Acid reflux caused by heart meds?

[Bowser1966]

Hi I was taking 40mg of esomeprazol for years without issue, now I am taking ramipril, ticegralor, rosuvastatin and 70mg aspirin, and my reflux pains have returned, I'm guessing it's to do with these other meds? I am also burping so much more than I used to, anyone else having any problems?

[Farmer63]

You're problem is the aspirin, after my heart attack I was put aspirin daily, it really caused my acid reflux to flare up big time ,my cardiologist took me the aspirin,and put me on a blood thinner long term,solved the problem.

[Astromeria in reply to Farmer63]

I have also been on low dose enteric coated aspirin for six years with no problem until this year. Gastritis flare ups didn't calm down. A gastroscopy discounted cancer. My doctor has just changed the aspirin to clopidogrel. Your post has given me hope. Thank you.

[Farmer63 in reply to Astromeria]

Coated aspirin does not protect your stomach if you have acid reflux, also ppi,so are not meant for long term use. They have been linked to dementia, I have family in the US there is no way doctors over there would give anyone ppi,s long-term. Watch your diet and what foods triggers your acid reflux

[Farmer63 in reply to Astromeria]

Same here cardiology put me on clopidogrel long term

[Lowerfield_no_more]

What sort of aspirin are you taking? If it's dispersible try coated which is also available over the counter although you might have to look further to find it and it costs a bit more.

[Seal59 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Jumping on this post. I will get my husband to try this for the same reasons. Thanks for the advice.

[Bowser1966 in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Tried both no difference

[Happyrosie]

well worth while your seeking advice from the pharmacist employed by your doc’s group of surgeries (if you live in the UK). Things can be done! Have a look at your surgery practice leaflet which may tell you how to contact them.

[BC4ever]

I've had very similar problems to you. Was diagnosed with a Hiatus Hernia over fifteen years ago. Was put on 30mg of Lansoprazole daily. Changed my diet, raised the head of my bed etc. Had no problems whatsoever. In May I had a heart attack and stents fitted. Was put on all the usual cocktail of drugs. My Hernia flared up straight away. Pains in my stomach. Pains in my back. Feeling sick etc. Reflux. Pains when I bend. Pains when I lift things. My Lansoprazole was changed to Pantaprazole 80mg a day. It's made no difference. Doctor said it's the blood thinning medication, probably the Asprin. Was told I cannot come of it for at least twelve months - and maybe never. But it's very debilitating on a daily basis. A hot water bottle on my diaphragm sometimes gives me a bit of relief. Worth a try? I know how you feel, and empathise greatly. Good luck.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to BC4ever]

As I suggested above, if you are on dispersible try coated aspirin. I also have reflux disease and am on more meds than I would care to be on, but in addition to Lansoprazole, I am on coated low dose aspirin and have no problems.

As for 'never' coming off aspirin, if that is the single cause of your troubled life, you might consider not taking it and regain your quality of life balanced against your increased heart health risk. But that is a discussion between you and your health professional, not least because other meds are available to reduce blood clotting risk.

[Seal59 in reply to BC4ever]

Not nice for you but I was glad to read your reply. My husband has the same problem. Just had his scan results and he’s got 5 hernias but they don’t think that’s the cause of the pain. They doubled his Omeprazole but still getting the pains. I’m sending him off to the pharmacy this morning to try the enteric coated aspirin. It would be lovely if such a small change could relieve him of this horrible pain. Like you say, when it’s everyday it is debilitating and my husband says some days the pain is as bad as when he had his heart attack. Thank you for sharing.

[BC4ever in reply to Seal59]

I feel exactly the same. When it's really bad the pain feels like I'm about to have another heart attack and makes me extremely anxious. I've been on the coated Asprin since my attack, but it's made no difference whatsoever. I'm also on the blood thinner Clopidogrel as well as the Asprin. Have a telephone appointment with my Cardiologist in November and I'm hoping he'll take me off the Asprin. Fingers crossed.

