Omeprazole

[genius64]

Hi all,

I'm taking omeprazole 20mg twice daily. Do other's have symptoms with taking it. I feel no better on it. I am now on 12.5mg pred after 2 weeks at 15mg as doc thinks this my ease my gut problems.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Was the omeprazole dished out automatically with the pred or did you have symptoms that suggested it was needed to combat acid production?

[genius64 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi again, omeprazole was given at the time of starting pred, however it was increased to 40mg daily due to issues with gut.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to genius64]

Too much acid type problems or other problems?

[genius64 in reply to PMRpro]

Acid problems and fullness.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to genius64]

The feeling of fullness COULD have been the omeprazole - difficult to say,

[genius64 in reply to PMRpro]

thank you PMRpro

[genius64 in reply to PMRpro]

Hello PMRproSo for the past 3 days I've stopped taking omeprizol and my gut troubles have gone, so relieved.

Happy New Year.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to genius64]

Brilliant!!! Have you got something just in case you get some rebound acid problems?

[sheerness in reply to genius64]

Hi I was given omeprazole caused me all sort of problems. I have been on pred for 2 years down to 2mg. I switched to Slippery elm powder which I have taken twice a day for a long time. Had an endoscopy and colonoscopy this week and no problems with tummy or bowel. Also I read you need your acid in the tummy and the ppi stop you absorbing the nutrients you need. Good luck. I went to a medical herbalist.

[Daffodilia]

I had it to protect stomach from pred after two years (on 6 mg now) but got bad wind sochanged to Pantoprazole

[genius64 in reply to Daffodilia]

Thanks Daffodilia, I'll try to remember the name in case I need to try another drug.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to genius64]

You may have to try a few - everyone reacts differently.

[genius64 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi, today I had a phone consultation with my gp. She said I should take an antacid to prevent ulcers as I don't want to take omeprizole, so she is prescribing Pentac liquid. She is also referring me to rheumatologist as I am asymptomatic, all bloods are coming back as normal. Why she didn't refer me in the first place is a mystery. I'm now down to 10mg pred daily from 15mg 2 months ago, I wish to stay at 10mg for several weeks, not in a hurry just keep it steady. I wonder how many folk are/were asymptomatic.Thanks for any advice

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to genius64]

I've never taken anything - if I have ulcers there is no sign of them!!!!

[genius64]

Hi DadCue, good to know there is something elce out there to try. I didn't take omeprazole this morning, so far only have slightly bloated feeling. thanks

[Hildalew]

I think there is a text book (or more likely a pharmaceutical company 'information' book) that advises medics to prescribe omeprazole as a a remedy for the gastric side-effects of prednisolone.

A GP who was doing repeat prescription duty one day (I think about 9 months into my PMR journey) rang me to say she had added Omeprazole to the prescription to deal with gastric problems. I said - 'but I don't have any gastric problems'. Her reply was to the effect 'So now would be a good time to to start taking Omeprazole'.

I didn't feel up to explaining that in general I tried to avoid all medications let alone any for conditions or problems that I didn't have and that live yoghurt seemed to be doing a good job at protecting my stomach.

So I let her write the prescription and, indeed, collected a packet from the pharmacist. I then came home, read the information slip in the box and consulted this forum.

I didn't take any of the Omeprazole, continued taking my Pred with a generous dollop of plain live yoghurt (in place of water or other liquid) and have yet to suffer any gastric side- effects of pred. (I've been on it for 2 years - currently on 4.5mg per day.)

[GratefulBailey]

I so envy you Hildalew! Unfortunately I began Omeprazole with my first dose of prednisone almost 2 years ago and have suffered with stomach problems ever since. I can relate to genius64 ... I feel as if I am walking a tightrope daily, constantly monitoring my food choices. Gastroenterologist recommended 2 Omeprazole daily until stomach issues calm down; my GP suggested Omeprazole in the morning, Pepcid at night on my bad days. I’m now on 3 mg prednisone, hoping for better tummy days ahead!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GratefulBailey]

Did you ever try NO omeprazole? And a different form of gastric protestion IF you needed it?

[GratefulBailey in reply to PMRpro]

So just stop? I thought you have to slowly wean off Omeprazole...there are some days that I wonder why I'm taking it but other days am desperate because of the pain and tummy rumbling; no rhyme nor reason based on the food I eat from one day to another. I started the drug when I was prescribed prednisone because the rheumatologist said to do so. (It was the same with Alendronic Acid - wanted me to start taking it immediately, but I'm happy to say that despite all this prednisone, my bone density is the same as it was before all the medication - verified with a bone scan)... I now wish I had held off Omeprazole and tried all the other suggestions that I read on HU.Back to the Omeprazole...maybe try a different over the counter medication (not as strong as Omeprazole) and only go back to it if the pain/acid is too much??

