Lansoprazole

[Teddy36]

I have been on Lansoprazole since the end of Jan for ‘suspected Gastritis’. I went back to the Dr today. Tried to tell them that I bloat terribly from 6pm. That my stomach and lower abdomen feels so uncomfortable. I felt as if he wasn’t sure what to do. He felt my stomach again. Said he could refer me for a CT or an endoscopy but he ‘didn’t think it was cancer’. Then changed my 30mg dose of Lansoprazole to 15mg twice a day. But said I could take 30mg twice a day for a week prior to this to attack the Gastritis aggressively. I’m thinking about using my retirement savings to get a private second opinion. Maybe pay for an endoscopy. Any thoughts or experiences related to Lansoprazole or Gastritis would be appreciated.

[Doraflora]

hi Teddy36. I was put on Lanz a few weeks ago as apparently there was a shortage of supplies with my normal Omeprazole.

I felt ok at first, but after 2-3 weeks I developed awful stomach problems. Watery 💩 and unsettled tummy. It was only when I scrutinised the med leaflet I read that if anyone got diarrhoea then to contact the GP immediately. Which I did! The surgery said it’s a common side effect of the Lanz and to stop taking it (which I’d done the day before).

A week later I’m improving definitely but still getting the odd gripe, but I’ve read it can take up to 2 weeks to leave your system.

What’s got me the most is that according to the in-house pharmacist she said that I’d had a reaction to this drug 5 years ago (for acid reflux at the time). Why oh why had this not flagged up when prescribing the Lanz, surely the pharmacy should have had a red flag alert and perhaps I wouldn’t have had to go through this.

Sorry for the rant….

[Teddy36 in reply to Doraflora]

Thanks so much for your reply and feel free to rant! Helpful to know that you have experienced side effects too. I hope you are soon much better! I think what’s worried me is that I have been given medication without a proper diagnosis. Basically they don’t know for definite what is wrong. So it feels a little like putting a plaster onto a wound. I don’t feel that the medication is suiting me either but when I asked today if any alternative I was shut down.

[Doraflora in reply to Teddy36]

I think I’d be tempted to push for an endoscopy, Teddy36, if I were you. Couldn’t you push your GP to instigate one?

I absolutely hated it when I had one, and I’ll most certainly insist on being heavily sedated if I have to have another one. (The same if I have to have a colonoscopy at any time, too!)

Maybe I am a wimp🤣 but I know what I don’t like. Ha.

[Teddy36 in reply to Doraflora]

I would/will be the same! You’re no wimp So, I tried to push them yesterday and they just said ‘I don’t think it’s cancer’. But surely an endoscopy is not now just used to diagnose cancer!? I’m guessing with the budgetary constraints of the NHS it must just be getting even harder to be referred. And, I get that, I get that somebody with more red flags as he described might get a referral but that leaves me with no options. My quality of life has drastically deteriorated, I can’t do anything after 6pm and I had a flare again at the weekend which left me in terrible pain and I contemplated going to A and E. This morning I woke at 2am in pain again. I am going to pay for a private consultation to at least see what the options are as I want to try and gain some control of what is happening to me.

[Doraflora in reply to Teddy36]

oh, poor you. You can’t go on like that. I’d do exactly the same. Isn’t that what our rainy day money is for (as I tell my husband).

Hope you soon get some answers, but do keep us all posted on here.

[Edgar77 in reply to Doraflora]

In my experience the doctors can't refer you for an endoscopy you have to see a gastroenterologist first, which would be a good idea anyway.

[LilMoB in reply to Doraflora]

Iv tried Omeprazole, Lansoprazole AND very recently Esomeprazole. I never had problems with omeprazole or Lansoprazole, but Esomeprazole I seemed to be reacting to somehow so going back on Lansoprazole again

[BabsyWabsy]

Hi Teddy, my OH was diagnosed with gastritis a few years ago. He was randomly vomiting with no warning. (nice) He had an endoscopy which confirmed some inflamed areas in his stomach. He has had good results with Lanzoprazole and quite quickly got used to it.

[eyeofthetiger123]

Hello,

There are some herbal options for gastritis and herbal equivalents that do the same thing as lansoprazole that have less side effects and are more tolerated. I am a certified herbalist who is offering herbal support on the basis that I can use a patient as a case study. Please message me for more details. Also, in the case of gastritis, herbal remedies such as garlic and celery seed extract can kill the underlying h-pylori infection. You may also want some stronger anti-inflammatories also.

