Sorry to bother you with yet another question but it’s the only way I learn.
My GP and I had a mutually frank and pleasant discussion on the phone this morning. A huge change from previous and very welcome.
I had a few issues to discuss with her but will only mention one here.
After speaking with her about quite bad pains in my abdomen, stomach and spleen areas on upper left which has been there a while, she prescribed me some Lansoprasole 30mg daily. After learning a bit online about this drug, I understand now, that it is a Proton Pump Inhibitor designed to inhibit or reduce the acid that ‘may’ be the cause of my problem. I’ve never heard of it before, nor did I understand about PPIs, although I have seen some of you to refer to them in your posts.
Anyway, moving on, I then found an article, published in 2018, about the Safe Use of PPIs with Cirrhotic patients. It concludes.......”The use of Lansoprasole with Cirrhosis is Discouraged - because of increased exposure compared to non-cirrhotics......”
This, apparently is not touched upon in the Product Information and questions “Is ACID suppression a safety risk for patients with cirrhosis????? It further ADDS that Hepatic Encephalopathy is a central feature of advanced Cirrhosis (I have both).
It concludes that.....”we should not expose Cirrhotics to unnecessary risks.....”
Given that a prescription awaits me at me chemist as we speak, does anyone have any comments?????
I think you’re all great, by the way!!!!!
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Splodge60
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It is all a question of balancing potential risk against against potential benefit. Your GP should be aware of possible contra indications to this medication. For your own reassurance it would probably be helpful for you to discuss your concerns with your GP.
Hi my wife had same pains and we have gone down the totally herbal / vitamin route, we also purchased a magnetic therapy mat not cheap and infrared sauna and now she does not have any pain her fibroscan result was in the early 60s which is very high now within 6 months it’s in the late 20s so much better, you just need to do some research regarding natural healing if your interested in not taking prescription drugs
It is good to know that your wife has had a good experience with complementary/alternative solutions. However we do strongly urge others to be cautious before embarking on this route, it should be discussed with the medical team. Many products are not classified as a medicine and therefore are not licensed, which means you cannot be sure how much of the active ingredient you are getting or how pure it is. Traditional herbal medicines do not have to undergo the stringent regulatory processes that medical drugs have to; therefore manufacturers do not have to prove effectiveness in well-designed large trials. Some can do harm.
It is wise to be cautious about the claims made for herbal remedies, particularly those advertised on the internet, as they can offer false hope.
I value the comments made by Trust 5, in terms of being cautious about alternative meds and even prescription meds. Since I turned 25 the number of all kinds of meds and treatments, I have been given and taken, have all worked together to overwhelm and ultimately destroy my Liver. In a period of my life when I ‘believed everything doctors said’ the cumulative effects of of what they gave me, has now made me realise how naive I was to always take their advice. I no longer have any desire to take ANY meds at all, but, the destruction is now so bad, I can no longer exist without some of them. Others have been slowly ‘deleted’ along the way, where possible. That is another reason why I feel it is so crucial now to question the why’s and wherefore’s of everything. Don’t misunderstand me, I don’t have OCD, but I feel sure that many of you will understand my adoption of this strategy when it comes to making decisions which I feel may be right for me. Before yesterday I had never heard of PPIs but it seems that several of you have taken them, with both good and bad outcomes. This information from yourselves acts like a review of a product you may wish to buy. I always look at a good number of reviews before I buy anything now. It’s like that with meds only more so, because some of these products can actually do you more harm than good. I hope those who also have an enquiring mind will get a chance to read through the article on Lansoprasole and Cirrhosis. It is very enlightening xxxxx
Please be very cautious with any form of 'liver cleanse'.
A lot of liver cleansing products and supplements are available over the counter or even on the internet. And most, if not all, haven’t been tested in clinical trials and aren’t regulated.
What this means is there is no proof that liver cleanses work at all. If anything, they may actually cause harm to your system. So if you do decide to use them, proceed with extreme caution and fully discuss with your hepatologist.
After giving the article a *very* quick read, it seems to say that severe cirrhosis can impair the liver's breakdown of PPIs. This can expose the person's body to a higher-than-normal dose of the PPI. Some PPIs are more of a risk this way than others. Lansoprasole was noted as one of the PPIs that is especially likely to build up in the body and should not be used by people with cirrhosis.
I think you should show the article to your physician, and ask if you could take a different PPI, one of the PPIs mentioned as safer for people with cirrhosis.
In my own case, I have cirrhosis caused by NASH, and I take omeprazole.
Yes that is the Article and well worth a read if you have abdominal pains.
Hi Splodge
Sorry for late reply!
I've was on that same medication for acid issue's for years but was switched to Omeprazole last year after I was diagnosed with inflammed Esophagus! I now have to take this medication daily which has kept the pain at ease and has improved my lifestyle. However naughty me did stop taking the meds a month or so back and the symptoms returned plus my lovely friend David gave me a nice telling off which I deserved....
