gastritis and Omeprazole

[Kimbad1990]

I have gastritis and I am taking 40mg of Omeprazole (started this 4 days ago) previously I was taking 20mg for 2 weeks. I am still experiencing symptoms which is so frustrating. I am a chronic worrier which I’m sure doesn’t help but I think I was expecting Omeprazole to be the magic pill that made the pain go away but because it’s not happened I’m overthinking. Am I being too impatient? Can gastritis pain wax and wane even when taking Omeprazole? Should I try and relax and let Omeprazole do its job or am I right to be worrying that it’s not working? Thank you

[Jumpey]

I'm sorry you are suffering. I have Gerd.PPIs didn't work for me.Read Dr Louise Kaufman's Acid Reflux Diet. Changing my diet really helped.I can now eat fairly normally again.Huge good luck. Could you afford therapy or a mindfulness course to help with anxiety which obviously can impact physical health.

[Kimbad1990 in reply to Jumpey]

Did you try many different ppis with no luck? My doctors told me to slowly stop taking Omeprazole as it’s not working for me but also doesn’t want it to cause a rebound

[Jumpey in reply to Kimbad1990]

I tried lanzoprosole too.

[Beanlover in reply to Kimbad1990]

I take pantoprazole, as others didn't suit me.

[Kimbad1990 in reply to Beanlover]

thank you. Are you noticing a difference? I’m going on holiday in a week and really was hoping for a miracle I think

[Beanlover in reply to Kimbad1990]

I have been taking it a number of years now, but I think it can be that different PPIs suit different people so wouldn't like to swear it will be the magic pill.I have reflux more than gastritis, so take Gaviscon at night aswell.The combination can be helpful.

Worrying certainly doesn't help, and it can take time for these things to settle down,

[ParkSchool5]

Hi, sorry to hear you are still suffering despite the Omeprazole. I know that anxiety and stress can make symptoms worse despite medication. You could ask your GP for Famotidine if you don't think Omeprazole is helping. It is an alternative to Omeprazole with not so many side effects with long term use. Hope you start to feel better soon.

[1abc1943 in reply to ParkSchool5]

I have been taking omeprazole for 20 years I also take gaviscon advance at night and sometimes in the day. Never eat anything spicy but sometimes take an extra omeprazole . It took several months when I first started on medication for it to settle.

[Gaslo in reply to 1abc1943]

It was good to read that the medication too months to settle, that’s what I needed to hear as I have had gastritis and reflux on and off for years but haven’t taken medications for that long as I always thought they weren’t working. Presently on famotidine 40mg twice a day and Gaviscon four times a day so will keep this up for a few months and see if it helps this time

[Kimbad1990 in reply to Gaslo]

How are you getting on with famotidine? I’ve been given a prescription for this too

[Gaslo in reply to Kimbad1990]

I’ve been taking it for about ten days now and seen a slight improvement. I’ve read that it’s much safer to take long term than ppis so that puts my mind at ease. I also take slippery elm on an empty stomach first thing in the morning and last thing at night to line my stomach. If you go onto Dr Jaime Koufmans website , she does a blog to answer questions and it’s really informative. She is a leading specialist in reflux and prescribes famotidine to all her patients as well as the alkaline diet. I’m also finding alkaline water helps. The footballer, Ronaldo has brought one out and it’s £1.50 for a litre and half bottle in Tesco, ph of 9 . I drink that consistently through the day and I think that helps with acid in my throat and stomach. Im due to go back to the hospital in a couple of months to see how I’m getting on so I’m going to keep this up until then to see if I can heal everything and then take it from there.

Hope this helps

[Pte82]

I've had continuing good results with GERD, no Gerd for over 1 year, using TTFD thiamine and threonate magnesium. Both quickly pass through the blood brain barrier. Research what this type of thiamine (vitamin B1) does for the digestive system and anxiety. I use it with a B-Complex as the B vitamins work better together. Magnesium is needed to activate B1. Always consult your health care provider before using any supplemt.

[ZiggyDiego]

I have got gastritis as well now having acquired reflux when I was seriously ill in 2016. I am still very unwell so it’s not possible to stop the meds. But I have found several things are helping me with the gastritis. As soon as it starts to flare I drink more water and eat less food. I’ve found some foods trigger it but it’s not consistent so I try to be moderate in everything I eat. Sometimes my appetite gets the better of me. I am having several big stresses in my life and so I do all I can to avoid getting overwhelmed with worries. My friends and family are well aware of my difficult times and have been wonderful at finding ways of helping me relax and escape the difficulties for a while. I noticed that on the whole my gastritis is much better when I’m in the company of others. But you might be different, so I hope you can do lots of different things as well as waiting for the medication to do its stuff.

