Hi
Just wondering if anyone else with osteoporosis has been prescribed Omaprazole for acid reflux? Osteoporosis is actually listed as a side effect but my GP has prescribed it knowing I have osteoporosis.My acid reflux was so bad I decided to risk it so agreed to take 20 mg a day. When I pointed out my concerns my GP said that the risks to my oesophogus was more than the risk to my bones. Anyone any experience of anything like this please?
Hi I have also been prescribed Omaprazole for acid reflux. I asked my GP the same question and he said the same as your GP that there was more risk to my oesophagus, so I have continued as the reflux was so bad
morning Lilbil
Thanks for your reply.
Can I ask how long you’ve been taking it and what dosage? And have you had any other side effects so far? I’ve been on them for a year and am noticing several stomach issues and also low mood has been quite bad recently.
Hi I’ve been taking omeprazole 20mgs daily for the past 2 years have had no problems with it, did try to stop it last year but the heartburn and reflux was awful and couldn’t eat so started it again
God poor you … I’ve been on it for a year and when I tried to reduce same thing. I took it every other day for awhile then stopped it for a few days and similar to you. I had silent reflux and difficulty swallowing etc before I started taking it but no symptoms of heartburn or indigestion. When I recently tried to stop it the swallowing was much worse than originally and starting having heartburn and indigestion! It was all unbearable so quickly went back on it again. It’s worrying me though as I don’t want to stay on them because it’s supposed to deplete Vitamin B as well as calcium
Seems a case of the cure being worse than the illness it’s supposed to treat 🤷♀️
Hi Debs4
Your GP is most likely right. I have been on a PPI - lansoprazole at the minute- for ever. I have no choice having suffered serious stomach issues in the past. Despite this and hyperparathyroidism my osteoporosis doesn’t seem to be too bad. How long this will be the case I don’t know. I have scoliosis so a DEXA would not give accurate results. My GP has prescribed HRT for me to offset the PPI.
Thanks for your reply t1gernidster.
Did read yesterday somewhere that lansoprazole may be a better option but not sure why. Interesting that you’ve been prescribed HRT. Have you been on this for as long as the PPI?
I was on HRT in my 40s and 50s which I think helped my bones during menopause. My GP stopped it as the thought then was that it was risky. I am now 74 and my GP (a different one) suggested it about two years ago and I have been on it since then.
Really? I assumed you must be younger! When I enquired about the possibility of taking it I was refused due to age. I was about 66 at the time and am now 69. So your GP just suggested it?
Yes! I was surprised too!
Just wondering if anyone else has problems like lack of appetite and loss of interest in food etc due to these gut problems? I’ve totally lost interest in cooking and food in general and it’s really hard when most of the cooking and shopping for food is down to me!
Yes, this has been happening to me too. I used to love to cook and go out for meals but now I'm down to 'grazing' and don't enjoy most of my food. My Pneumologist prescribed me some high protein milk drinks and desserts to keep my weight up but sometimes I can't even drink those. I get heartburn, stomach pain, nausea and digestive problems which often make me afraid to eat because of the pain and discomfort if it gets too bad. I'm losing on average 1lb a week because of this and have already lost 2 stone so far this year. My Mum had LC two years ago and is now being treated for osteoporosis. She got heartburn but the omaprazole has worked well for her and she's 90 years old. She recommended it to me but I don't think that she was on as many meds for lung cancer as I am so it's not been a problem..?? We're all different though so, I don't know.......
I too was prescribed it but refused to take it. When I voiced my concerns to another GP at the practice I was given famotodine instead.
Carol
It's not a ppi but a channel blocker. I seem to get on OK with it I have calcichew tablets as well but don't take as many as prescribed because they cause constipation and nausea
I was prescribed Famatodine too as I refused the PPI's.
And have you had any side effects?
Hi, no not that I've noticed. I take two a day but my GP has said I can cut down to just the morning one when the reflux is good. I have silent reflux, no heartburn, pain etc. I do all I can for my bones, walking with weighted vest, five miles most days, a bit of jogging for the impact, resistance bands and weights two or three times a week. I eat my prunes and have lots of high vitamin K foods. I have skimmed milk and Greek yogurt and have a healthy diet. I can't do anymore! I just wish I knew if all this was doing any good! Hopefully the Alendronic Acid and the acreete are working.
Hello, What were your symptoms of silent reflux? How did you find out that you had it? Did you have it already, before you started taking alendronic acid, or was it a side-effect of that?
