Anemia, aspirin and omeprazole

[Raylpa]

Hi folks from a beautifully sunny Chester. A question before I waffle on about my iron depleted status.

Can I take a straw pool and ask how many out their taking daily aspirin for secondary prevention are also taking omeprazole or other PPI? ?? To protect from the aspirin? Or possibly have adopted an alternative means of protecting the stomach

After repeated bloods reporting I had low iron store, ferritin, and low red blood cell count and suffering from all the classic anemia symptoms I was taken off omeprazole at my suggestion as I ‘reminded’ my GP it limits iron absorption, as does aspirin. my ferritin has been at 20 ug/L and Red blood count 3.94. After 6 weeks on oral iron and a 2 week absence of meds I have got results back today which show iron store restored to normal but Red Blood Cells count is still abnormal.

kindest Regards

[Hidden]

Hello

What an interesting post

I take the same meds and my iron is low and all my doctor says is maybe this is your normal iron levels now !

I do not get on with the PPI and you have me wondering now ?

When you came of the PPI did you just come of them or wean of them ?

I have been on them a couple of years now and read you can get rebound acid if you do not wean of them and even though I take them I still get Indigestion and acid

I am so pleased you posted this and so happy for you that your iron levels are normal now x

[Raylpa in reply to Hidden]

Hi Bekind it’s been a long time since I was interesting 😂 I was on 40 mg omoprazole and reduced to 20 mg when my iron remained low I came off entirely never had any acid reflux issue, my omeprazole was only prescribed to lower risk of stomach bleeding aspirin, a major cause of anemia in its own right. My increase in iron is more likely from the iron meds. However omeprazole and surprisingly to me dairy, fibre and tea lower iron absorption 😞 It’s apparent my red blood cell count and iron store has been low since first measured in 1998! GP never flagged it despite having consulted over fatigue lightheadedness pale colour etc many times over the period, before and after a stent in 2014 😞

I am going to keep taking iron supplements and try to get my Red blood cells up to as they are still low.

best regards if you wouldn’t rather not please sure your haemoglobin red blood cell count and ferritin levels here or private message. Keen to know what might be normal amongst our community.

[Hidden in reply to Raylpa]

Hello

Of course you are interesting all the time just your post rang a bell with me as we say and thank you so much for all that information

To be honest I have no clue what my levels are all I know is my Doctor says they have come back low again but now I have your information it will help me talk it through a lot better x

[Helly75]

i take a ppi & my iron / ferritin & folate all became very low . I can't tolerate iron tablets but had to take folic acid for 4 months . My gp said its the ppi causing the problem

[Raylpa]

thanks for reply. Think it’s right to say your GP will only now if it’s the PPI causing the issue if you came off the med and it reported normal. Respect my GP but in my experience they have taken a ‘oh well that’s just you’ attitude and I have continued having associated low iron issues. I found it hard to tolerate the full dose so dropped to half measure and always had a meal before. Good luck don’t let your GP let you down.

[Anon2023]

hi. I tried to cut down on omeprazole when my iron levels fell but I got reflux even though I tapered. I went back on omeprazole 20mg a day. I was on iron tablets but they didn’t work and my results kept coming back as low. I asked about it on here and was told that iron tablets don’t work for some people. If you look at my previous post there was some excellent replies which may be of interesting. I was then able to have 2 iron infusions instead of tablets which did the trick. Good luck. X

[Raylpa in reply to Anon2023]

thanks for reply. The obvious elephant in the room with unexplained low iron is occult bleeding such as that associated with aspirin. I have had the wee and 💩 tested ✅ but still cannot get the red blood cells up. May I ask if you had an ‘investigations’ as to the cause of your iron issue?

I am getting blood done again in 8 weeks and determine if my modestly increase scores post the 6 weeks iron meds are maintained.

[Anon2023 in reply to Raylpa]

hi. I think mine was as a result of surgery in January as my iron levels never recovered afterwards even though I had a transfusion. They didn’t really explore any other possibilities or considered occult bleeding. I’m on warfarin as well as a range of heart meds and they might impact on my iron levels. If my iron levels go back down I’ll be really pushing them to explore the reason. I hope you manage to find out what is causing yours.

[Hidden]

Hello

I take the genetic coated aspirin and wonder why I am on a ppi as nothing else I take requires one

I wondered about the weaning of them rather than just stopping them might be better especially if you have been on them a while

Did you find you had no problems doing it this way if you don't mind me asking x

[Hidden]

Hello

Thank you this is very helpful x

[nellie237]

Hi Raylpa,

Are your kidneys OK?

[Raylpa]

thanks for head ups I just checked and my aspirin haven’t been ‘upgraded’ despite not having been discontinued on omeprazole for 2 month and ongoing 😤 I have a request in to go for the gastric resistant version 🤞.