GERD

[Jerry2018]

I suffer from Gastric Reflux Disease (GERD or GORD), which feels like acid indigestion. Reading up on this recently, I see that Restless Legs is a known symptom of GERD. My early RLS started that way, but I now control it with Lyrica (1 tab about 2 hours before bed)

[Millie09]

Hi Jerry, I too suffer from GERD I'm on lanzoprasol for it ,this started in April last year , I too have restless legs , well I think it is , I get electric shocks at times and I just cant keep my legs still, at night it's the worse ever

I'm on pregabalin, as I have bone degenerative disease and osteoarthritis.. but it's not doing much to be honest as I am still suffering .I take 75mg x3 per day , have been on them for 12 months .I did not know restless legs was linked to Gerd ! Most interesting..

[Hidden in reply to Millie09]

Please read my reply to Jerry2018, the cause of your RLS may be Lansoprazole.

These proton pump inhibitors seem to be the modern, very popular, easy and very short sighted solution for GERD

I'm afraid it's one of my pet hates. I see these adverts on TV saying if you take a certain antacid medication it will protect you 24 hours a day and you can take it every day.

What happened to what's causing the problem and dealing with it. Why must we become dependent on these medications, which may in fact be causing us more harm than good?

[Hidden]

I'm not so sure that RLS is a consequence of GERD, but, if as is common for GERD you are prescribed a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) antacid. (basically anything ending in "prazole") then you need to be aware that PPIs can cause RLS.

This is because they interfere with both iron and vitamin B12_absorption from.the gut and both these can contribute to RLS especially iron. Furthermore if you are deficient innthese, no point in taking supplements, the PPI will render them.ineffective.

It would seem logical to believe that anyone taking a PPI who has RLS should either be tested for iron and B12 levels or be switched to an alternative medication.

[Hidden]

There are a few reasons that people can suffer from GERD. These include some kind of obstruction either preventing food getting into the stomach or leaving it. This could include such things as hiatus hernia or gastroparesis.

PPIs such as omeoprazole, lansoprazole etc reduce symptoms, but don't really treat the cause.

PPIs work by inhibiting secretions from the stomach lining e.g. hydrochloric acid, but also other substances e.g something called "intrinsic factor". This can cause malabsorption and RLS.

There are other medications that can stimulate the stomach to empty faster, but they also can make RLS worse.

There are other, older medicines that neutralise acid but perhaps not so popular with drug representatives selling these things to doctors, as many companies make them and they can be bought over the counter.

GERD can be managed by eating 5 or 6 SMALL meals a day, eating high fibre foods, avoiding certain foods, e.g. spicy and paying attention to.posture. Avoiding bending, crouch instead, sleep well.propped up by pillows in a semi prone position. Perhaps not easy but better than being kept awake by PPI induced RLS.

[Millie09 in reply to Hidden]

I have a chronic illness that can cause acid reflux, I've had endoscope to rule out any sinister findings, I did read that some antidepressants can cause restless legs , I dont have gastroperesis , I'm not a diabetic, i can't remember if my restless legs started before or after lanzaprazole, I dont drink or smoke ,eat greasy foods or Anthing citrus.. so I'm sort of stuck

[Hidden in reply to Millie09]

Hi Millie

It does depend on what illness you have that's causing the reflux but lansoprazole reduces stomach secretions. As regards whatever illness you have, it does nothing else. It doesn't treat the illness.

In most cases of reflux if you try to eat too much at any one time then you will get reflux. Hence it's advised to eat only very small mrals. To ensure you get enough nourishment, you have to eat more meals. About 3 hours apart.

A diet high in fibre can help, fibre promotes peristalsis, i.e. the contractions of the gut that moves things along. It also adds "bulk" to gut contents.

Gravity plays a part. If you were to stand on your head gravity would pull your stomach contents back up your throat. in this circumstance, since you're upside down, it would be back down your throat.

So the same applies if you bend over or even lie flat, basically any time that your head is lower or on the same level as your stomach.

Therefore, crouching keeping your back vertical is better than bending and sleeping with your back fairly vertical will help gravity work in the right direction.

There are medicines that neutralise stomach acid, but unfortunately don't reduce the amount. In this case you may still get reflux, but as the acid is neutralised, it's not so damaging.

Obviously this may involve some discomfort and changes in habit and lifestyle. It's much easier to simply take a tablet.

However, proton pump inhibitors can cause RLS in themselves because they bring about iron and B12 defuciency. Iron deficiency is a cause of RLS. This can be "secondary" RLS and relieving the deficiency may relieve the RLS.

It may be that you have idiopathic RLS and would have symptoms anyway, but the proton pump.inhibitor may be making it worse.

[Ladro in reply to Hidden]

Hello Minerva

I found this very interesting as I have a hiatus hernia, on finding this they also told me I was badly burned due to the acid reflux

I have been trying to think back, and am positive my RLS started soon after I started taking LANSOPRAZOLE regularly.

Do you know of an alternative for acid reflux that I could try

Thank you so much for your many interesting and helpful posts 🙂

[Hidden in reply to Ladro]

If you've been on lansoprazole for some time, it's worth having your ferritin and B12 levels checked. It now seems commonly accepted that ferritin should be at least 100mcg/L for someone with RLS.

