Difficulty getting prescribed H2 Blockers.

[catlover50]

I was prescribed Ranitidine when I was discharged from hospital last January 2020. This was then withdrawn and since, my pharmacy has not been able to obtain the substitutes which the doctors have subsequently prescribed:- famotidine, cimetidine and nizatidine. Does anyone know if these are now available or a similar H2 blocker?

I do take omeprazole and acidex daily but recently have had several bad attacks of reflux where the burning persists for many hours.

[meadfoot]

I got famotidine just last week from my local chemist on prescription, apparently it was back on the shelves end of November with cimetidine available from end of December. When I was originally prescribed it in October 2019 I couldn’t get it for love or money. Hope you can get some.

[catlover50 in reply to meadfoot]

Thanks so much. i hope to be having a prescription review with my G.P. soon so I will mention that you were able to get famotidine. Hopefully I will get some soon.

[meggiemog in reply to catlover50]

As far as I know these meds have been removed as there is a worry that they can cause cancer if used in the long term. I could never tolerate PPIs - and don't really think they are good in the long term either. I was on high dose ranitidine pre fundoplication operation - and that stopped my acid problems - so I was lucky. I hope you can find something that helps - though a lot of people swear by using apple cider vinegar (with the mother) and honey as a drink each day to help their stomachs

[catlover50 in reply to meggiemog]

Thanks for your response. I too am concerned about the overuse of PPI's and do everything I can to avert reflux attacks but recent episodes have been particularly unpleasant.

[grayj]

I,ve gone through same scenario. I also take 15mg lanzaprole twice a day and gaviscon at bedtime, I used to take ranitidine 1 hour before retiring. when it was taken off market, I could not get through night without burning reflux and sometimes choking and inhaling vile liquid. Followed by sore throat and sinus pain.after research and asking gp and this group.I tried nizatidine.Unfortunately they are fairly large capsules and were difficult to swallow.I am now on my first issue famotidine 40 mg and so far are working well.

[catlover50 in reply to grayj]

Oh, that sounds encouraging in that you have managed to get a prescription. Thank you for your response. Burning reflux really is horrible and debilitating.

[Mauser1905]

I hope you all realise that the medicines such as h2 blockers or ppi's are daily symptoms management infusing gaviscon advance, and not the root cause treatments.

Ad this I am writing while chewing gaviscon advance tablet. Having been in your shoes for long years then developing adenocarcinoma at the lower gej, and lucky to have had oesophagectomy. I was so close to fundoplication the time the cancer was diagnosed. Happens.

[catlover50 in reply to Mauser1905]

Thank you for your concern. I had oesophagectomy 3 years ago. The reflux is a result of that.

[Mauser1905 in reply to catlover50]

Oh alright, I got you now. Thanks.With a stomach in chest without a valve its always going to have the acid in there. Have you been eating sufficiently to keep the stomach busy and full to that extent? It works for me.

When my routine disturbs gaps in food and mostly sleep related episodes I will get.

Also a note continuous use of ppi or h2 blockers will adversely affect you b12 levels as well cause other issues such as constipation in normal anatomy. For survivors like us it means more side effects than normal pre surgery.

[grayj in reply to Mauser1905]

Sorry folks, I should have mentioned I too had oesphagectomy in 2012 theses meds are what I've found work for me. It does seem to be a constant effort to get things right with food quantity ,and nutrition and meds even after this time. But of coarse 9 years I at onetime thought I wouldn't have.

[grandylynda in reply to grayj]

I hadmy Ivor Lewis op in 2017. I still can't get diet right for everything, I have Ibs too plus arthritis. I am currently waiting for appointment re osteoporosis despite being on calcium for over 5 yrs. Also needed a course of iron recently. Of course, lanzoprazol interferes with absorption of these but I was told I would always need this post surgery. Was changed to ranitidine but then it was withdrawn. Also trouble regulating blood sugar. Still, I am alive and life is mostly worth living