[Farmer63 in reply to BC4ever]

You do not need to take any pill that's causing so much pain. There are many more types of blood thinners, for example clopidogrel. I came off aspirin told my doctor, he lost his nut, and told he I could be dead in a year, also he reported me to cardiology, they contacted me told me if aspirin was causing me so much bother come off it and stay on clopidogrel long term. Worked for me.

[Bowser1966 in reply to BC4ever]

I don't think it's the aspirin affecting me, I've been taking it in pill form and if I can't get it I take the dispersible type with esomeprazol for years, no issue. Reflux and back pains began about 5 weeks after I had stents done and now taking ramipril rosuvastatin ticegralor with the aspirin and PPI esomeprazol. Also burping and loss of appetite especially when having reflux pain. It could be anxiety aswell I'm starting a new job soon and have been told I need a mini graft on my other blocked artery in early Dec!!

[BC4ever in reply to Bowser1966]

Lots of similar side effects to me. I'm burping a lot too. I've lost two stone, because I can't eat enough, as I get too much pain. Stomach pain. Back pain. Much anxiety. I also take Clopidogrel which is similar to Ticegralor. I'm due to be taken off Clopidogrel next May (12 month review), and put on Ticegralor. I asked my Doctor why? He said - cost! I'd rather come off the Asprin and stay on the Clopidogrel. That's what I will be pushing for anyway. Maybe you should get a review of your medication? I've never been as ill - till I started taking all these meds! Good luck.

[Bowser1966 in reply to BC4ever]

sorry to hear that, it's really awful when you get pain when you eat, it puts you off everything, my apetite was affected also when I started taking these new meds in Aug 2024. I was taking Atorvastatin at first but I started with these back pains and thought it was that, so they put me on the Rosuvastatin, it probably wasn't that in the first place.

[sandandkev]

I would see if can go on blood thinners rather than aspirin

[Qualipop in reply to sandandkev]

Doctors much prefer aspirin because the side effects are better known.

[pasigal]

Yes, even switched from aspirin to plavix. It's possible that stations are a cause, too.

[Blueberrylover]

hello Brown

The trouble I had was with Rampril, it gave me a really bad cough they changed me to Losatarn which has been great.

[Fazer800]

I'm not suggesting by any means, this is the case here, but...I was struggling to cope with the constant pain from heartburn/reflux. My throat became extremely sore, that made it very difficult to eat.

I was very concerned about the usual things.

I discovered one day, that, often, I hadn't been taking my medications with enough liquid/food.

Some of the medication was literally burning the lining of my throat/esophagus, causing extreme discomfort. I now make sure they are washed down fully and promptly.

This made the world of difference.

Other things I considered, were the things I was eating and drinking, and the times of day I was doing it.

There is potential for various food intolerances that must be ruled out too, really.

I hope you find an answer and sooner rather than later.

[Cavalierrubie]

It’s the aspirin. It plays havoc with the stomach lining.

[Bowser1966 in reply to Cavalierrubie]

Thing is I've been taking aspirin and esomeprazol for years without issue, problem start when I started taking all the other drugs

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Bowser1966]

In that case there is something wrong with the combination of your drugs. I would see your Cardiologist for a review. All the best.

[Qualipop]

Both ticagrelor and atorvastatin crucified my stomach. You should be taking a tablet to protect it; either a PIP like omeprazole or lansoprazole or the alternative eg famotidine. Acid reflux can cause a lot of damage. My husband who has o heart or stomach problems that he can feel , has silent reflux. NO symptoms with his stomach but it has gradually damaged his voice box and I can ow barely tell what he says. He refused to take any tablets because he insists he has no stomach problems. He sounds worse than Kermit.

