PPi's

[fairgo45]

Does anyone know if there's any truth that PPi's give you stomach cancer and colon cancer

I've been on them for years and no doctor has warned me against them

[BobD Volunteer]

Not heard that particular story but I do know that they should never never be used long term . My reasoning goes as follows.

The lower sphincter in the stomach needs an acid environment before it will open and allow food down into the gut. If you take away that acid then food remains far too long inside which actually increases the chances of reflux due to over packing. I discovered years ago that after initial benefit my problems got much worse needing more drug etc until I stopped. That in itself was a drama worthy of a BAFTA suffice to day it was not an easy ride. There are plenty of stories of long term problems and I'm sure that the search facility will show a few.

[fairgo45 in reply to BobD]

Thanks Bob I've tried every now and then to cut down on them unsuccessfully do you have any tips to help me wean off them

[BobD Volunteer in reply to fairgo45]

Not personally but I'm sure that there was a format maybe from Mayo Clinic about it a few weeks ago. Could be wrong. My wife tells me I usually am. lol 😁

[Hammerboy in reply to BobD]

I've been on PPI's for over 25 years Bob , recently more reflux and chest pains. Gp recommended Endoscopy which showed H Pylori .After a course of antibiotics I tested clear and my GP said he'd like to wean me off PPI's completely but as my stomach issues , chest pains continued over the following weeks he increased my dose to double strength for a month.

I went back to see him and said I felt worse and he said I should stay on PPI's as the risk of too much acid was a higher risk of stomach cancer than the effects of being on long term PPI medication .

I just rolled my eyes as it was a total contradiction of his previous advice

He has no answer now to my current issues so suggested I see a gastroenterologist

My CT Angiogram result finally came back after waiting 9 weeks and my cardiologist called me to say there were no issues with my coronary arteries suggesting my stomach was causing the chest pains which is a relief .

I have reduced my dose of PPI's against my GP's advice and my stomach has settled a little so I'm going to see a specialist privately and hopefully get a firm answer on the ongoing use of PPI's

To be honest I'd love to cut them out completely but I still remember how bad reflux felt and wouldn't want to go back to that .

[FancyPants54 in reply to Hammerboy]

I had to see a dietician to get off those PPis. I'd not been on them too long. Told they would reduce acid etc. Dietician said most people as they age produce less stomach acid and it is that that ends up causing the reflux, not too much. I did a simple test with bicarb of soda (I think) and it backed up her theory of low acid. I weaned off the PPIs and started taking Apple cider vinegar with meals and sometimes a stomach acid tablet and I've been fine ever since. I don't need to take anything now.

Look into "too little stomach acid" and reflux. I think the GPs get this the wrong way around very frequently. If you don't produce a lot of acid when you consume food and the production is slow, it trickle feeds into the stomach and doesn't trigger the signal to stop producing acid so it just keeps filling, slowly, until you get the reflux.

[Hammerboy in reply to FancyPants54]

That's interesting thank you

[Karendeena in reply to BobD]

Hi Bob, after a few months on lansoprazole I started with gastric problems, bloating and diarrhoea. Stopped taking it and although I seem to be recovering it's very slow and I am now under a gastroentorologist I am convinced the PPI started my oroblems

[jeanjeannie50]

The thing is Fairgo, once we step out of the doctors surgery, what we were prescribed and why we were there is generally forgotten and that's natural. It's up to us to say if we don't feel right about taking any pill. A quick search on Google should give you all the answers to your questions. I think it's important to find out why stomach acid has been a problem for you, just what is causing it?

When I took PPI's I was horrified reading the leaflet it came with and couldn't wait to stop taking them. I raised the head of my bed, cut out fatty food, vinegar and yogurts and eventually it all calmed down. Years before then I was tested for H-pylori and had an over abundance of it which was causing soreness, the two strong antibiotics and PPI's my doctor prescribed twice did nothing to cure it. Eventually my sister in the USA sent me some garlic and think it was oregano capsules, they cured the H-pylori. Last time I heard the miracle cure for it was mastic gum tablets.

