How to wean off omeprazole

[SuziElley]

I’ve just had some blood tests done prior to some surgery and the results show there may be a problem with vitamin B12 levels. Hmm, I take 20mg omeprazole daily, in capsule form. Anyone any idea of the best way to come off this? I believe I’ll have to gradually wean off it?

[Jalia]

While it is generally acknowledged that PPI s are often over prescribed, have you been advised to stop taking these? Depending on the reason why you are taking them it would be wisest to consult with your surgery or pharmacist to discuss the best way to cut back.

[SuziElley in reply to Jalia]

Thanks. I know that’s the sensible way. It’s just that to get hold of anyone at the surgery between now and the end of the first week in January will be impossible and it’s just a bit worrying…..

[Cavalierrubie]

it depends what you are taking these for. It’s well known that they deplete Vitamin B12 so l take Vitamin supplements to counteract this. See your GP. I wouldn’t advise to stop taking without a replacement drug especially if you have ongoing stomach issues.

[SuziElley in reply to Cavalierrubie]

They were prescribed because I’m on Apixaban and was told I needed them to protect my stomach. No discussion 😢

[CDreamer in reply to SuziElley]

I take Apixaban and never taken PPIs and never had any problems however, my understanding is that many people really struggle to come to come off and needs to be done very slowly. I would suggest that you seek advice from a Lifestyle trained GP - Yes they exist and have their own directory but very few are able to offer anything through NHS so you will need to go privately.

I have also been prescribed alongside 3 other medications from secondary care, I just never fulfilled any prescriptions because thankfully our surgery had a Lifestyle trained GP who specialised in gastric tract issues who I know helped many people to come off and also trained all our other GPs.

bslm.org.uk/members/member-...

[SuziElley in reply to CDreamer]

Thank you for that. I really would like to come off them. I remember having the conversation with my GP when he first prescribed them for me, expressing my concern. His reply was that he’d been on them himself for some time 😳

[Auriculaire in reply to SuziElley]

I have been on Apixaban for nearly 5 years. PPI has never been suggested. Sounds like overprescribing to me. Surely the correct procedure would have been to see if you got any gastric side effects from the Apixaban. I do actually but I wouldn't take a PPI!

[SuziElley in reply to Auriculaire]

I’ll talk to my GP in the new year

[Buffafly in reply to Auriculaire]

My chemist recently said I should be taking a PPI because I take Apixaban. As I’ve taken an anticoagulant since 2014 at least it seemed rather late advice! Maybe a new directive has gone out?

[SuziElley in reply to Buffafly]

Thanks for the reply! I think it came in about 18 months ago. Can’t really remember. I was already on anticoagulants then suddenly the omeprazole was added to my prescription. I queried it with my GP and he assured me it was fine long term but since these last blood tests I’m a bit anxious. I’ll try to pin him down and and a chat about it again in the new year. Hope you’re ok 👍🏻

[Jalia in reply to SuziElley]

That's interesting. My husband was put on Rivaroxaban and Omeprazole was added to the equation. He has never suffered from indigestion or reflux. He's in permanent AF but completely unaware.

I queried this with his GP as PPIs do not react favourably with his Parkinsons drug so he would not be taking it.His reply was that it was necessary to protect his stomach. It was agreed to change to Nizatidine , a different class of drug.. H2 blocker.

[SuziElley in reply to Jalia]

Thank you Jalia. It seems they expect the anticoagulants to affect our stomachs 😢 I think a chat with my GP in the new year.

[Taviterry]

I believe that B12 and D3 are the two most desirable vitamins to take. I was told by my surgeon that I didn't need Lansoprazole after my GP had suggested it , but ever since my TAVI in July I've had stomach discomfort, so I started taking them three weeks ago, and immediately noticed an improvement. But ...the curry last Thursday was a Big Mistake 😵 and I'm wondering what other food might be ill-advised. I won't be over-indulging over the next nine or ten days but perhaps others might think that Festive food and drink could exacerbate their symptoms and welcome the benefits of PPI. My impression is that taking B12 is a good thing, with no downside.

[CDreamer in reply to Taviterry]

Take D3 with K2, only way it is effective - according to many doctors. I use the oral spray. Only time I had acid reflux was after ablation and had TOE down my throat. Took about 6 months to lose the scratchy cough and for reflux to settle, but it did!

[Auriculaire in reply to CDreamer]

For several years I took my prescribed vit D without K2 . It was effective in that in raised the levels in my blood. I do not think that the non skeletal affects of vit D would be affected by not taking the K2- only the direction of the better calcium absorption into the bones,. Those who get their vit D solely from sunshine and diet are not advised to take K2 . Presumably they have to make do with the K2 our bodies manufacture or eat lots of aged cheese.

[CDreamer in reply to Auriculaire]

Think I prefer the aged cheese option…👍

I think that we still do not know nearly enough about supplements and how they are absorbed - or not - into the body. There is some research that because they are Ultra Processed that the body does not recognise them so pass straight through. Natural sources and food we know works but how much easier to take a pill? Especially when you live and work in the city, food = take anways and never see daylight?

[Auriculaire in reply to CDreamer]

With vit D you can tell whether it's being absorbed because if it isn't your blood level would not rise. What is measured in the vit D blood test is not the cholecalciferol that you take in the supplements or is made in your skin by sunshine, but calcifediol that is the result of hydroxylation by the liver of the cholecalciferol. So if your calcifediol level rises the liver is doing it's job. It is very difficult to get sufficient vit D from food and impossible if you are a vegan . As the skin will only make it in much of the northern hemisphere for 6 months or less of the year many people are going to be deficient during the winter months. Many people are deficient in summer too as they do not spend enough time outside and often slather themselves in sunscreen if they do sunbathe. The best way obviously is to get sufficient from sunshine but that would be very difficult for many people and necessitate the dismantling of the nonsense about the sun being dangerous.

[Leechg]

I was on PPIs for a year to heal three tiny pesky stomach ulcers. I just stopped them when the prescription ran out. No weaning off. It was fine. Good luck.

[Slidingdoors99]

Hi! I take a bit B12 complex to help with this because I’ve taken that pill to protect my stomach for many years!

[SuziElley in reply to Slidingdoors99]

I need to sort something as this last lot of bloods was a bit concerning. Problem, they were done in a different area with minimal communication with my GP. They had to be done preop and the plastic surgeon only operates in the other area. All very complicated 🙄

[Ppiman]

If I were you, I would ask your GP for guidance as these drugs are also extremely helpful and the tapering process has to be slow and long owing to severe rebound acidity occurring a week or two after stopping.

I tried switching to ranitidine but failed miserably so ended up restarting the lansoprazole.

Steve

[SuziElley in reply to Ppiman]

Thank you for this.

[Ppiman in reply to SuziElley]

If you do manage to do it, please do re-post with your method and experience. I’d be very grateful.

Steve

[Ennasti]

My doctor agreed with me when I asked if I could stop taking PPIs. I wasn’t taking them because I’m on anticoagulants but because I had heart burn. I didn’t think I needed them anymore after 12 months so I asked to stop them she agreed. I stopped them cold Turkey. The first week or two I had a lot of heart burn but I started taking magnesium again and the heartburn stopped. I haven’t had any problems really since and take a half dose of magnesium every night. I take the ppi as a pip only and I’ve needed it about 3-4 times in the last 4 months.