Thank you ...and I know it will be Christmas Day when you respond to this...Merry Christmas...stay safe!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to GratefulBailey]

No, once you are on it you MUST wean off OR replace it with another type of medication - used to be ranitidine/Zantac but there are problems getting that. There are other H2 inhibitors though, such as famotidine. Don't believe the hype that the others are not as strong, the PPIs are the most effective at stopping acid production but the difference isn't anything like as great as the manufacturers would have you (and doctors especially) believe. But that slight advantage is outweighed for many by the adverse effects. Your GP can prescribe H2 inhibitors too - and being on the appropriate dose is what matters. Some people also find gaviscon helps.

[Gaycreasey in reply to GratefulBailey]

Hi GratefulBailey. I have been on Prednisolone for just over 4 years and had got down to 3mgs. Recently I began to have heartburn and the GP prescribed Omeprazole for two weeks. The heartburn stopped immediately. I finished the course and almost immediately started to have bad stomach upsets, each time I ate. I saw the GP (yes, actually SAW her) and she had a pummel of my stomach and declared she could find nothing untoward but asked me to go for a blood test and she would refer me for an endoscopy. She suggested I take some more Omeprazole. This I did but the stomach problems persisted so I stopped taking the Omeprazole. The stomach is feeling a bit better with the griping pains subsiding but is still far from settled. The heartburn has stopped thankfully. Is this a case of helping to stop one symptom, only to produce another?

[GratefulBailey in reply to Gaycreasey]

This sounds all too familiar...wondering if I've been putting all the blame on prednisone when perhaps it's something Omeprazole has done to my digestive system!

[genius64 in reply to GratefulBailey]

Hi GratefulBaileySo 3 days ago I stopped omeprazole and have had no gastric pain. I feel so much better. Not sure what my gp will say. I know she wants to put me on Alendroluc Acid and wonder what side effects I may get with that drug.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to genius64]

No dexascan, no AA, That at least postpones the argument! And a history of gastric problems is contraindicative ...

[GratefulBailey in reply to genius64]

Hi genius 64..today is day 2 of no Omeprazole - took famotidine (PepcidAC 20 mg) morning and night and today no stomach pain, acid or nausea...the occasional rumbling. (Thanks to PMR pro for suggesting famotidine) Hoping to reduce to one tablet in a few days...just so grateful that I had a "normal" day today - whatever normal is!Can't comment on the AA - I refused to take it, preferring to eat calcium rich foods (also take a 650mg calcium supplement with magnesium and Vitamin K daily) and do weight bearing exercises as often as I can. My bone scan was fine a year into prednisone.

[Skysey]

Hi genius64. I am on 20 mg of omeprazole daily and have been for almost a year. I have

[Skysey]

Hi genius64. I have been on 20 mg of omeprazole daily for a year now with my daily prednisolone. I am currently taking 10 mg of pred. Luckily I haven’t had too many stomach issues although sometimes I experience the odd acid stomach pain. Hope yours settles down soon.

[pegpowell in reply to Skysey]

I was put on Omeprazole after experiencing an ulcer when given a blood thinner during knee replacement and have not been able to get off it since. I tried a year later and ended up in the ICU with another bleed. all this while on pred for PMR. My MD discourages stopping my 20 mg per day, taken since 2017. The ulcer was formed during too much Ibuprofen before PMR diagnosis. I read of one person who got off by gradually taking less and less in capsule form, similar to getting off pred.

[genius64 in reply to Skysey]

Hello SkyseyWell as I've mentioned, I stopped taking omeprazole 3 days ago with no issues, gastro pain gone. Let's hope it stays that way.

[seasider18]

Sometime we men have the unwanted symptom of growing breasts when taking PPI's. Stop for a while and they gradually go away.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to seasider18]

I didn't know that - wonder if it makes ladies' boobs get bigger?

[seasider18 in reply to PMRpro]

At the moment when taking it in a higher dosage my left side is growing. I previously had tests to check for another reason. My wife might seize on that excuse rather than putting on weight.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to seasider18]

I have to say, it would be a prime reason for NOT taking a PPI!! Not that I would anyway

[seasider18 in reply to PMRpro]

My wife said 'You have your own now'

[Amkoffee]

Omeprazole reduces acid so if acid isn't your problem or if you have other problems in addition to GERDS then you may need something else. I have gastritis so I take 40mg of Omeprazole and 5 mg ondansetron twice a day.

[Blackcatlover]

Four years on Prednisone and three years on Actemra and I now have Barrett’s. Just had an endoscopy and doctor has started me on 20mg of famotidine twice a day. I’ve raised the head of my bed and I’ve lost ten pounds but still have a constant gurgling stomach. I’m looking into a procedure called Linz. Anyone out there who has done this?

[Blackcatlover in reply to Blackcatlover]

Should say Linx

[Theziggy]

Been on omeprazole because of Barrets Syndrome for many years before getting Palindromic Rheumatism - very similar to PMR. A lot rarer - hence my posting here. Omeprazole has never given me any side effects. It has subdued the acid reflux that I had been experiencing.