Advice for waking burning throat due to acid reflux

[Apple312]

I suffer from acid rising up into my throat at night - use wedge pillow under mattress etc., been told by my GP will be on omeprazole 20 mg permanently. I work latte so am eating my last meal/snack at 7.45 ish l then usually wait 3 hrs before taking my omeprazole and going to bed , can anyone suggest a more effective time to take the omeprazole as l still wake every morning with my throat burning. Thanks for any suggestions/advice.

[pjmann]

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl... id never take those, messing with the way your stomach works, presumably long term, can't be good. Doctors seem to hand these out like sweets without testing if you have too much stomach acid and just assuming that you have. Plenty of articles like these around that point out they can sometimes make gerd worse. nourishholisticnutrition.co...

[over2you in reply to pjmann]

Hi my GP told me to take Lansoprazole in morning and I do take Gaviscon double action tablet before I get into bed and keep pack by bedside in case I need one during the night. This seems to work for me but we are all different and I guess it is trial and error. I wish you all the best.

[strangetimes]

I've noticed a huge change in reflux since doubling my dose and taking it in the morning .I now take 40mg of omeprazole .

I really don't understand why we are told to take it at night.

[Curious8654]

I suffer bad with acid reflux and have other issues ongoing and still undiagnosed but I am currently on 40 mg off omprezmasoles in the moring and now have been giving h20 tablet for night it called nitazadine I take one every night and this has help massively with the acid although side effects can cause stomach cramps which is nut they gave me cause it solves one but gives me the other .. hope this helps kinda

[Sue125nd]

Following my op in 2017 I initially suffered badly with reflux until things finally settled down and then earlier this year I suddenly started severe reflux at night again. My surgeon gave me another gastroscophy to check all was OK, which it was. I then decided to rethink my eating patterns and cut out some foods which are harder to digest . I try to eat no later than 7pm - although have eaten as late as 8pm on rare occasion. I sleep with a wedge pillow and take 40mg omeprazole am and 40mg again in the evening around 9pm which surgeon OK's. It took a week or so but my refluxing eased off. I still sometimes have a minor reflux which I can usually relate back to something I had which I shouldn't have!! but not always. I know the taste in the back of the throat - if I reflux I usually get up and sit quietly for about an hour with a hot drink and sip slowly - I find this eases the burning. If I have refluxed I usually for a couple of nights put a wedge further down the bed to stop me slipping. It's horrible taste and burning sensation but a small price to pay to still be here. Hope you are able to overcome it soon. PS - the foods I love that are hard to digest or I know cause reflux sometimes I treat myself to these in the mornings as a small snack!

[kiddy]

Hi there,I would go back to the dr and they may up your dose, change which tablet your on or add Gaviscon Adv. Without knowing your history have you had any tests done.

Best Wishes

Debbie

[AussiePeterInLondon]

I think a lot of us have this issue - suspect it's caused by a range of different things and there are many different approaches which might worker you.

If you've ever seen it - is it a weird orange/red/yellow in colour ?

In terms of sleeping position I find that I can't spend the entire night on my back and, in fact that lying on my right hand side is best. I use two pillows (vs. a wedge pillow) and then have a large square pillow that I put beside me to stop rolling onto my belly. This has helped me immensely.

I'm on Omeprazole (40mg twice daily) and also Sulfracate (2mg twice daily) which I find makes a huge difference. But, from time to time it's not enough - and I'll end up with the burning in the back of my throat and mouth.

I often have a small scoop of ice cream about 15 mins before bed - this helps to keep stomach contents down.

I find a small tin of diet coke will help to neutralise the burning.

I find a cup of tea will help to neutralise the burning.

I've read about people having a glass of water with a spoon of bicarb sitting beside their bed.

I've seen some people using Gaviscon but, to be honest I'm not sure it's ever worked for me.

