Hi , I've just had my blood results back pre my cardiovascular review later today with the nurse .Looking at them I see that my creatinine level puts me in stage 3A kidney failure .
It's my understanding that taking anticoagulants contribute to this but also taking proton pump inhibitors also has an effect .
I have been on Esomeprasol for 12 months now , previous to that I was on lanzoprasol for many years due to severe acid reflux .
I was changed to esomeprasole after a test showed I had H Pylori and was given antibiotics which gave me very bad chest pains from the reflux for months and Lanzoprazol didn't seem to be helping.
My stomach over the last 9 months has settled right down but I'm concerned now that this constant use will have a further damaging effect on my kidneys .
My GP has said pointedly it's more serious to suffer acid damage in my stomach than from any side effects so I feel I'm between the devil and the deep .
I'd love to stop taking these pills but the pain and discomfort from reflux is not pleasant and has had a big effect on my QOL .
Written by
Hammerboy
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Horrible position to be in and unfortunately PPI’s are well known to be very difficult to come off without rebound which of course would make things worse in several ways.
Thank goodness you are being monitored. I am on several medications, including Apixaban, which put a heat toll on kidneys and liver and have been monitored every 12 weeks. I see my levels creeping up, partly also I believe because of ageing, so I am told I need to start reducing my meds as I have been on them now for 9 years so the chances of serious damage is causing concern. I’m having to reduce my immune suppressants very, very slowly over the next 6 months. This seems to be inevitable result of taking pharmaceuticals over a long period but as you say, rock and hard place.
It would have been nice to have been given more information and advice from the professionals earlier on .My 3 brothers and father are all on PPI's but I'm the only one with AF .There was talk by my GP that I could come off Edoxaban if my recent ablation was successful long term but that's a bigger risk in my opinion so not something I want to consider.
I found my doctors would automatically prescribe me PPIs without even telling me! I had to go back to ask what are these for? and the reply was to ‘protect’ my stomach IN CASE I get side effects. I couldn’t believe it! Thankfully I had a GP friend who was also Lifestyle Medicine doctor who sat me down and explained that I didn’t need them now if I didn’t have symptoms and if I could get by without, that would be better in the long run and here’s how to give yourself the best chance to avoid side effects. I did not take one PPI, my neurologist was very surprised.
Unfortunately I do think doctors are programmed to write prescriptions as a first resort rather than talk to patients. Sadly, from what I am reading generally the push is to cut out the middle man (Doctor) altogether and go straight to ‘bots’, algorithms.
Oh dear, a sadly familiar tale. PPIs are self perpetuation in that once taken for any length of time they are extremly difficult to come off. Personally I always refused to take then for more than a few weeks after discovering this many years ago. There are very good mechanical reasons for this which I won't bother you with here as I suspect most regulars are heartily sick of me banging on about then. From memory, Mayo Clinic did publish a study of how to rid oneself of this dreadful group of drugs which might be worth investigating.
The problem with kindey function is not that the anticoagulants attacks the kidneys but that these drugs are filtered from the body via those organs which therefor have to work harder. I'm not sure abut warfarin which I have been on for over18 years with zero issues but the reason those on DOACS have regular kidney function tests. Of course kidney function does fall gradually with age quite naturally.
Yes you're right Bob , I've looked at my last 2 results and my creatinine level has dropped over time which of course does happen with age but surely GP's should be aware of what medication adversely affects patients with lower levels and at least have a discussion. His notes on my latest blood results are 'Satisfactory, no further action required '
What do they wait for before acting , complete kidney failure ?
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