Do I need tummy protection

[Maisywhippet]

Hi, have been on Clopidogrel and Asprin and Pantoprazole to protect my stomach. I am coming off the clopi in June (as instructed by cardiologist) I still have to continue on Asprin ...but question is do I still need the Pantoprazole??

[Hidden]

Simple answer, yes.

[Maisywhippet in reply to Hidden]

Thanks

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Definitely yes! Aspirin can irritate the stomach lining potentially causing an ulcer(s). This can cause the perfect storm of a burst ulcer with reduced clotting. This can have serious consequences particularly if blood goes into the body cavity.

[firstlight40]

Opinions vary on this. I've been told I won't need the lanzoprazole I am on after the ticagrelor finishes as my stomach is currently fine and the aspirin dose is small but if you have existing issues then maybe you need to stay on it.

[Hidden in reply to firstlight40]

I had my Lansoprazole stopped as it caused bad diarrhoea, they didn't replace it with anything and my stomach was fine.............. until a few months later when i was blue lighted into A&E with suspected HA, turned out it was the Aspirin, 1st thing the A&E Dr said was 'why aren't you on anything to protect your stomach'!

Was put on Omeprazole and never had a problem since, well not with my stomach anyway!

But, we are all different

[Maisywhippet in reply to Hidden]

Yep, had the same problem with the lansoprazole, was swopped to Pantoprazole,all fine with that.Just thought if I was only on Asprin 75mg...then I might be able to stop it, but perhaps not! Just hate taking all these bloody pills🙄

[Hidden in reply to Maisywhippet]

As always, check with your GP.

[Peony4575 in reply to Maisywhippet]

I have been taking aspirin for a decade without a PPI. I take the gastro protective ( enteric coated) ones with dinner no problems . Can’t take the dispersible ones they cause me tummy pains

[Maisywhippet in reply to firstlight40]

Yes I have been diagnosed with IBD, but only causes issues occasionally, but as you say maybe I would need to take it as a precaution.

[Hidden]

I have been told pretty much the opposite to some of these replies by my previous GP. I have to say he was a younger very switched on guy who I liked a lot but he has sadly moved on now. He told me the PPI's were basically an insurance policy, in so much that they lower the amount of stomach acid so that if you do get a burst ulcer the associated problems and risks are lowered. If you never get an ulcer you have really been taking them for no reason, and suffering the trots/headaches and so on to boot. I gave them up a while ago to be honest with his approval.

[Maisywhippet]

Hi, thanks for your reply. This is part of the problem...there is no definitive answer to any of the meds from the medical profession, they all seem to have different opinions. After being diagnosed with a blockage in LAD which they were unable to stent in Dec, cardiologist verbally recommended increasing Atorvastatin from 20 to 40 before I left after the procedure. Docs wouldn’t increase script due to nothing in writing...after a long discussion via econsult, they increased it to 40mg.....6 hrs later they email to say that ideally if I tolerate them, then they would like me on 80mg...🤷🏼‍♀️ I’m sticking to 40mg....don’t need any more aches and pains🙄 Still waiting to hear if they will do CABG...or have another go at stenting.....

[Sizzlerman in reply to Maisywhippet]

It really is a balancing act with meds it's just that one doctor will prescribe you one thing then another doctor will change it, an example is Omeprazole I was put on this in hospital due to a bad stomach because of the meds I was taking only to be told by my doctor not to take those because of the medication I was on and put me on Lansaprozole. The latest is a trip to hospital from work due to bad stomach as soon as they found out I had heart problems they did a few checks blood pressure etc and carted me off to hospital 15 hrs later I arrive at home and due to blood tests and ECG was told that because my ECG showed sinus bradycardia with HR 50-52 it maybe worth considering reducing Bisoprolol from 2.5 to 1.25mg. Told my doctor whilst visiting him about a hernia I had and he checked my Blood pressure and instead increased my Ramipril from 1.25 to 2.5 and then get it checked and then to 3.75mg I feel as though half the time I am walking around in a trance and also will this affect my libido.