[Lowerfield_no_more in reply to Qualipop]

Damage to the throat and vocal cords is sign that reflux disease is doing serious damage, as you indicated, and so your husband would be well advised have his condition investigated and/or consider taking medication if he is actually found to have reflux disease. I only had years of regular mild 'indigestion' which suddenly got worse, and a resulting endoscopy revealed I had Barrett's Oesophagus, which is where the cells change due to regular backwashing with stomach acid, and which can be a precursor to oesophageal cancer which is a horrible form of this affliction. And the result of that was I have been taking PPIs for nearly 25 years and with diet and posture changes apart from occasional relapses my reflux disease is kept in check, and when last investigated the Barrett's had not worsened.

[Cavalierrubie in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

I have been on PPI’s for 25 years. I have so many gastric problems including a large sliding hiatus hernia. Like yourself, l dread to think where l would have been without this medication. I get so irritated with people who keep posting of long term effects. It’s ok for them if they are not suffering severe symptoms or need them for a serious condition. I think they would be first in the queue if they were and they need to look at the positive side. My grandfather died of stomach ulcers. They didn’t have PPI’s in his generation. PPI’s stop internal bleeding and many cancer patients have to take them with chemotherapy treatment. It’s ok if you can have an alternative, but not all of us can.

[Qualipop in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

He has seen a specialist and had it investigated but it was during the pandemic. He's deaf and couldn't cope with his glasses, a mask and hearing aids So he didn't wear his aids and didn't understand what the consultant said so he took one course of PPI and stopped. I've tried and tried to get him to go back but he refuses. I know what it can do.

[Qualipop in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

THANK YO U. I just read yoru reply to him and scared him into going back to the doctor. He's ignored me for 3 or 4 years.

[Deejay62]

Hi since starting Ezetimibe an Edoxaban at the same time, i realised one of them is making me burp really loudly for no reason. It can be embarrassing😀

[Thanksnhs]

Hi the same happened to me I was on 40 mg lansoprazole and I had terrible heartburn and reflux, my consultant added famotidine to my meds and and it disappeared overnight and I have never had any bother again. Char

[Bowser1966 in reply to Thanksnhs]

Whats Famotodine?

[HA24 in reply to Thanksnhs]

I've recently been prescribed this alongside lansoprazole. What time of day do you take it?

[Thanksnhs in reply to HA24]

Hi I take it going to bed at night

[HA24 in reply to Thanksnhs]

Thank you

[Bowser1966 in reply to Thanksnhs]

Were you taking any heart meds?

[Thanksnhs in reply to Bowser1966]

Hi I have had a heart transplant, I take imunosuppresants, statins , doxazosin (high blood pressure) lansoprazole and famotidine, before my transplant it was entresto I was on. Char

[Bowser1966 in reply to Thanksnhs]

Wow that's amazing, and there's me worrying about a mini graft in a Dec is it ok to take Famotidine and a 'prazol' together?

[Thanksnhs in reply to Bowser1966]

I take them together and I have been fine with them. Char

[Bowser1966 in reply to Bowser1966]

yes since Aug 2024 when I had a mild heart attack (Triponen 86) I had 3 stents put in and they put me on all these meds. I was already taking Aspirin 75mg and Esomeprazol 40mg no issues till now.

[Thanksnhs]

It's another tablet used for acid reflux, ulcers and heartburn It definitely worked for me,I still take lansoprazole as well char

[Saladay]

Interested to hear. I'm a singer with hypertension taking rosuvastatin and aspirin, but also losartan, bisoprolol, indapamide. I'm pretty sure the drugs have changed my voice and have had it investigated. The diagnosis was reflux, and I thought it was probably down to the bisoprolol as it can apparently relax the gastro-oesophageal sphincter. However, trying stopping that didn't change things. Perhaps its the Rosuva or the aspirin. Given others' comments, I think I'll try coming off the aspirin for a week or two.

[mumsastudent]

My husband has ITP aka low platlets so he was told that he could only take asprin ...it was the reason he could not have a mechanical aortic valve ... I know he can't have heparin ..He hasn't had any issues yet but it is of concern if he starts getting problems

[Heartelaugh]

Yes I do in particular after meals. Not sure which medication cause it. I take Ramipril, metphormin, bisoprolol .

Someone recommended drinking hot water before a meal which might help.