Omeprazole & pneumonia

[GMcC2]

I have a history of recurrent pneumonia over the last few years & I’ve been prescribed Omeprazole for constant indigestion. I’m a bit worried as I’ve read that it can cause pneumonia due to reducing your stomach acid so bacteria can grow when they wouldn’t normally. Does anyone else take it / have a similar experience. Not sure what to do...

[sassy59]

Hello, my husband Pete takes omeprazole but has never had pneumonia. He does however have low antibodies and may have another pneumonia jab as a booster.

Speak to your doctor and explain your concerns. Wishing you well. Xxxxx

[Patsy164]

Hi GMcC2 I have had pneumonia twice but didn’t take omprazole when I had it. I

took it after to prevent acid going in my lungs causing an infection. I had a pneumonia injection 10 years previous to getting it and a top up after the second time. Have a regular flu jab.

I would talk to your doctor about your about your worries.

[O2Trees]

Ive had bilateral pneumonia 3 times betweren 2015 and 2018, since taking lansoprazole which is essentialy the same medication. Taking these meds are a risk but then oesophageal cancer which you can get from acid continually entering the oesophagus is for me a bigger risk.

What is important is to make sure you have a pneumonia jab. These do not last a lifetime as you may be told so if you had one a while back, say 10 years, then ask for another one. I had had a pneumonia jab around 2002 but now I have had another one and so far have been ok. There seem to be different opinions about how long these jabs last - from lifetime to 5-10 years. So Id say take the cautious line and ask for one if this applies to you.

[GMcC2 in reply to O2Trees]

Thanks for your reply. I have had numerous bouts of pneumonia in last few years despite having had the jab (over 10 years ago). Got a booster after fighting for it this year & been much better since. I am going to try the Omeprazole and see how I get on. The pain of acid / indigestion is just too much.

[O2Trees]

Glad you've improved since getting the booster. Also that you are going to take the omeprazole - it's always a balance of risk with these meds and the benefit of not getting the acid problem will make it worthwhile Im sure

[Bevash]

Hi. I have been on Omeprazole for quite a few years. I have had severe acid reflux and at one stage couldn't eat much at all and lost 20kgs in weight. Went on a strict low acid diet which helped. Had a lot of probs with my asthma and was on high doses of prednisone and ended up putting 15kgs back on. Bought the book The Acid watchers diet and highly recommend it. Had my gall bladder out as I had a big gallstone. No more pain from that which is a plus. Noticed a few weeks ago that after I took my omeprazole *2 tabs) within 15mins I felt quite yuk so weaned myself off over a three week period. I have never had pneumonia (touch wood) Went to Dr yesterday as energy levels are virtually nil at moment. Told him I have gone off omeprazole and he said good. He suspects my magnesium levels are way down as Omeprazole can do this. Had blood tests yesterday so waiting for results. Take care and hope you get on top of things.

[Izb1]

Hi GMcC2, 2greys put a post on regarding this a while ago and he came off this and went onto slippery elm instead. Put slippery elm into your search box a d you will be able to read his post on this. x

[Whitechinchilla]

I weaned myself off Omeprazole when I discovered I had been given it for 8 years with never a mention much less a check up for osteoporosis.

Bizarrely since I stopped taking it I have not had a single flare up and your comment about pneumonia is a gripe I had about taking it.

It’s a difficult balance but if you alter your diet by removing the foods that cause the acid reflux you could then perhaps manage ie with Slippery Elm.

I bought some following 2greys post about it but have as yet to try it.

There are several great websites on the subject and changes to your diet can make a huge difference.

I can no longer eat onions, tomatoes or tomato sauce but can tolerate garlic.

Dairy is another trigger but I have been a lifelong vegan so that doesn’t bother me but it must be hard if one was a chocolate lover😂😂

Just try removing foods one at a time and see what happens?

I feel on this topic this is an example of us having to be our own doctor.

All the best and let us know how you get on.😊

[peege in reply to Whitechinchilla]

Dark chocolate should be okay.

[Titian8 in reply to Whitechinchilla]

I agree totally with your comments as same thing happened to me with regards developing osteoporosis following many years of being prescribed PPI's, without any monitoring.

I've written many times about success with Slippery Elm instead of any of the proton pump inhibitors. Together with probiotics I no longer rely on these drugs and feel the better for it.

[Whitechinchilla in reply to Titian8]

Great. Well done, thanks for your input,😊

[Ergendl]

I should be taking omeprazole but have begun to react to the E104 food colouring in the type supplied. Reported it last week. Still haven't had a script for a version without E104 quinoline yellow in, even though I supplied the names of several pharmaceutical companies who make non azodye versions.

My symptoms were increasing migrainous headache, nausea, unsteadiness, inability to convert my thoughts to words; with symptoms worsening and intensifying whenever I took another dose. Previously experienced this with E102 tartrazine.

Thankfully I have a stock of ranitidine tablets left over from before being prescribed omeprazole, which are protecting my stomach while I wait for the surgery to get things sorted.

[Whitechinchilla in reply to Ergendl]

Well done Ergendl. Yet another instance of being ones own healer.

I bet your gp had a shock to learn you knew what replacement meds you needed😉

[Ergendl in reply to Whitechinchilla]

The surgery pharmacist phoned after I'd posted, to say no capsule versions of omeprazole are available that don't have E104: the only azo-free versions are tablets. I said I was quite happy to take tablets - it was the NHS choice to give me capsules, and the pharmacist admitted this is because capsules are cheaper.

[Whitechinchilla in reply to Ergendl]

From reading you posts Ergendl it is very clear to me that you have worked on and researched your condition to the point that I would dare to say you know more about it it than your

He should be grateful that you are so observant and so aware of tour body.

That is the part I don’t understand,

When a patient is taking responsibility surely the very least ones doctor can do is to to support this.

I don’t mean to labour the issue,

Just wish you well in finding meds that do agree with you.

And keep asking questions. That is the only way forward for those of us with an invisible condition.

Good wishes.

[Titian8 in reply to Ergendl]

You are right and your research is impressive. Makes you think why on earth do we need food colouring in any medication: it's really unnecessary.

Same goes for many other E numbers and artificial sweeteners in practically everything nowadays, which I avoid like the plague. Drugs shouldn't need to be all the colours of the rainbow and be sickly sweet, giving side effects too.