Please just try stopping fatty foods, vinegar and yogurts to see if that helps and get yourself off those awful PPI's.

Jean

[fairgo45 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Thanks Jean that was very helpful I will look into those suggestions

Janet

[irene75359 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

That is really interesting, my daughter has had H-pylori twice and has had very strong anti-biotics which made her feel very unwell (she is allergic to penicillin). Now she has been told to take PPIs. I will alert her to your findings, thank you for that.

[jeanjeannie50 in reply to irene75359]

Do tell your daughter all I've said Irene, especially about raising the bed head. I put a pile of books under the legs.

I had those same strong antibiotics as your daughter, they made me feel ill too.

I'd get some mastic gum capsules and see if they help her (quite expensive), but cut out the foods I've said first.

[Drounding]

I've been taking PPIs for many years. I have a hiatus hernia that which when it flares up triggers my Afib. I was on 30mg Lansoprozol am and pm. I've now cut back to half that dose am and pm. Not an easy thing to do. Eventually I want to stop the am one or take it alternate days and see how it goes. Concerned however that I don't get Afib back again.

[fairgo45 in reply to Drounding]

That's why I was given PPi's for hiatus hernia it never affected my afib though which is permanent anyway my GP has never said don't take it

Janet

[Paulbounce]

H2 blockers seem to be better / safer (but I don't know for sure). I'll link below anyway.

Paul

patient.info/digestive-heal...

[fairgo45 in reply to Paulbounce]

Thanks Paul glad your back I will see what I can learn from your link

Janet

[Jalia]

Of course there are many taking PPI s who don't need to. There are also many who do need to as a protection against oesophagul cancer etc and do need to be taken long term

[fairgo45 in reply to Jalia]

Really that's interesting the opposite of what I've been toldNeeds more investigation

Janet

[Cat04 in reply to fairgo45]

Patients with Barratts oesophagus need them for ever and a day!

[tunybgur]

I have heard that PPI's are not recommended long term but not sure of the possible consequences.

I suffered GERD (prescribed Lanzoprazole) and my wife used to have 'night acid' (Rennies), a bit of research seemed to indicate we both needed to improve our natural gut bacteria.

We now have a glass of home made Kefir before dinner and have included sauerkraut and other fermented foods into our diet and this seems to have fixed it for both of us over the last few years, now no medicines, no acid and regular as clockwork.

Kefir is very easy to make and needs no special equipment or temperatures, we use full fat goats milk and it's delicious, it really helped us but needs to be introduced slowly as it can be a shock to your system, a good shock though.

I don't know if you've tried this but could be worth researching....there's loads of info on Kefir and probiotics on the net.

Good luck

[fairgo45 in reply to tunybgur]

I'm interested in kefir and will try it.At what point did you stop the PPi's?

[tunybgur in reply to fairgo45]

I was only on PPI's for a few months, my GP recommended I only use them for a short time as they could cause digestive problems of their own.

If you try Kefir I suggest you get some starter grains and make it yourself as it will contain far more probiotics than shop bought Kefir at a fraction of the price.

It may take a few fermentations to get new grains going so persevere until you get it right, but it's worth it.

Helpful site below where you can get grains and advice.

Good luck

happykombucha.co.uk/product...

[fairgo45 in reply to tunybgur]

Thank you so much I have already placed an order for a kefir kit I'll try it with coconut milk hope it taste nice

[Macmedal]

I have a Hiatus Hernia and previously had an indication of Barrett’s so I have been on PPIs for years. I have swapped from 30 mg Lanzoprazole in an effort to reduce intake and I am now on a single 10mg Omeprazole a day. I have also started using an Iqoro device to see if I can wean myself off them totally fingers crossed

[seasicksurf]

Perhaps you are referring to the heartburn drug Zantac (ranitidine). Its not a PPI but rather a histamine antagonist--but for heartburn nonetheless. Zantac was recalled by the FDA (in the US) last year because it contains a suspected carcinogen.

[Chucknz]

Yes its well documented.My Grandmother (had PA) went into hospital for a hernia operation but the Drs found she had a stomach full of cancer