[focused1]

I have no medical qualifications so can only go from personal experience. 2 people I know had stomach ulcers after long term use of the medication you are on so when I was put onLansoprazole long term I insisted on further tests for my acid reflux as I was also warned long term use wasn’t advised and it can lead to other conditions. I was eventually found to have hiatus hernia . Best thing ever was surgery - now almost 3 years later no repercussions and no medication. I would get this checked . I realise it’s difficult with NHS having to focus on emergency cases but please get on a list . I had sleep deprivation and piled on weight even though I didn’t overeat as I had no energy. I wouldn’t put my worst enemy on these drugs for anything except a temp wait for proper investigation.

[Brett77]

I had a gastric surgeon advise to take 30 min before evening meal and to make sure its consistently taken around the same time every day...

[Hidden]

Hi, couple of things you could try is taking your omeprazole earlier so you can take it with a meal as you do need some stomach to help dissolve the capsule and eating will assure that this happens. The other thing I tried for a while was opening the capsule and taking the tiny white beads inside in a spoonful of yogurt, you can often just twist the capsule apart carefully or simply snip off the top with scissors. The directions suggest this for people who have trouble swallowing and they suggest apple sauce but you can use anything that the beads will stick to and then just make sure you get them down in one swallow (also a glass of water to wash it down afterwards is a good idea). Hope this helps Martin 😊

[sportsman]

My op ws 16 years ago since when I have taken Omeprazole, initially 40 mg in the morning but at some point (I can't remember when and why) I switched to 20 mg each morning and night. I have been pretty lucky with 3/4 bad incidents each year but I feel there is an increase more recently. I had an endoscopy 2/3 months ago and all was reported as well. I'm getting the sense from previous replies that it might be beneficial to switch to one dose daily of 40mg each morning. I have been unable to check whether that is the favoured view of medics. Can anyone kindly throw any light on this.

[Apple312]

Hello all, thank you so much for all of your feedback re. my problem which I will read in depth this weekend. Really do appreciate everyone's suggestions + help.

[lux46]

Hi, As omeprazole reduces the acid production I would think you should take them earlier than that and take Gaviscon advance on going to bed. The 500ml bottle is best value. Also try and get a wedge under pillows to rise you up a bit. Having acid coming up your throat every night is not good it will cause problems . I have been taking omeprazole 20mg twice a day for 16yrs and had no problems. You should go back to your Doctor and push for more tests. You may also find some foods give less problem with acid.

[Apple312 in reply to lux46]

Hi, thanks for your suggestion.l will try taking it a bit earlier and see if that helps. I have a wedge pillow and now going to raise up bed head 6 inches. My concern re taking Omeprazole long term is also that l have osteopenia and worry about bone fractures. Thnx again and will post if l have any improvement.

[hunsdon]

Hi I am ten years from my Ivor Lewis op and still suffer with acid reflux I do take gaviscon tabs at bed time but when that horrific acid hits the throat I quickly get a cold wet flannel and put it round my neck as this helps sooth a great deal, also helps with the body pulsating and I also suck on lockets it’s not a cure but it’s great support at the horrible time , try it and see x

[BryonP]

I suggest you take it before your meal with a half glass of water. This works well for me.

[rebelkind69]

I don't need anything after 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. and I go to bed normally around 8:00 p.m. and I still have issues. I have cut my meals back to 1 meal a day and that hasn't helped. I'm sick of the doctors they don't do anything but run me around in circles. My prayers to you

[Apple312 in reply to rebelkind69]

Hello , yes same here I sympathise totally. I was prescribed 40mg Omeprazole initially after endoscopic exam discovered gastritis and various lesions at stomach and oesophagus which for now resulted negative. Last few months reduced to 20mg a day which still gives relief with acid reflux during the day but problem is and has remained throughout with acid into oesophagus and throat during the night whether I have eaten or not, whether I take Gaviscon before bed or not ! My GP insists that will have to remain on PPI for the rest of my life which is extremely worrying as well as the fact I have no idea if my condition has improved or is being helped from the meds as I was supposed to have a follow up endoscope in August which I am still waiting for!!! I plan to try a diet regime but there are a few one of which is conflicting advice in comparison to the other 2 I have consulted. I plan to explore all 3 if necessary as I want to get off these meds a.s.a.p.