Famotidine as a substitute for Omeprazole?

[Heron82]

Hello friends,

Has anyone been prescribed Famotidine to replace Omeprazole? I’ve been experiencing gut issues for several months now and my gp has suggested a change in H2 antagonist to see if the frequency symptoms resolve. The list of potential side effects on the PIL don’t inspire me to make the switch.

Also has anyone else gained weight on Mtx? I’m down to 8 mg pred and been back on Mtx for 5 months during which time I’ve gained 10lb despite being careful with my diet, and am feeling quite low and withdrawn.

oh the joys of this journey.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Famotidine is the replacement for ranitidine and loads of people used to use it before it was withdrawn over manufacturing contamination. The mass switch to PPIs was due to superior marketing by the manufacturers claiming their product was SOOOOOOO much better. It isn't that much better and since they have a different mechanism, the adverse effects are different. Always remember - no-one gets all the adverse effects that have been reported and many get none. Most fall somewhere inbetween. But there have been people for whom PPIs tied them to the proximity of a bathroom that was sorted by using an H2 antagonist!

It is unusual to gain weight on MTX but I did too - a kilo in a month! MTX caused so-called pred effects for me that I had never had before - I was ravenously hungry, craved carbs and gained weight! I'm also sure it made my a/fib worse! MTX is suposed to work by potentiating the anti-inflammatory effect but in fact it can potentiate any effect, I felt so awful I said no after a month. Took a darn sight more than a month to lose that kilo though!

[Heron82 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you, as always just the level of info and detail I was after. I’ll give it a go and see how I get on. Hope all is going well with you.

VBW

Heron

[SnazzyD]

Omperazole upset my gut top and bottom. Famotidine was much better for about a month but I ended up with rebound acidity and since neither helped in the end I had to have coated Pred. However, I have friends who take Fam for other reasons continuously with no problems.

[Heron82 in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you. I already take the GR film coated pred. But have been advised to take something to better protect my stomach which isn’t great.

[SnazzyD in reply to Heron82]

I guess you need to give it a try. Does brand of EC Pred make a difference?

[OPO4]

Hello, I have been on Famotidine instead of

Omeprazole for about a year now. They changed it as Omeprazole was preventing me absorbing magnesium . It was done by the Endocrinologist.

[Heron82 in reply to OPO4]

Thank you for replying. Do you take it at night as prescribed and take pred in the morning? How are you finding it?

[OPO4 in reply to Heron82]

I take it at night and have had no problems.

[Karendeena]

Yes I was switched from Lansoprazole to famotidine because of the gut issues. The PPIs really upset my digestive system.I took famotidine for almost 3 years (I am off prednisolone now) with little side effects apart from some phlegm in my throat which miraculously disappeared when I stopped taking it.

Although much improved my GI system never went back to normal and I now have IBS

[Zebedee44]

Sorry to hear you aren’t feeling so good, Heron82. My GP prescribed Famotodine to replace one of the two lansoprazole the ENT dcotor had recommended to reduce acid reflux and heartburn but I found that taking it at night made the heartburn worse.

I’m sticking with one lansoprazole in the morning with pred an hour later and haven’t had any heartburn at night since stopping the Famotodine. I’m expecting a review of my meds when I have a follow up gastroscopy after biopsies revealed atrophic gastritis. This seems to be the cause of my anaemia.

Although I am lucky not to have gained weight during my pred years I am fed up of having to juggle everything and be wary of the side effects of new drugs which are supposed to make things better. I had hoped my PMR would gently fade away after eight years and health issues would not occupy so much of my time and energy, so far 2024 has been one thing after another and still at 3.5mg with a long slow taper ahead. So I sympathise with you feeling a bit low, and send a virtual hug, xx

[Heron82]

Thank you all so much for your very helpful responses. I’ll give it a go and hope for the best. X