I had an endoscopy which showed a loose upper sphincter as I had some reflux. I started the Famatodine about the same time as the Alendronic Acid 15 months ago. Chewing sugar free spearmint gum helps. I sleep on a wedged pillow and on my left side. I eat very early in the evening and drink fennel or ginger tea. I am careful with fat in my diet too. I'm 66 and I agree with craftycreator it's about managing both at once. It's not horrendous but it's there.
Hi I have severe osteoporosis which was diagnosed 3 years ago in my spine and also have had an hiatus hernia for years. I I was given Lanzoprazole to control the acid reflux after the hernia diagnosis. Lanzoprazole is in the same drug classification as Omaprazole. I can’t help but wonder if this long term use has been a contributing factor in my poor bone health. It is such a balancing act when other conditions need to be managed alongside all the stuff which comes with osteoporosis. I have managed to gradually wean myself off of my Lanzoprazole over the last 18months, but it’s been tough! Occasionally I do have to resort to taking Lanzoprazole for a few days if my reflux gets really bad though. I have used an IQoro device for well over a year and feel this has helped with the reflux but not stopped it entirely. I take Gaviscon Advance every night before bed and try to avoid lying on my right side as this makes my reflux worse. I’ve tried sleeping on wedge shaped pillows, but just didn’t find them comfortable. I think it’s important to know what is causing your reflux in the first instance and then research possible alternatives to the PPI medication? I know what foods to avoid now that seem to exacerbate my reflux and eat small meals. Avoid eating meals less than 4 hours before going to bed too if you can. I’m certainly not saying you should stop taking your prescribed medication, but look at ways to control the reflux with a view to then reviewing your situation again with your doctor? This has been my journey and would not be right for everyone. Good luck and best wishes.
I have osteoporosis and have taken 30mg of lansoperazole for 7 years. My endocrinologist said the effects of these types of drugs have been greatly over played in the press and that their advantages greatly out way any possible side effects. Stomach issues are as miserable as osteoporosis so I feel that being able to enjoy good, healthy food is vital, stick with them and if you feel it helps up the supplements maybe.
Hi, Yes I was on Omeprazole for yrs. for GERD. Recently I ask the Dr to take me off to see how I am. Now once in awhile I will feel a little burn in my throat, then I take Rolaids. I have Osteopenia in one hip and just went into osteoporosis in the other one.
Hi I’m on 40 mg a day. I’m hoping my meds will cover me.
Hi i have oseoporosis and have twice yearly injections. I also take omaprezole and . Have had no problems i suppose its just trial and error
Hi. This is an interesting post. I have osteoporosis and osteopenia, and in April this year, began having swallowing difficulties. I couldn't eat and lost so much weight. Couldn't get the GPs to understand what was going on, I knew it was LPR otherwise known as silent reflux. Paid to see an ENT. He diagnosed it. Gave me Lansoprazole but it was awful. Eventually GPs took me seriously, and I have been diagnosed with a sliding hiatus hernia as well and given omeprazole. I'm not taking it for all the reasons others have said. I'm trying to help myself with food. Sometimes it seems ok, then for no apparent reason, it gets worse. At least your GP has acknowledged you. Mine hasn't. No discussion. Here are more pills, get on with it. Best wishes to you.
Hi Priss58
Thanks for your reply. I am indeed lucky that my problems are being acknowledged! When I first went to my GP it was due to the problem I was having with swallowing. It was taking me forever to eat due to the discomfort. I was fast tracked for a cancer referral and thoroughly tested including a barium swallow. I was found to have a torturous oesophagus, hernia , dysmotility, gastritis and silent reflux. Omeprazole was immediately prescribed which I was told would help to heal and make swallowing comfortable again, which it did. After almost a year I tried reducing only to find the symptoms more painful than originally plus heartburn and indigestion which I’d never had! Feel stuck in between a rock and a hard place . I’ve asked about the Op but GP seems reluctant saying is ‘quite an op’. I suspect there will be long waiting lists!
Finding it really tough managing it with food as there seem to be so many to exclude including things that we need for the bones!
