Omeprazole, stomach problems.

[Gwersey]

Is taking omeprazole long-term bad for stomach? Does anyone on this site take it every day? Lately I've been waking in the night with rumbling gurgling stomach, from centre of chest to bottom of stomach. Tried stopping it for a few days but the stomach problen continued.

[Hilly22]

Hi Gwersey

I've been on lansoprazole (similar thing) daily for over ten years. I'm not happy about taking it long term but get pain if I don't. Only problem I have is that it seems to cause slow digestion which results in pain and bloating if I over-indulge. I'm now on a low carb diet and having a smaller evening meal which has helped a lot. It's helped with the AF too! I occasionally get a gurgling tummy but that happened even before I started taking it. Hope your tummy feels better soon.

[Gwersey in reply to Hilly22]

Thank you Hilly22.

[BobD Volunteer]

The trouble with all PPIs is that the stomach needs an acid environment before the lower sphincter opens and allows the content to go down into the gut. Long term usage I am told can actually exacerbate reflux as food is held longer than necessary and can cause bloating etc.

Like lots of drugs I always think they should be short term use only .

[Gwersey in reply to BobD]

Thank you BobD

[EngMac]

To supplement Bob's comment, look up Dr. Sarah Myhill and GERD. She elaborates on what Bob has said.

[Gwersey in reply to EngMac]

Will do that thanks EngMac

[philologus]

Long-term they can also cause problems with iron absorbtion.

I've been on Omeprazole for about fifteen years and my new Dr rang me to ask whether I knew that I was anaemic.

This was because I'd had a blood test for something else and he looked back at my records and said that I'd been anaemic for a long time and wondered if anything had been done about it. (My previous Dr was rubbish and caused me more problems than he cured.)

I did some research and found the link with Omeprazole and stopped taking it. My anaemia has improved slightly on each of the last two blood tests I've had so I will not use Omeprazole now unless I really need it.

I take Chlorella tablets twice a day now and these keep my reflux at bay.

[Gwersey in reply to philologus]

Hi thank you for that. Can I ask, are you taking heart medication?

[philologus]

Yes, I take ramapril and nebivolol for heart failure problems but I'm hoping to reduce the dose soon as my ticker gets better.

[Gwersey in reply to philologus]

I wish you all the best philologus

[cjgroe]

I have taken Nexium for the past 11 years after an endoscopy showed I had 8 ulcers at the age of 39. I have been diagnosed with a weird condition (I forget the exact name), where my stomach makes too much acid, and my Dr. says I will probably be on them for life. Am I happy about it, no, but I have not had a single stomach issue since. Chalk one up for the meds I guess.....