Omeprazole

[GrannyE]

I don’t want to cause alarm in the people who have to take Omeprazole because everyone is different.

I was Prescribed Omeprazole which I now know lowers stomach acid (which in my case as I had low stomach acid to start with and so was extremely bad). It caused me not being able to metabolise the iron in my diet and becoming severely anaemic. That meant that the red blood cells were unable to pick up sufficient oxygen and transport it to the cells which were crying out for it and so the heart was pumping harder and faster to try to help. This resulted in the heart becoming permanently thick therefore stiff. Hence my heart problems.

Apparently in some people their stomach acid becomes less as they age. The tendency must be hereditary because my maternal grandmother had to take stomach acid pills as did my cousin. I did not know this at the time. I just blithely swallowed what the doc prescribed without question. Never again!

You can do a rough and ready test for stomach acid by swallowing a certain amount of bicarb in water first thing in the morning and see how long it takes you to burp. You can see how to do the test by googling it.

[mjames1]

Sorry about that. Has your anemia been treated and what is the prognosis?

My Ferritin and to a lesser degree, my hemoglobin dropped. My PPI use was suspect although the Gastro denies this. Ended up taking iron infusions. I think anyone on long term PPIs should periodically run labs, including Hemoglobin and Ferritin.

Jim

[GrannyE in reply to mjames1]

I spent a year taking ferrous glauconite 300mg every day (at the same time as Vit C) and now take it 4 times a week. I try to get the doc to give me a blood test every 3 months but they do let it slip rather.

[BobD Volunteer]

Frankly I would never take any "azoles" for more than two weeks . My early experience some twenty five years ago taught me they are not good things to take and are to a great extent self perpetuating. The mechanics are well known but they continue to be prescribed like Smarties.

[GrannyE in reply to BobD]

You are quite right. At that time I just did not think and trusted my GP. Silly me!!! Thank goodness she has since retired and can do no more harm

[fairgo45 in reply to BobD]

Bob I've been taking PPis for many years for a hiatus hernia and if I stop taking them I am in extreme pain and discomfort. How did you stop taking them I'm willing to give an alternative a go.

[BobD Volunteer in reply to fairgo45]

I believe Mayo Clinic have chapter and verse on getting off these drugs.

[Gfern]

Out of interest why were they prescribed in the first place, and how long did you take them before the iron problem kicked in.

[GrannyE in reply to Gfern]

I played a hilly golf course 3 times a week walking but having arthritis and a dodgy hip I took an Ibruprofen afterwards sometimes. Elderly doc was horrified and prescribed Naproxyn/Naprosyn with Omeprazole to put a lining on the stomach to stop me getting stomach ulcers. Being naive I took them only approx 3 times a week without question July to Dec. By December I was so incapacitated that I was no longer able to play golf and I continued to deteriorate to the extent that when I visited my cousin in the States I had to have a wheelchair to fly and when I got there I spent much of the time lying down. She was shocked and recommended I take magnesium, which helped a bit.

Back home I was sent to a cardiologist who did scans and gave me pills. Was sent to a lung function man. My actual lung function must have been good because the technician asked if I were an athlete. The specialist diagnosed asthma and gave me puffers. Looked at the side effects and decided not to take them. Looked at the bloods he had done on line and studied them carefully looking up everything I did not understand. Worked out I was anaemic. Went to GP and asked her if she thought I was right and she looked at the stats and was horrified and said she had not looked at them because she had not ordered them! Don’t think the lung function man had either.

Unfortunately my heart had been so badly affected that it will never be quite right again. I had seen several cardiologists and NONE of them thought to do a blood test. They just kept prescribing pills - ‘keep taking the tablets’. Eventually had an ablation at the Royal Brompton a number of years back.

You did ask.

[Gfern in reply to GrannyE]

Thanks for the background, I like many others as as well are taking them as a precautionary medication due to taking Apixaban, Aspirin and Clopidogrel. All my various 'ologists have made the same recommendation on using PPI's as a protective measure. The fact that it hasn't caused me the same problems underlines that we are all different but I will be taking notice on any future blood tests. You were unlucky not to have the anemia diagnosis before the damage was done. Hope that you have it under control now.

[GrannyE in reply to Gfern]

yes thanks. The anaemia is OKnow but I am taking iron 3 or 4 times a week.

[Ppiman]

A salutary tale, thank you. I have no idea how people like me who need PPIs are going to manage without them, so I can only hope that these absorption issues (calcium, magnesium, iron, B12) are few and far between.

Steve

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Ppiman]

Me too Steve. I have to take them - no negotiation. With my stomach issues l would be a candidate for far more serious issues including cancer. I have a brilliant doctor.

[Ppiman in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Same here. I saw a GI specialist a couple of years ago and he sung their praises. I tried to stop mine a few years ago and switch to an older drug (an H2 blocker) but, oh dear, the acid was dreadful and my GP advised me to switch back.

I've just had a blood test and he's looking carefully for any side effects of my PPI, so I have my fingers crossed.

Steve

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Ppiman]

Hope all is ok for you. I would be unable to eat without these drugs because of stomach acid. I have had to weigh up the advantages and disadvantages. So far my bloods have been ok. We have genetic stomach problems in our family. My grandfather died of ulcers and my father had extensive stomach problems. I have had problems from the age of 21 years. but was not medicated until my 40’s as l managed with over the counter drugs until then. When l was diagnosed with AF and given an anticoagulant l had to see a Gastroenterologist as my stomach pain was so bad. I will, therefore, take my chances on this one. In my situation it is quality of life and being able to enjoy food.

[GrannyE in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Everyone is different!

[GrannyE in reply to Cavalierrubie]

You are so lucky.

[Cavalierrubie in reply to GrannyE]

Agreed we are all different and have to make our own decisions regarding medication. I am not lucky because l would rather not take Omeprazole but l don’t have a choice like most people do.

[GrannyE]

If you do take mag and iron then take them at different times of the day. Best Iron in the morning and mag in the evening with Vit C.

[ibuputih]

That’s so bad, and I feel so sorry for you having these problems through no fault of your own.

When my GP diagnosed my AF symptoms as gastric (no comment) I was put on repeat omeprazole for some time. It did nothing for me. A very proactive pharmacist told me I had been on it for far too long (about 18 months) and told me to stop it immediately. Don’t know if she was trying to scare me, but she said it should only be taken for 2 weeks or so at a time. I know so many people who have been on it for years and years …

[GrannyE in reply to ibuputih]

I am afraid too many doctors hand it out like sweeties and once they hand meds out many surgeries don’t review properly to see if they are still necessary

[Tapanac]

My husband was called into hospital to check his medication and was told to stop omeprazole and any others except lansoprazole as that was the only one that did not interfere with his heart tablets

Pat x

[Buffafly]

I was recently buttonholed by my local pharmacist when I collected my prescriptions, to tell me I ought to be taking an ‘azole’ to protect my digestive system because I am taking Apixaban. I told her that the last time I took a PPI (Lansaparazole) I suffered from diarrhoea (didn’t mention that that then developed into a bowel abscess) so I had been rather put off but I would mention it to my GP. My GP had prescribed Omeprazole when Ranitidine was banned because I had been taking that for GORD but I didn’t take it and haven’t had any problems that a dose of antacid didn’t fix. A recent blood test didn’t show any signs of anaemia so I don’t think I’m going to pass that message on!

[GrannyE in reply to Buffafly]

As i said somewhere else there is a very rough and ready test for stomach acid which you can google which entails taking a certain amount of bicarb in a certain amount of water first thing in the morning on waking and seeing how long it takes you to burp. Then you know whether you need to take an ‘azole’.