If your doctor has prescribed you meds to relieve your discomfort then it might be worth trying dont your think as we've all be there reading up on the side effects on the web which I no longer do!
All I can do is wish well as please try and listen to your docs advice and others on here if you want less pain and discomfort.
I was put on Omniprasole before my transplant and then switched to Lansoprasole afterwards. The initial prescription was after surgery for bleeding varices. I have no idea if this has any relevance to your inquiry and always follow the guidance of the doctors.
I’m afraid I do not have the same confidence in clinician’s expertise as yourself. I have been let down too many times. Drs are human beings just like we all are. In fact I have a Ph.D and yet can only claim to know a lot about very little. I call myself Dr occasionally but it can give people a wrong impression. Many have said to me that I must be very clever!!!! Believe me it is a myth. Yes I can do some things well and others I’m hopeless at. Ask my kids and grandkids. The point is I do have an inquiring mind and ask lots of questions. Drives my friends and family nuts. Yet, I don’t mind admitting quite truthfully that my knowledge is very limited. There is so much to learn, even about the Liver!!!! You learn nothing if you do not ask questions, so, fire away and ask anything, and I shall probably end up referring you to the Forum Nurses (Bless em!!!) or to others who can help. Many of you have taught me a great deal about the liver and I am incredibly grateful to you!!!!!
I have reflux / NAFLD but avoid these type of medications I find Gaviscon some help & have adjustable base on bed with which I raise head. Not a cure but helps.
Have I got this right - you say you have Reflux: Do you mean acid reflux and, if so, how do you know that acid is the problem? Is there a blood test or other test that can determine this???
I have pains through my spleen, stomach area and abdomen. A recent CT scan gave no indication that I had a problem with acid. My oesophagus does not hurt. I am informed that I do not have varices, though it’s over a year since my last endoscopy. My major problem is excessive bleeding????? That’s why I enjoy everyone’s remarks on here as things emerge that you’d never thought about before!!!!!
It's more to do with stomach acid irritating varices. Varices arn't caused by stomach acid or vice versa but by portal hypertension, however, when you have PH it can also cause changes to your stomach lining (portal hypertensive gastritis, portal hypertensive gastropathy) and too much stomach acid can then cause pain in stomach and in oesophagus where varices are present.
That's what was going on with my hubby as discussed in PM.
This is interesting but my head hurts with trying to take all this in. I need to think about this and go over my notes and get back to you. Hope that’s ok?????
No the acid wasn't caused by the varicies but the normal stomach acid could damage the varicies and make them bleed so lansoprosoze killed acid to avoid damage
Same here, l was prescribed the purple pill briefly ( but l could not afford it, luckily for me, ha ha ). I think it's better to take anything for only as long as needed, but we get complacent and just keep shoveling the pills in. Now that is something I very briefly review on every doctor visit or consult, what is this for and is it still working for me?
Please refer back to your doc with your concerns and your findings or discuss this with the pharmacist before you take this medication. There may be clear reasons why your doc prescribed this medication rather than Omeprazole. x
My belief is yes these specialists are experts but they are following a script and they are very good at scaremongering , you have to follow your gut sometimes it’s that simple good diet, exercise and positive thoughts but these specialists are not God so do research remember you know your own body better than they do and please question why they are giving you what they feel is in your benefit !!! there maybe a better solution , I am sure if my wife had followed their script that she may no longer be here , but that’s my belief and we all have to do what we feel is the best route or maybe a combination of both may work for someone else , my wife when seeing last specialist at kings was scared into thinking what she was taking was no good including the PEMF treatment she as but she was diagnosed with end stage liver to now Diagnosed with chronic liver, she refused every drug offered , she refused them taking a biopsy, she could not walk a year ago now she is walking 15000 to 18000 per day and never been this fit in 30 years so make your own mind up , her bloods so so far out or range and now they are all within range, it’s not been easy but do not right anything off until you research and please question these specialists, this is my personal opinion
I have cirrhosis and had a gastric bleed that was life threatening. I have been told that I will be on Omeprazole for life to keep my tummy happy. Unfortunately it doesn’t make my family happy because my main side effect is WIND. And, noisy wind at that. 😂😂
once again your symptoms are diet related so do your own research, do you need this medication ? or can you change your diet, are the side effects worth it
now thats a tough question, who needs social distancing
I trust my GP. He has been with me every step of this journey. He listens to my concerns. Understands that I use Dr Google. He advises me on my diet along with my dietician. He keeps my medication to the minimum possible. I don’t want to die. He knows what I need. And that is often just a phone-call these days. You seriously have a weird attitude. But that is your choice.
I'm seeing your post only now - how did things work out? I've been taking lansoprazole for 20-25 years. Your GP may have factored in your own circumstances in arriving at a dose of 30mg. Anyway, I take 15mg a.m. and 15mg p.m. and you might want to ask for the 15mg tablets if you are concerned, then you can start with 15mg/day (take 45 min BEFORE breakfast , V important!). If that works well, you don't need the extra 15mg.
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