Confused

[Urmgirl]

Does anyone else take omeprazole and apix aban??

I just feel I'm taking that many tablets it's getting me down and probably worrying isn't helping me.

[jonjub]

Hi Urmgirl.

I take Pantoprazole (same as Omeprazole) and Rivaroxaban (similar to Apixaban) i also take a few other tablets. I too would prefer not to have to take these medications and have tried to reduce what i do take but i have been prescribed them because they are necessary to supress, manage and help in controlling the health conditions i have. To me it’s not a choice. The alternative would be to endure discomfort and deteriorating health and lifestyle. I have to accept that these medications are now a part of my life. Like all of the members of this forum who are daily taking drugs, i am certain we would rather not.

Perhaps try to adapt your mindset and see the benifits rather than the negatives.

[Hms1946]

Like jonjub I too take a number of meds daily including Apixaban and Lanzaprazole and have been doing so for a year. Like you I freaked out at first and became really depressed but then put my positive head back on and realised I was taking them for a jolly good reason-to keep myself well and safe. It took a while for my brain to realise this (!) but it's true! After a while it just becomes part of your daily routine and you won't even think about it. Good Luck.

[Urmgirl in reply to Hms1946]

Ah thank you!!! You sometimes think do these doctors know what they are giving you!!

[jeanjeannie50]

The question is, why are you taking omeprazole? Is it because your Apixaban is causing digestive disturbances or where you taking them before you started the Apixaban? If Apixaban is the cause then I would suggest you try another anticoagulant.

If you had the digestive problems before then I would want to know what had caused it then. I used to have an awful acidic stomach and was tested and found to have the H-Pylori bacteria. Tablets, which included two types of antibiotics taken at the same time from doctors didn't cure it and it was my sister in the USA who sent me capsules with a mixture of garlic oil and oregano to take that did cure it. This was before I had AF.

Years later I had problems with stomach acid again, which when tested wasn't H-Pylori. I had to raise the head of my bed which helped a lot, my sister in the USA suggested I try a course of Mastic Gum tablets (expensive). I did and was once again cured. Again this was before I had AF.

When the soreness in my stomach reared it's head again a few years ago someone on this forum asked if I ate yogurt, when I said I did they advised me to stop taking it, I did and have been fine ever since.

By the way when I started taking warfarin at night, once again my stomach became sore. I changed to taking it in the morning mid breakfast and that was it, no problems since.

I think some of us just have sensitive stomachs and many things will upset them.

By the way are you saying you just take two types of tablets?

I'm not medically trained and the stomach acid remedies I took were before I was being prescribed any AF tablets. So it would be very important to check on the compatibility with medication before starting any herbal products.

[Gertsen in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I am really interested in hearing about yoghurt. I have stomach problems and am on a couple,of pill for it. I have had an endoscopy twice and no bacteria. But I thought yoghurt was good and have been having it every morning with fruit, and lately many stomach has been very troublesome and bloated. I also have PAF.

[Polski in reply to Gertsen]

You can buy tablets containing probiotic bacteria from a health food shop, including some that do not contain any milk products. One a day would give you the benefit of the probiotic without either milk or yogurt, and may be fine.

[Urmgirl in reply to jeanjeannie50]

I was put on apixaban for a new onset of af. My doctor thought it would be better if I also took omeprazole . Didn't have any digestive problem.

You get so many conflicting advice from the medical profession it really does confuse you

[cuore in reply to Urmgirl]

You do not say whether your doctor is a GP or an EP, and"new onset of AF" is confusing unless you've had an ablation and the AF has come back, meaning some drugs are prescribed for a limited time post ablation.

Let me address only the omeprazole. I took esomeprazole ( a similar drug), as per my EP, for only two months post ablation. During that time, I became anaemic, but my numbers went up after I stopped taking it.

I did google it as to what it was supposed to do.

Perhaps you might want to ask your doctor why it is better to take also omeprazole with the anti-coagulant Apixaban (which I am also on).

[caos52 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

your sister sounds amazing!

[Izzle]

Hi urmgirl. None of us like to take meds but accept it's the safe thing to do. My sister-in-law recently had a life changing stroke so you need to avoid that at all costs.

I take omeprazole, warfarin, metoprolol (beta-blocker), simvastatin and more recently a magnesium supplement. They each have a good purpose for my well being so I just get on with it as the potential downside of not taking any of them would be unacceptable.

Note: I've had paroxysmal AF for over 20 years and in that time have had a few changes of medications always for my benefit as my condition developed.

Good luck and think of the positive aspects of pill taking.

Alan

[Urmgirl in reply to Izzle]

Ah thank you for that!!!!

[irene75359]

I totally understand, less than two years ago I went from taking nothing apart from supplements to three lots of medication a day. I went through a mourning period of the loss of the old me, and then got over it. Because although I take this medication, I am still healthy, still enjoy life, still do all the things (just about!) that I did before. It is easy to say don't worry, but you are right, worrying will make you feel worse! Find out about your medication, whether you need regular checks, be aware of side effects, are there better alternatives? (I mean medication here!)

Then try and view this as a bad patch that you are going through and that your acceptance of your new life with your medication is just round the corner. Wish you well.

[Urmgirl in reply to irene75359]

Thank you. It's re-assuring to know it's just not ME!!!!

[RichMert]

I took Omeprazole following second ablation but was eventually taken off of the drug because of the other risks it poses. I cannot remember what those risks were but may be worth you doing some digging via this site and Google to find out. I know that it did not help with the digestion problem, may have been prone to causing IBS if I remember right.

[Buffafly in reply to RichMert]

Omeprazole and similar can allow bad bacteria to flourish in the digestive system. I was given Lansaprazole after my ablation because I suffer from reflux but when I developed diarrhoea I was told to go back to Ranitidine, unfortunately it turned out to be a flare up of diverticulitis. I believe it is not recommended for long-term use but it would be something to discuss with your doctor. Balancing the benefits against the harm of drugs seems to be a minefield!

[kiki1952]

I am taking omeprazole and rivaroxaban and another 5 or 6 and I feel the same. But I just have to take them, I don't like being on rivaroxaban but I had a TIA stroke in Feb and I have got no choice.

[Urmgirl in reply to kiki1952]

Thank you!!!

[jennydog]

I was given omeprazole when I was changed from warfarin to Pradaxa. My stomach didn't feel right at all. I posted on here and CDreamer responded that Pradaxa needed an acid stomach. So I ditched the antacid and have had no further difficulty.

[Mike11]

I have to take over a dozen tablets a day at different times which I agree is sometimes depressing so I try to compartmentalise that as with other household chores and then get on with the rest of my life.

[TroublewithAF]

If its acid reflux, heart burn or stomach pain try eating a piece of crystallized ginger instead of Omeprazole. Short course of one month of Omepazole did help me, but GP said definitely not for long term. Also for general settling down of the digestion try slippery elm powder (tablets or powder not capsules) nice in yogurt or cooked into porridge, or turmeric pwder one teaspoonful per 200ml of yogurt. Didn't find kefir did much for me other than increase throat mucus with the extra milk intake