, so docs felt it was safe. Then about 6-8 yrs ago they did a study and found that with long term use, there were some significant side effects, like kidney disease,liver disease,heart disease, Dementia--just to name a few. So now if a patient presents with GI issues, docs. are more cautious and try them for a limited time. If the patients life is miserable without them, they continue them to get some quality of life. When I read of the study I tried to quit. I was so ill I could not eat, and lost 20# in a short time. He said you better go back on them, and I did. But it worries me .I guess its like gambling-You hope you made the right decision. If you can go without, best to try!

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I heard gaviscon advanced is a good replacement for ppis. Recently I have been hearing more and more doctors taking their patients off them. They must have discovered that they are not good long term. I don’t have gi issues but I have silent reflux which has effected my post nasal drip and swallowing. I was on omeprazole for almost 2 months. It didn’t help at all and so I went off them. There’s a Dr Kaufman who wrote a book called Dropping Acid. He thinks the PPIs are poison and recommends a total diet change.

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Has anyone had a partial fundoplication? And how was the outcome?

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@rosemaryhow

I am a retired RN, and have had GI issues for many years. My Primary care doc. put me on PPI's many years ago when they first came out. He said "you might as well just stay on it", so I did. Like a lot of drugs, side affects were minimal, so docs felt it was safe. Then about 6-8 yrs ago they did a study and found that with long term use, there were some significant side effects, like kidney disease,liver disease,heart disease, Dementia--just to name a few. So now if a patient presents with GI issues, docs. are more cautious and try them for a limited time. If the patients life is miserable without them, they continue them to get some quality of life. When I read of the study I tried to quit. I was so ill I could not eat, and lost 20# in a short time. He said you better go back on them, and I did. But it worries me .I guess its like gambling-You hope you made the right decision. If you can go without, best to try!

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Yes I have gone through the same scenario, tried to get off, then tried just to cut back the dosage and neither worked. Severe GERD returned. Quality of life now is more important. Been on full dosage 2 years with no side effects so far. My Mom was on for ten years with no effects. Short of surgery, which has a high failure rate, and some are still on PPIs after surgery, all we can do is hope for the best.
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I was on PPI's for 20 years and when you try to get off them there is a rebound effect. It's worse than the actual GERD. It takes 6-8 weeks to finally get off them and need to wean off. That's why so many people go back on them!!

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@billgil

Yes I have gone through the same scenario, tried to get off, then tried just to cut back the dosage and neither worked. Severe GERD returned. Quality of life now is more important. Been on full dosage 2 years with no side effects so far. My Mom was on for ten years with no effects. Short of surgery, which has a high failure rate, and some are still on PPIs after surgery, all we can do is hope for the best.
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A good thing to have checked if on long term use of ppi is bone density. I have been on ppi’s for more than 25 years and had breakage in my foot that not heal. An xray showed osteoporosis.

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@denisehigby

A good thing to have checked if on long term use of ppi is bone density. I have been on ppi’s for more than 25 years and had breakage in my foot that not heal. An xray showed osteoporosis.

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Yes,, I am aware of the correlation with bone density issues.
Someone here had posted that suppliments of Calcium Carbonate do not help much with bone density issues, but Calcium Citrate does. If you do a Google search of "Calcium citrate vs. Calcium Carbonate", you will find statements like this,
["Calcium citrate is better absorbed by [an] older population who may have lower levels of stomach acid,"]

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PPI ‘s are only for short term use . These Dr’s don’t care and just put people on them for rest of their lives . It’s the worst thing you can do .
Google about it .
I won’t touch one anymore.

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@billgil

Yes I have gone through the same scenario, tried to get off, then tried just to cut back the dosage and neither worked. Severe GERD returned. Quality of life now is more important. Been on full dosage 2 years with no side effects so far. My Mom was on for ten years with no effects. Short of surgery, which has a high failure rate, and some are still on PPIs after surgery, all we can do is hope for the best.
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What is your dosage than you mention as "full dosage"? I have osteoporosis and have been on a PPI for two years, low dose of 20mg. I've tried to slowly wean off with no success. My gastro Dr said this dose would not affect my osteoporosis much, but I won't know until I get my next DEXA scan in a few months.

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@ripley

What is your dosage than you mention as "full dosage"? I have osteoporosis and have been on a PPI for two years, low dose of 20mg. I've tried to slowly wean off with no success. My gastro Dr said this dose would not affect my osteoporosis much, but I won't know until I get my next DEXA scan in a few months.

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40 mg . 20 mg stoped working, so it's 20mg 2x per day, Works fine now. Taking supplements is important. Calcium Citrate, Magnesium, B12, Zinc on occasion, since these are not absorbed very well if you are on PPIs.

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