Omeprazole

[Mabal]

Good evening

Please excuse my ignorance. Silly question

I have read on this forum about taking Omeprazole long term- not a good idea.

Can I please ask why this is ?

Thankyou

[BobD Volunteer]

Many of us found that it became almost impossible to get off these PPIs . I did some research a few years ago and found the following.

The lower sphincter in the stomach needs an acid environment before it will open and allow the contents down into the gut. Take away that acid and food remains far too long there and often backs up. The very thing it is supposed to be helping. Short term this doesn't happen but for me a month was as long as I wanted to be on them and have declined to take them every since.

[Mabal in reply to BobD]

Thankyou BobD I’ve been on Omeprazole for quite a while due to acid reflux. Dr as never told me to stop them

Wonder whether I should try stopping for a while and see how it is.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Mabal]

Sad to say you are probably stuck now. Rebound reflux is very common after long periods on these drugs. I guess it keeps a captive market for the manufacturer.

[Izzle in reply to Mabal]

I was on Omeprozole for probably 2 decades. My heart specialist suggested changing to Lansoprozole (a more modern drug) of the equivalent dose. Didn't notice any changes. In discussion with my GP we decided to halve the dose, no point in taking meds if they're not required. Still all good. Waited many months and decided to try none at all. A few days later I started to feel reflex, only slightly, so went straight back on my half dose and stayed on that long term.

[Sueleen13 in reply to BobD]

Does PAF cause stomach issues as I too have been prescribed Lansoprazole due to ongoing gastric issues. I had an abalation 6 years ago but the stomach issues started about a year ago

[BobD Volunteer in reply to Sueleen13]

No. I have made my views clear and why. Your choice.

[Mabal in reply to Sueleen13]

Hi Sueleen I was prescribed Omeprazole before I had AF

[Sueleen13 in reply to Mabal]

What were your symptoms?

[Karendeena in reply to BobD]

Fully agree Bob I have had so many problems I am now under a gastroentorologist! I took them from May to September and wish I had known more l but trusted my GP. Now I have a long term problem

[JOY2THEWORLD49 in reply to BobD]

Hi. Take water and squeeze of lemon in the a.m first thing.

JOY

[AussieHeart]

This is the aFIB forum but I have strong views on PPIs backed up by research showing change to diet best approach as long-term use of PPI medications have noted potential adverse effects, including risk of fractures, pneumonia, Clostridium difficile diarrhea, hypomagnesemia, vitamin B12 deficiency, chronic kidney disease, and dementia. My brother took them for 20 years and now has rare pre-cancerous condition also linked to long term use!

Get off PPIs safely

[Mabal in reply to AussieHeart]

Thankyou that’s very interesting

[AussieHeart in reply to Mabal]

Hi He was advised to follow the same tapering off procedure for the H2 blockers but at a faster rate. In week 13 he took a H2 on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and nothing on the days in between. Then in week 14 it was Sunday, missed 2 days taking the H2 again on Wednesday and then Saturday. In Week 15, it was every 3 days eg: H3 on Wednesday etc until he was taking the H2 once a week. He stayed on it once a week as a comfort thing but after a month he swapped out the H2 for chewable Mylanta tablets on a flare. This procedure coincided with a healthy diet under a dietician (avoid BIG greasy/fatty/spicy meals and stay off caffeine and alcohol) and his reflux episodes were minimal/ tolerable and treated with Mylanta. Of course he needs to be on this lifestyle diet forever. His hiatus hernia causes an occasional reflux flare when he cheats and eats big meals and I suspect his fave spicy meal which causes bloating.