Correcting any B12 deficiency can also help with RLS.

It seems like most of the main medicines used for GERD make RLS worse. Recently, the list of them I've become aware of has got longer.

PPIs, (the prazoles). H2 blockers (e.g. Zantac) and "prokinetics"(metoclopramide, domperidone) are all in the RLS hall of notoriety

Non-pharmacological measures remain an option, including diet and posture.

It appears logical to me that simple medicines which neutralise acid, rather than block its production remain the only option.

You could ask a pharmacist, some older fashioned antacid remedies might not be safe for other reasons.

Milk of Magnesia and Gaviscon come to mind as possibilities.

[Ladro in reply to Hidden]

Thank you

I am going to quit taking Lansoprazole as from today and try gaviscon

I have a Drs appointment next week.

I wonder if I can reverse my condition by not taking Lansoprazole 👏

[Hidden in reply to Ladro]

It's possible lansoprazole caused your RLS, if so, then it's possible that stopping it might mean tge RLS will resolve, or at least get less.

The key indicators remain your ferritin/B12 levels. If your ferritin is low, it could be a significant length of time before you can get it up to an effective level. It may not even be possible without some form of iron replacement Don't expect an immediate result.

[Jumpey in reply to Hidden]

Hi Manerva.My son has gerd and takes omeprazole which worries me greatly.What other medications are available do you know?He's had many tests done (colonoscopy, endoscopy etc.)and no obstruction has been found.x

[Hidden in reply to Jumpey]

Sometimes GERD happens because the stomach doesn't empty properly and I believe it's a kind of neuromuscular disorder causing a lack of "peristalsis". This is a wave like contraction of the muscle layer of the stomach and intestines that pushes gut contents along.

There are medications which help the stomach empty faster, Metoclopramide or Domperidone. Unfortunately they can also make RLS worse. I believe this is different to a PPI, however, because a PPI can possibly cause RLS without it being idiopathic.

I imagine though that you are worried your son may have inherited your RLS so the PPI or the other 2 may trigger what is already latent RLS.

These are probably the most effective medications for GERD. If your son doesn't actually have RLS at the moment he could continue on the PPI. It could be discussed with his doctor that if he does continue his iron kevels, serum.iron, ferritin and transferrin should be monitored, as well as vitamin B12/folate.

Or if his doctor agrees, he could switch to metoclopramide or domperidone, if the doctor thinks it appropriate.

If he has started with RLS, that's a different matter and he ought to definitely.have the blood tests and possibly stop the PPI.

Bearing in mind I'm not a doctor and I'm not qualified to diagnose.or prescribe, the reply I gave to Millie about non-pharmacological measures should help.with GERD.

Simple antacids can neutralise stomach acid even though they don't decrease the amount. Reducing acidity can help prevent the damage caused by acid reflux. Some simple acids also coat the oesophageal and stomach lining, also protective.

[robert1957]

Hello Jerry if you can drink celery juice first thing in the morning on a empty stomach it will increase your hydrocloric acid improve your digestion allowing your body to get the goodness out of the food you eat hydrocloric acid from your stomach does not cause reflux reflux is caused by rouge acids strong hydrocloric acid eliminates these types of acids good luck

[DicCarlson]

GERD and Acid Reflux create the biggest disconnect between traditional allopathic medicine (symptom treating) and functional medicine (cause treating). I had acid reflux so bad that my teeth hurt from regurgitation into my mouth. Constant throat clearing. Started with digestive enzymes, HCL w/Pepsin supplements, and a course of Oil of Oregano, Garlic and Berberine (mostly for SIBO). Great article here... draxe.com/health/acid-reflu...

[Felicity21]

Hi Jerry. Just wondering whether you have tried Acidophilus for your problem?

[BeachGolfer]

Omeprazole aka Prilosec exacerbates RLS. That was my experience. GERD did not cause the RLS it was the treatment for GERD that caused it. I can take Zantac / Ranitidine without exacerbation of my RLS.

[Hidden in reply to BeachGolfer]

That's great, but it appears, generally speaking that any medication that blocks stomach acid secretion can exacerbate RLS You may be lucky.

In addition, I note there was a warning about a substance called NDMA found in Zantac and it was recalled. I'm not sure if the issue is now resolved. NDMA can cause cancer.

[Hidden]

Please note that the main acid found in the stomach is hydrochloric acid. There are no other acids.

Although there are many reasons for GERD excess acid is not a cause. However, when reflux occurs, if the material regurgitated is acid, i.e hydrochloric acid, then it will cause acid burning.

Hydrochloric acid, like any other acid, burns. Not that I'd advise it, but you could test this simply by sticking your finger in some!

If you do anything to increase the acid in your stomach, i.e. hydrochloric acid it will make the situation worse not better.

If anybody says anything different to this, it is misinformation, and you should ignore it.

In addition, there are many claims made about the benefits of celery juice. Some of them quite wild.

However, I do recall reading a study that found there are a couple of substances in celery that can relieve RLS. These substances do affect the nervous system. It's possibly then that claims about celery juice for GERD may also have some credibility.

Worth a try!

In fact, the more I read about celery, the more I'm.impressed.

Amazon, here I come!!!!