Advice

[Leeja]

I have been put on B12 supplements and don't fell much better...having read the posts on here I am concerned that my other medications are a hindrance. I've been on lansoprazole for 7 years!! I am also on blood pressure tablets since December!

[wedgewood]

I'm afraid that Lansoprazole is a proton-plump inhibitor,which will neutralise your stomach acid. You need your stomach acid to help to absorb, amongst other nutrients , your vitamin B12. It would be better for you if you could give up the PPI ,and find other means to deal with reflux . Reflux is often caused by too little stomach acid. The sphincter which closes the oesophagus off from the stomach ,operates when the acid content of the stomach is high. If the stomach acid isn't high, the sphincter doesn[t get the message to close, and this is when reflux occurs. Even though the acid is not high, it still burns, and causes discomfort. There are various ways to over come this . You can try using Hydrochloric acid with pepsin capsules(preferably under the guidance of a health professional) Some people try drinking organic cider vinegar diluted. Lime juice, Swedish bitters are also used. (Google these remedies)

In the meantime perhaps, try injections of B12 Hydroxocobalamin, which is more effective that tablets. There are also skin patches, and nasal spray that you could try.

I haven't heard that blood pressure medication can interfere with B12 absorption. But I really don't know. Hope that this helps a bit Best wishes

[wedgewood]

Correction!!! PROTON PUMP INHIBITOR NOT PLUMP!!! (This iPad predicts text! Well let me blame it on the iPad! )

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to wedgewood]

A Freudian slip wedgewood ? I guess being "overweight" can cause acid reflux.

Might it be that the lansoprazole is the cause of why Leeja has been prescribed B12 supplements in the first place?

[wedgewood in reply to clivealive]

Could be I suppose, but if the supplements are tablets, they would be cancelled out in the stomach, wouldn't they ? Leeja doesn't say what kind of supplements she takes.

[clivealive Forum Support in reply to wedgewood]

I have asked her Leeja that in another comment wedgewood .

[clivealive Forum Support]

Leeja - do you know what your B12 and Folate (B9) levels were before the doctor prescribed the supplements and what kind and strength are they?

I am not a medically qualified person but there are many in this community who can give good advice.

Depending on ho w low and how long is your B12 deficiency will have an impact on how long before you feel the benefit of the supplements, especially if you have absorption problems and as wedgewood says you would probably benefit from having injections until your symptoms "go away".

Lansoprazole may be only one of the reasons why you are B12 deficient (if that's your doctors diagnosis) = there are many others.

Here is a list of some of the causes.

Vegetarians, vegans and people eating macrobiotic diets.

People aged sixty and over

People who’ve undergone any gastric and/or intestinal surgery, including bariatric surgery for weight loss purposes (Gastric bypass).

People who regularly use proton-pump- inhibitors. H2 blockers, antacids, Metformin, and related diabetes drugs, or other medications that can interfere with B12 absorption.

People who undergo surgeries or dental procedures involving nitrous oxide, or who use the drug recreationally.

People with a history of eating disorders (anorexia or bulimia).

People with a history of alcoholism.

People with a family history of pernicious anaemia.

People diagnosed with anaemia (including iron deficiency anaemia, sickle cell anaemia and thalassaemia).

People with Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, gluten enteropathy (celiac disease), or any other disease that cause malabsorption of nutrients.

People with autoimmune disorders (especially thyroid disorders such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis and Grave’s disease) Type 1 diabetes, vitiligo, lupus, Addison’s disease, ulcerative colitis, infertility, acquired agammaglobulinemia, or a family history of these disorders.

Women with a history of infertility or multiple miscarriages.

Can you tell us a bit about your diet, lifestyle etc and do you "fit" any of the above?

I wish you well

[Leeja]

Hi Guys, thanks for your comments. The GP I saw didn't say much just that I would need to take the B12 supplement for a year and he would retest! I was not impressed and have an appointment to see another GP at the end of this month (by then I will have been taking the supplements for 2 months) I am 51, go to the gym 3-4 times a week, eat a healthy diet and am not overweight. I was prescribed lansoprazole 7 years ago and have only had 2 reviews so maybe I need to go back about that?

I take my B12 supplement as soon as I wake up and then the lansoprazole 2 hours later before breakfast. Hope this helps

[wedgewood]

Do you take tablets that you swallow? If so, they will be cancelled out by the lansoprazole. You need sub - lingual lozenges, patches or most effectively , injections . of B12

[Leeja in reply to wedgewood]

Thankyou I will make an appointment for this week

[Gambit62 Administrator]

Definitely think you need to see another GP - giving very mixed messages - seems to be implying that you have an absorption problem - hence the 'for life' and the standard treatment would be B12 shots rather than tablets

It is possible for enough B12 to get through if you are taking really high doses - the supplement would need to be something like 1000-10000ug (mcg) = 1-10mg for this to have a chance of working - though there are significant numbers of people for whom this really doesn't work.

You could try looking at another method of delivery - eg sublingual tablets - that dissolve in the mouth - and the aim is that the B12 is absorbed in the membranes there rather than in the gut.

If you were on B12 injections then the lansoprazole wouldn't make any difference.

You definitely should not have been on it without review for 5 years. Ironically it is given for high stomach acidity - but often low stomach acidity is mistaken for high stomach acidity - which is one factor that will cause problems with absorbing B12 - so it may have been the wrong treatment anyway.

To be honest you are probably better off going to the pharamacist who dispensed the medications if you want to know if there are any likely interactions between other medications and B12.

High blood pressure is another indicator of a B12 deficiency - effect of B12 on the cardio-vascular system

[Leeja]

Well I have seen another doctor my level was 79, she has ordered an every other day injection for five sessions and a repeat test in two months...a little different from my other doctor who gave me supplements and said he would see me April 2017. Thank goodness for this site x