[Karendeena in reply to AussieHeart]

AussieHeart I have effects that a gastroentorologist is trying to sort and I was only on them 5 months, I now have bowel problems

[AussieHeart in reply to Karendeena]

I myself have been forced to take them. I had erosive gastritis undx for a year so it was quite nasty but I stood up to the gastroenterologist about PPIs and he agreed for me to take low dose for only 8 weeks to see if it healed the ulceration. It did! I then went off them safely. There’s plenty of literature out now that like opioids, PPIs are overprescribed and often unmonitored over the long-term. In Australia GPs are now recommended to help patients change diet first! racgp.org.au/afp/2015/octob... and this needs to be taken seriously www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/cl...

[KMRobbo]

Post ablation I was put on Lansoprazole another PPI. It was temporary I think owing to taking PRADAXA A/C (dabigatran) which is known to cause acid reflux in some.I was fine post ablation but was tired and it got worse and went on for several weeks. I was only taking it for approx 2 months . My GP sent me for a blood test for all sorts of things , and I had low B12.

I researched my drugs and discovered Lansoprazole reduced stomache absorption of B12, and 80% of B12 is absorbed through the stomache. ( i think all PPIs do this- Prazoles) .

As I was not actually having reflux and did not have it during the 25 days pre ablation when I did not have lansoprazole, so I just stopped taking it. A few weeks later I was much less tired. Another blood test 3 months later showed normal levels.

I had taken omeprazole previously for another issue , but only for a few weeks.

The NHS website confirms B12 deficiency side effect. lt also advises that omeprazole reduces magnesium absorption , which can be significant for AFib. ( so does lansoprazole).

nhs.uk/medicines/omeprazole...

[Gatun in reply to KMRobbo]

Thanks for the link on Omeprazole, it explains why I feel tired so stopped taking. Ya done good.

[Dave0]

When I was put on them for gastritis, I was amazed that no doctors seemed to link it with my edoxaban or AF and there was also no suggestion they would be hard to stop! It was only after I looked into things and found the clear link. After the reflux clearing up and then coming back with anger each time I stopped the meds, I read about how to wean myself off. It took a few weeks but I did get there, something like 10 days of halving my dose and then 10 days at every other day. I’d only been on them 4 months on and off.

[Eastmids]

I have taken lanszoprolol for some time as the acid reflux was less due to changing my diet I reduced the times I took them often off them for weeks at a time At my last medication review I told the pharmacist who said I should take them as I was on apaxiban bisoprolol and ramipril and these could cause problems

I checked this with my gp who agreed with the pharmacist

[AussieHeart in reply to Eastmids]

If you ask do I need it they’ll say yes. If you ask what else can I do instead they’ll also tell you. My experience is this: once on them even short-term it’s usually too hard to wean off them due to rebound reflux so GPs and gastroenterologist don’t try. It’s a big commitment by the patient. There are other safer options. www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/cl...

[Jajarunner]

There are no silly questions, ask away. But I do not know the answer but want you to know you can ask whatever you like x

[Mabal in reply to Jajarunner]

Oh Thankyou

[Arthursullivan]

I believe long term use of omeprazole leads to loss of bone density.

[Karendeena]

Hi Mabal if I was you I wouldn't touch it. I had lansoprazole first and then changed to omeprazole. Was ok for a couple of months although I had excess flatulence and some bloating....then the trouble started with diarrhoea, some discomfort and excessive wind which has been with me on and off since September when my GP took me off them. I have since suffered all kinds of GI problems and continue to do so and had to go and see a gastroentorologist. It now looks like the meds have triggered IBS which he said is quite possible. It is also possible that the meds have caused microscopic colitis which we won't know until I get a colonoscopy and a biopsy. My advice is stay away from these drugs or at the very least only take them short term

[JOY2THEWORLD49]

Hi. I had been on Omeprazole because of reflux and acid stomach.In 2000 I had the gall bladder removed through the tummy button. It had completely disintegrated! I have 4 portals where the surgeon picked off bits of it.

Since child I complained of acid stomach. Mother gave me Milk of Magnesium.

I was at last free of reflux and bad episodes of circulating pain from stomach around to the back.

Take care. JOY

Prepusid? was banned.