Omeprazole again!

[Sharitone]

Following UPke1's post about omeprazole a couple of days ago, I have decided to reduce my dose from 40mg daily to 20mg. this is for two reasons:

1 The GP is very sweet and young and when I asked him how long I must take it, he said, as long as I am on pred - well that could be for ever- and when I asked the rheumy, he said 'omeprazole doesn't cause much osteoporosis', as I have commented elsewhere. So neither is very convincing.

2 I have a strong family history of osteoporosis and have recently acquired two vertebral compression fractures, mercifully not causing any symptoms.

So to avoid the rebound problems as outlined by Uke1, I thought I would start by taking 2 tablets every three days - Day 1, 20mg morning and evening; Day 2, 20mg around lunchtime. It can't be very equally spaced because of the issue of not getting too near the pred, or calcium.

Does this sound reasonable? Thanks for reading this.

[HeronNS]

If you look online I believe there is info on how to taper off omeprazole. If I remember it involves gradual reduction of the dose over a few, maybe 3?, weeks. I wouldn't start by skipping days.

[Sharitone in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks, I've just found a good one. I think I was assuming it would be as difficult as stepping down pred.

[SnazzyD]

Agree with Heron. I wouldn’t leave your system with none too early to avoid the rebound. You might find you need to add in a bit of Gaviscon or similar at some point too. I’d look at weeks rather than days but you’ll soon find out if whatever you do is ok.

[Sharitone in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

The place to start is to reduce to half the dose every day first. You can buy 10mg omeprazole I think. Then you can start to have days without. As Snazzy says, keep some Gaviscon handy! Just in case

[Sharitone in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks!

[Ana-16]

Yes omeprazole is available in 10 mg doses. I reduced from 20mg

[Sharitone in reply to Ana-16]

Thanks

[Muffin2019]

I take 20 in the morning with my vitamins for years and it had been working fine, no conflicts with the many meds I take, if I do not take it I have heartburn issues the next day.

[Uglow in reply to Muffin2019]

I take 20mg at 12 pm snd 20 at 6pmDue to GERD I also use gaviscon

[Sharitone in reply to Uglow]

Thanks. Is that to avoid taking it at the same time as vitamins?

[Sharitone in reply to Muffin2019]

Thanks for that. I f I can get down to 20mg daily, I shall be happy with that.

[Nightingales]

I reduced mine from 40 for the same reasons. I took 20 mg one day 40 the next for two weeks then gradually spaced out the 40 over a month. No problems so far.

[Sharitone in reply to Nightingales]

Thanks. That's encouraging.