[Pinkgold]

hi sorry you are going through this I was diagnosed with silent reflux 10yrs ago and on the whole it settled down until January of this year where I had severe symptoms and a lot of stomach pain and consequently diagnosed with gastritis as well. I also was prescribed omeprazole 20mg twice a day with gaviscon after every meal and last thing at night. Two months later I was put on famotide twice daily as well.

Anxiety is also a big problem so have tried mindfulness and breathing technics to help that area of my life. It has taken about six months for things to settle down and I am eating more normally and now trying to reduce my medication to see if I can maintain my improvement without it.

For me it took time and to accept what my GP and diagnostics told me and try and go with the flow as I am also a chronic worrier and there is no magic pill for that. The mindfulness and relaxation breathing for me has been useful. So hang in there and if you are not feeling you are getting anywhere go and see your GP for reassurance mine prescribed 6sessions of calming yoga on the nhs which finish shortly and I have been loving it.

Good luck and remember you are not alone 😀

[Kimbad1990 in reply to Pinkgold]

Thank you for your kind message.

oh wow the yoga sounds amazing. Is this an online programme? I do meditate daily and I’ve been trying to swim lots more which is helping when I’m overthinking.

Did your GP add the famotidine because the Omeprazole didn’t seem to be working? I think I definitely need to accept that these things can take time but when you google etc it says Omeprazole should work in a few days- it’s been a month now and I just want to go away and enjoy my holiday without feeling Bleugh! Lol

[Pinkgold in reply to Kimbad1990]

The yoga is on a one to one basis on zoom. The omeprazole helped a bit but the famotidine I think helped more whether it was the combination or just the drug it is hard to tell. The omeprazole did help but it took time.

[Gaslo in reply to Pinkgold]

That is so informative and helpful as I’m in the same boat. Really don’t like being on medication but this time I must preserve as this condition impacts every day life and it is depressing. Anxiety is massive with me and it doesn’t help at all but the hardest part is controlling it . NHS yoga sounds so good, I might enquire about that.

[Badger2024]

Be careful with PPIs. Especially high doses like 40mg. I now have chronic kidney disease from taking PPis (nexium) for about six years. Was only taking one 20mg daily. I now take famotidine twice a day which is more kidney friendly and have to manage my silent reflux with diet and lifestyle changes as well as bring on a kidney diet

[Cavalierrubie]

Gastritis can go on for several weeks, so as you say, carrying on with the treatment and try and relax. The stomach lining is inflamed and takes time to heal and the medication will protect your stomach from getting ulcers etc.

[uptight23]

hi i have also gone from 20mg omeprazole to 40gm have only taken it for a couple of days and have seen an improvement try to relax every one is different and watch what you eat as certain foods can cause a flare up i also suffer from Anxiety

[uptight23]

Hi I'm also having problems with gastritis and have been on 20mg of omeprazole and now on 40mg I'm to take this for a month I'm still getting symptoms had 2 Endoscopy with results no concerns I have to watch what I eat

[Cat551]

I just want to make you aware that long term use of PPI’s like Prilosec can rob your bones of calcium. It’s important to take a calcium supplement or get plenty of calcium through foods if you continue to take a PPI long term. I developed osteoporosis after years on a PPI. I weaned myself of PPI’s and take a H2 blocker like famotidine, when I need it. I’ve learned what foods cause me problems so my GERD and gastritis has improved. If I have a flare up, I take 2 weeks of Prilosec to calm things down. A 2 week course is originally what was intended for PPI’s, that’s why they come in 14 pill bottles. It’s my feeling doctors are too free with putting their patients on PPI’s indefinitely, unless they have serious conditions, like Barrett’s esophagus, ulcers or severe gastritis. Even then there are other non PPI meds like Sucralfate that help heal these conditions. If you ever decide to go off your PPI, remember to wean off it very slowly (maybe over a week or two), or you will get rebound symptoms. That’s if you have been taking a PPI for awhile. Good luck, feeling better

[whatsapain]

I was in similar situation my doc took me off Omeprazol and onto Zemaflux which has turned out to ne a wise move.