Omeprazole

Is anybody else taking Omeprazole as a matter of course. My doctor been in touch saying it protects stomach whilst taking Prednisolone and I should be taking it?

[Maisiek]

Yes I was put on it as soon as I was diagnosed in January, along with Alendronic acid. I must say I’ve had no ill effects from either .

[Koalajane]

I wasn’t prescribed it. I just make sure I take my prednisolone with my breakfast

[MrsNails]

I’m on Lansoparsole & have been since l’ve been on Steroids, prior to that l was on Omeprazole to protect my stomach as l was on regular Anti-Inflammatory Medication.

[Dambusters in reply to MrsNails]

That is what happened tome too. I have a reflex problem. I never had any problem with either pill but I did have to drop the Alendronic Acid.

[DogAgilityObsessed]

I gave up on the discussions about it with GP, practice nurse and pharmacist. They all said it would help protect from stomach ulcers amongst other things. I haven’t noticed any effects. Didn’t have a problem before and no side effects from it.

[SheffieldJane]

I was automatically prescribed it with Pred. However, I found it caused more gastric trouble than it helped. I managed with yoghurt alone for a long time, eventually changing to gastric Coated Pred that suits me fine.

[genius64 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Hi, interesting you are the same, not sure Omeprazole is helping at all I feel worse in the gut than before.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to genius64]

Omeprazole has form for causing gut problems for about a third of people. If you can get famotidine or another H2 antagonist they do the same thing (reduce acid) but with different side effects. PPIs (omeprazole and co) are newer and very well marketed as being the best thing since sliced bread ...

[genius64 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro, you answer my questions so rapidly, nice to know your are there. Thanks for the advice once again. I think I shall stop taking it for a couple of days and see how things pan out.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to genius64]

Careful - IF it is working to stop acid and you have been on it long then you MAY get rebound acid production which can be severe. You need to taper off it - or replace it with something else.

[Jonimoroni]

When I was diagnosed with GCA 8 weeks ago I was given Omeprazole along with 60 mg Prednisolone. ( Silver - no, golden! bullet!) Now tapering, longer story!) At least one of these drugs is causing weird smells and textures with pee’s and poo’s, and seems to have turned my bladder into a non-valve-protected overflow! I’d love to know if I could replace the Omeprazole with yoghurt. I take a 75mg Aspirin as well, no other drugs apart from those mentioned here, diet (newly) LCHF.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Jonimoroni]

Would think that it’s more likely to be the omeprazole - and if you aren’t normally prone to digestive issues then yogurt should be okay.

[Jonimoroni in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DorsetLady - I’ll try yogurt instead and see how it goes - it’s SO good to have your knowledge and experience to tap into.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to Jonimoroni]

Thank you for raising this Jonimoroni. I am also taking Omeprazole and 15 mg Prednisolone and having weird smell and colour with pee, and bladder problems.Unlike you I am also taking Hydroxychloroquine and Amlodipine.

[Jonimoroni in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Thanks Rachmaninov 2 - I’ll let you know how the yogurt substitute goes, in a week or so - but because of the other drugs you are taking you need advice from someone a lot more knowledgeable than I .It is an unpleasant side issue though, and if seeing it off is as easy and pleasant as taking yogurt it’s a no-brainier!

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to Jonimoroni]

Please do let me know how you get on with the yoghurt, and which one you use. I already have yoghurt most days.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rachmaninov2]

Most important is NOT to use the sweetened sort! Lots of us like plain Greek yoghurt - doesn't taste as yoghurty for those who are less keen!

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, I have organic plain Greek yoghurt. Would you consider this to be adequate protection rather than Omeprazole PMRpro?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Rachmaninov2]

It is for many people. I couldn't say - I have never taken a PPI and while I eat a lot of yoghurt I don't use it specifically for that.

[Rachmaninov2 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your response.

[Bee_cake76 in reply to Jonimoroni]

Hi, just saw your post about the omeprazole giving you problems with your stools. Can I be personal and ask what kind of changes happened? I've been taking them for a week and my stools have gone watery and a pale green colour. I'm panicking because this has come at the same time as me having stomach pains so I've convinced myself the 2 are connected. Now trying to reassure myself it's the omeprazole xx

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Bee_cake76]

Try stopping it for a few days and see if it improves. Take the pred in the middle of a proper meal and if you have a stomach problem with the pred try using Gaviscon or something like Pepsid or Tagament (H2 inhibitors instead of a PPI).

