I have taken omeprazole for a lengthy period of time. What problems have you had, if you had any? Did you experience really bad heartburn? What did you do for the heartburn? I am having a terrible time trying to wean away from this medication.
Thanks so much, AquariusAnne
Has anyone gone off the Omeprazole, what did you take for heartburn, having difficulty weaning off?
Question posted by AquariusAnneCA on 27 July 2012
Last updated on 7 February 2013
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3 Answers
Cobra2
7 Feb 2013
I have the same problem, GERD. Recently I had an X ray and my bones looked like sponge! Omeprazole should only be used in 14 day increments. The other 14 days off you should modify your diet. Don't over eat. Eat slow, chew well... be conscious. Don't eat late. No red meat no red sauce and try chewing gum to keep the saliva active. The one thing that has helped me the most is, believe it or not, red delicious apples. When you feel heartburn coming on eat a red delicious apple. I also drink a teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate and a little crystal light, mixed in water, at least once a day either 1 hour before or one hour after meals.and Good luck.
AquariusAnneCA
7 Feb 2013
Good Morning Friends!
I am now taking a prescription of Ratidine #150 in the morning an hour before I eat. If I eat the proper foods and do not eat after 7pm in the evening, I pretty much stay comfy regarding the heartburn. I drink water to neutralize the acidity in the stomach if I should awaken during the night with some heartburn. I no longer have a really bad time with it like I did when I first went off the omeprazole. Okay, the reason I went off it, as someone asked the question, is because I was having trouble breathing, went to the hospital and was found my lungs were like shattered glass! Treated with prednisone and some oxygen and as time went on, I thought perhaps it was the omeprazole (I had other horrible side affects like sinus infection all the time, urinary tract infections all the time, pain in my bones, the gout, you name it, I had it! all ended when I stopped the O...
) so I stopped the omeprazole, just had another CT Scan on my lungs, all clear so it was the medication causing all the problems. I wish I did not have to take the Ratidine (Zantac) but my body overproduces acid so this neutralizes the acid rather that what the PPI's do which is STOP THE BODY FROM PRODUCING ACIDS which is not good as we need some acids in our system. So for me, the PPI's no matter what the name is not good. Also, it interfered with my production of iron and caused me to become anemic, so I had too much at stake to continue the wonder drugs, PPI's.
Hope this answered some of the questions here. Right now I am doing so well and I wonder why I ever went on the PPI but I did have Hpylori so that is why I started, not from heartburn... also I have a hiatal hernia which is treacherous but being aware helps. I have had the colonscopy and endoscopy and the swallowing test and all was fine except for a polyp which was removed from the colon.
Thanks for all the wonderful support in this..I learned a lot just from the comments!
AquariusAnneCA
Inactive
27 July 2012
Anne,
First, is there a medical reason for stopping omeprazole?
It is in the class of meds called proton pump inhibitors, it decreases the amount of acid in your stomach and helps prevent GERD and other long term problems such as corrosive esophagitis.
If this particular med causes you problems, there are others available.
Talk to your doc about issues you may have.
Peace,
Laura
Inactive
27 July 2012
I agree. See a grastroenterologist & have your tumy & esophegus checked out too. It could be your tummy produces too much acid no matter what else you do. I eat a very bland diet, & it doesn't help at all. Still get it coming back up all sour & yukky. good luck girl. We don't want you to be one of the 12,000 deaths this year... Mary
Inactive
27 July 2012
I know you are scared because of the lung problem, but they can't all do that. It shouldn't even be coming back up after you start treatment. Mine doesn't ever bother unless I forget to take my omprazole. Please get it checked out. Don't want to lose you over something so simple, please?
endlessPred
27 July 2012
Please see my response above. Karen
Inactive
27 July 2012
Hi Anne, I know you read my update & I think it's so important you stay on this med or another one at least. My pain doc gave me a weaning process because Omprozole is bad for my bones causes femur breaks, but I just couldn't do it. She had me take it one day, then the next day use Maaalox about 3 to 4 times a day. Do this for a week. Then try to take one every other day & use the maalox the two days between. But I was using so much maalox & still had regurgitation of acid I just couldn't stand it. My gastro doc told me my stomach just makes too much acid is my problem. It was full of acid after doing a scope. I went back on my omprozole after about the fourth day fo trying to get off. I told the pain doc, & she said well, it works for some. Good luck... Mary
Inactive
27 July 2012
Anne, I would check ou the one that Karen reccommended.(endlesspred) can't remember the name of it. Began with an r... Mary
endlessPred
27 July 2012
It is ranitidine. We do aspirate misted stomach acid to lungs. Very bad for someone like me with interstitial disease. Actually worsens the condition. My doc said omeprazole is not strong enough.
endlessPred
27 July 2012
Oh, yeah, forgot to say it was the Pulmonologist who prescribed. My GI guy thought omeprazole would be fine. Just so you know.
Inactive
27 July 2012
OMG! Doesn't that just figure!
Related topics
duodenal ulcer, erosive esophagitis, barrett's esophagus, omeprazole, sodium bicarbonate, gerd, omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate/magnesium hydroxide
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