Hi, yes. What you are saying is exactly why I'm reluctant to take PPIs. My initial was swallowing. Hoarse voice. I have to say there is an improvement, I've been mainly following Dr Aviv's Acid Watcher Diet, and listening to Dr Jamie Koufman online. But you're right, some foods we need for bones are frowned upon by the denizens of social media! I have lost far too much weight than is healthy, so I aim to get 2000 cals per day including 70gm of protein. Some things get stuck in my throat. I'm.having the barium swallow today. My hiatus hernia is 1 cm, so not terrible. Not sure if they grow. I suppose if I took the meds I would put on more weight, I think. I think I'd benefit from a speech therapist and a nutritionist. I dont fancy my chances of those on the NHS! I don't have heartburn either. I also have oral lichen planus so there's another lot of food and drink I'm not meant to take. Btw, I've read testimonials of people who have successfully come of PPIs, but I don't think it's one size fits all. If only it was!
I have a hiatus hernia (size 7) and consultant told me I would require omeprazole for ever. I have been on it for 4 years and in that time my dexa scan has shown a improvement in my bone density. So from my experience I would say take it.
Hi Elmaaa
Didn’t realise they sized them! I have been told mine is small. Do they get bigger and bigger then? I have quite severe osteoporosis especially in my spine. Also have had spinal fractures which I think may have caused the hernia. Rightly or wrongly I want to avoid taking the meds for it and try to manage it with diet. My question to you is if you’re osteoporosis is improving is it mainly because you are on the recommended meds? Congratulations btw! It must be so reassuring to know 😊
All I know about the hernia is 5 and above are classed as large and mine was probably caused by my 4 inch hight reduction slacking of my diaphragm. My hight reduction was caused by 9 spinal fractures. For 2 years I was on daily injections of Teriparatide. A year after finishing the course my dexa scan showed an improvement in my hips and spine. I have not fractured any vertebrae in the last 2 years😁. There are no treatments suitable for me at the moment so the only medication I take for my osteoporosis is calcium and vitamin D. I also have a tortaous distal oesophagus so between it and the hernia I will always take omeprazole. Good lick with what ever you decide to do. Be guided by your medical team.
I couldn’t cope with Omeprazole, it gave me diarrhoea.
I changed to rabeprazole, no problem at all. I haven’t had any side effects and I also have osteoporosis and acid reflux
If you are ever offered Alendronic acid, for your acid reflux REFUSE, they made my acid reflux much worse. I now have an annual infusion of zolendronate with no problems.
Good luck
hi Debs ..I had acid reflux for most of my life (now 74). Yes omeprazole kept it in check and had cameras down oesophagus but after kidney stones and all I was offered was an increase in dose I asked specialist about diet . He looked at me as if I wanted to discuss unicorns so I knew he was hopeless. Most people in the NHS are ignorant of diet and just beginning to catch on to gut biomes etc.
Well upshot is for last 10 years I don’t take PPIs except on occasion …maybe 4 in a year!!
We are pushed the idea that it’s acidic, spicy things like curries which cause it …(occasionally it is) but it’s things like pastry, bread, cake, biscuits, cream, cheese …the stuff which your stomach has to produce more acid to digest! Just as likely to be thickeners in sauce or accompanying bread.
What I found was changing to sourdough bread was the main game changer and if I eat anything else the reflux comes back so commercial yeasts may be a factor.
Because I’m on blood thinners I’m being encouraged back on to antacids but have discussed with my doctor who agrees with me.
It’s important to be brutally honest about your diet. I was eating mainly organic foods (worked for organic company) but it was the organic white sliced that wasn’t great. People at work making cakes and biscuits didn’t help. I do hope you find relief …good luck!
Thanks for this Cat… Glad you got off them. You are so right gps not interested in anything other than giving out pills. Or rarely! Trouble is they bring their own problems. I have now weaned myself off them as I have too many side effects. Something that’s not mentioned on the listed side effects on the leaflet is that they can increase cholesterol levels. Within a year of taking them my cholesterol had increased from 5.4 to 6.8. Felt very low on them too and this is beginning to improve after 3 weeks.
Interesting about sourdough, I will give it a go, thanks!
I have been on 20mg Omaprazole for 3 years to protect my stomach from bleeding due to pain relief drugs I take for chronic pain with Osteoporosis. It hasnt interfered with my Osteoporosis in fact my DXA scans over last few years has shown slight improvement due to my Osteoporosis drug. So obviously the Omaprazole has not interfered with my Osteoporosis.
I have taken Omaprazole for years to stop bleeds in my stomach from pain relief. It has made no difference to my Osteoporosis when I have my yearly DEXA scan. Hope that helps.
Thank you for bringing this up - it's been so helpful.
Happy to hear that 😊
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