[Jonimoroni in reply to Bee_cake76]

Hi Bee_cake76

I had a look at your other post, and I’d just like to reassure you that anxiety really does affect the gut SO much - just stop taking the Omeprazole for a couple of days to see how it goes, it would be one stress less - and you should get the reassurance you need when you see your Dr tomorrow- do let them know how much the anxiety is affecting you

I am so new to all this, I really have gained so much confidence from the more experienced on here - Dorset Lady and PMRpro esp, so I would see what they say,

Hope you get relief from the pains - let me know what you do and how it goes?

[Bcol]

Morning all. Been on Omeprazole since diagnosis of PMR, but had also been on it for many years due to NSAIDS etc for OA. I have never noticed it causing any problems. I do take my Pred with Yogurt and a banana around this delightful time of the morning.

[Kendrew]

Hi there. I've been on prednisolone for 18mths now but take gastro-resistant pills. I always take my pred after a really good breakfast and so far, never needed the omeprazole. I also take a statin, a beta- blocker, and a biphosphonate so really don't want to add yet another medication with more potentially unpleasant side effects, into the mix. I realise that this may change in the future though.

[York54]

I take Lanzoperazole as I have acid reflux. Taken it for many years without any problems.

[Mary63]

I take my pred with breakfast. When on a lot of NSAIDs after knee replacement I took omeprazole, but that gave me bad indigestion after a while.

[Hidden]

Thank you all for your varied replies, taking uncoated Pred with no ill effects, so think yogurt or milk is a better bet first thing in the morning.

[Daffodilia]

My gp prescribed it after about 2 years on pred to protect stomach

[Theziggy]

Have been taking it for 20+ years. No side effects (so far)

[membership]

I've taken it since day one with no ill effects at all; I've never had any digestive problems with the pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have never taken it - to be honest, I can't remember if I was automatically given a prescription for it either, I got alendronic acid automatically. Didn't take that either. But a lot of doctors insist. Like a lot of people, PPIs give my husband dreadful gastric effects.

It is worth bearing in mind that it, too, can cause loss of bone density because calcium needs an acid environment to be absorbed well.

[TheBund]

Hi just make sure you have a kidney kidney function test when on omeprazol.I didnt had a reaction ended up with kidney damage not pleasant. Now banned from taking ppi & taking famotodine. Kidney function up from 19 to 40 not brilliant but I can live with that providing it doesn't dip again. Alternative if it gets worse dialysis or transplant.

[Loyd]

I find it does help with the heartburn pred was giving me. However I’ve cut back to one every second day which seems to work as well. Not good for your kidneys I heard.

[Dambusters]

I never had a problem with it. I take 30mg Lansoprazole every morning 20 minutes before food. I had to drop the Alendronic Acid becasue of gastric problems. I now take Vit D3 .

[Sandradsn]

I took it for 4 years then weaned myself off it,no problems.I take pred with breakfast.My husbands been on it for 15 years!

[Highlandtiger]

Exactly the same as SheffieldJane - it gave me absolutely dreadful gastric symptoms.

[kewl1]

I have taken it for at least 20 years for reflux which runs in my family. It is a miracle drug. I never, ever get heartburn but in prior years I would eat Tums like crazy and have to take 4 Extra strength ones at bedtime. My mother died from an experimental operation on her esophagus and my youngest brother has Barrets. Only one out of 6 siblings do not have reflux

[HeronNS]

Long term use of a PPI is not recommended although doctors prescribe them that way. They can cause bone thinning and contribute to the development of osteoporosis. Anyone who can manage without the use of a PPI (except for short term treatment) should do so.

[Lico]

Yes I have been taking it it the morning.

[Wales20]

The pharmacist at my GP rang me recently to say I should start taking Omeprazole to protect my stomach as I have been taking pred for nearly 18 months. I have had no unusual symptoms with my stomach either before starting it two week ago or since. I will discuss this with my rheumatologist when I see her next in February. I am on 4mg daily of pred now. I don't know why the consultant had not raised this with me before, or given details of this very helpful forum which I discovered by chance recently, which I will also raise with her.

[Hidden]

Well that opened a can of worms, with good and bad reports I will for the time being not go down the road of taking them, thank you everyone for your input

[Arflane97G]

Was prescribed it along with initial dose of prednisone - no side effects although breakfast is always yoghurt and blueberries. Queries whether I still needed to take it at 7 mg but rheumatologist simply said - go ahead, if you want an ulcer!, decided to stop when I was at 2.5 mg, cut down over about a week with no ill effects. Was good to be able to strike one pill off my daily drugs list! Very best wishes