How to wean down Omeprazole?

[Katebap]

I have been taking Omeprazole 1x20 mg per day for the last 7 weeks. One of the GP at my surgery said to stop it but after 1.5 days the heartburn started again. I would like to wean down the medication instead. Any advice please? Many thanks

[RoadRunner44]

Hi Katebap, I had been taking Omaprazole 20mg for many years when a new doctor explained the possible side effects of taking them long term. He suggested I come down to 10mg initially with the possibility of coming off them permanently.

Like you I found, it was a horrendous experience. You can't just come off them as the acid seems to double up. I decided to try again but extremely slowly this time. One day 20mg the following day 10mg. I took Gaviscon extra too as extra support when needed. It took three months to get down to 10mg but now I was confident it could be done. Now to get off them completely. Unfortunately I found 10mg was the lowest dose to be had so I had to start cutting the tablet in half to reach the final goal. I used the same method as before, One 10mg one day and followed by a half tablet the next. I'm delighted to say I am now off them completely. I occasionally get a bit of reflux acid but can usually manage with just Gaviscon now.

It was very hard coming off them but if you have the patience to do it very slowly it can be done.

Let me know how you get on. Good luck.

[hjskev]

I've come off them and feel so much better. I was taking 2x20mg a day. I cut down to one tablet a day either before my evening meal or before bed as that's when I'm worst. Also took gaviscon. Then went to one tablet every other day then stopped altogether. I also started to eat a high fibre diet and drank kombucha and kefir to help with gut bacteria. The fibre took a bit of getting used to and I would start slowly if I were you. I did get bloated but I've persevered and I'm feeling really good. All the fibre keeps my system moving if you know what I mean. I think constipation was part of my problem. I still take gaviscon at night just in case. Hope you succeed however you go about it.

[special26]

HelloI was also on omerprazole for acid reflux and IBS..

But I couldn't take it as I had too many side effects from taking.. So GP told me to stop taking but like you I had bad withdrawal affects.. So instead of taking I took gaviscon advance after each meal if I had symptoms and also drank warm water which eased my reflux pains and had a warm compress across my stomach where the pains were also...

This helped a great deal... And so I would suggest you try this and see how you get on with this way..

Hope it helps

Take care