I know that your post asks for people with personal experience of gastritis or lansoprazole (the former I have had in the past), but I really feel that I can give you some recommendations and help you create a six-month remedy schedule that will have positive effects or allow you to pinpoint the cause more closely without having negative effects. Message me if you would like to have a zoom!

Best wishes,

Catheine

[Teddy36 in reply to eyeofthetiger123]

Hi thank you for your reply. I don’t have h pylori, the test for this was clear. I think my best course of action is to get an accurate diagnosis (via the relevant tests) and then take it from there.

[eyeofthetiger123 in reply to Teddy36]

Okay Just a point of information, gastritis could be caused by stress, usage of ibruprofen and overconsumption of alcohol. In the UK, there is the advice to see if it resolves itself in a week (in the absence of serious symptoms), followed by a four week breath test preparation. It will resolve in healthy people if it is gastritis who are not deficient in anything. Lansoprazole helps with the acid reflux, but taking double the dose will not "attack the gastritis aggressively" and that dosage that you requested is not given outside of a particular syndrome. Furthermore, it can cause magnesium deficiency with long-term use. The only way to attack it aggressively is to reduce the inflammation (the doctor may recommend antibiotics despite not knowing what the particular infection is if not h-pylori) or with anti-inflammatories, providing the anti-inflammatories were not linked to the cause. There is a lot of information to glean and sometimes to treat and wait for a resolution is faster than testing, so bear that in mind when thinking of the doctor's decisions.

[Teddy36 in reply to eyeofthetiger123]

Hi Catherine thank you for your reply, yes I am aware of the potential causes. Dr hasn’t advised antibiotics and I’ve been on Lansoprazole for 4 weeks. I didn’t request the dose, the Dr has advised all of this. I had a few days of feeling a little better when I started the meds but have since deteriorated. I also have read the instructions and am aware of the long-term risks of these drugs - I never intend or want to be on them long term but by the same token I have no definite diagnosis of what is wrong. I am seeing somebody in the Private sector today to try and arrange an endoscopy. Thanks again.

[eyeofthetiger123 in reply to Teddy36]

Fair enough I can understand that the peace of mind via diagnosis is really important to you! Just remember whether the endoscopy flags something or not, you will get more information that will aid you on your journey, i.e. don't get too disheartened if it doesn't flag anything.

[JimmyJackson]

Try Gluten/Lactose free diet It worked for me with. acid reflux

[Sharon1969bal]

Hi Teddy36,

I’ve been diagnosed with gastritis, it simply means that the lining of the stomach is red and inflamed. I was on lanzoprazole for 6 months before my symptoms passed. I also have lower stomach pains, so extreme that I have been to a&e on 5 occasions as I could barely stand. No one could tell me what was wrong. I had to push my doctor to refer me for a colonoscopy. I then went on an urgent 2 week wait. I’ve now had it done and thankfully everything was clear. My doctor has now suggested it could be severe ibs. I have changed my diet, eating lots of fibre, chia seeds in yoghurts and lots of fruit, vegetables and water. I now have little pain and only now and again. If your doctor will refer you on a two week wait you will not need to go private. I hope this helps

[Teddy36 in reply to Sharon1969bal]

Thank you so much for your reply. What you’ve written is exactly me! I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you for taking the time to respond. So helpful when you can ‘see’ yourself in somebody else’s experience. It really has helped! Thank you also for the diet tips.

[Sharon1969bal]

you’re more than welcome. I wish I had found this forum at the beginning of my stomach issues.

[ray7]

Hi Teddy 36I've been taking lansoprazole for years to treat gastritis and h pylorie infection I did ask the doctor if they work she said they do bloating can be caused by ibs, iv also got hiatus hernia I find they relax the stomach iv come down to 15mg from 30mg

[Teddy36 in reply to ray7]

Hi Ray thank you for your reply. Really helpful. So good that you’ve reduced your meds. I did wonder about a hernia too. My meds have been changed to Esomeprazole twice a day - 20mg. Also been referred to see a Gastroenterologist. Yes it’s Private but at least I have a plan now and hope for a diagnosis.

[Robotkitten]

Hi, I have gastritis, or had, lost 3st, took gluten out of my diet, found out I'm intolerant, an issue for many with ibs and migraines.They said to me take ppi...no way, so they gave me gaviscone double action, which works for me. I've only taken in a few times.

Not had a flare up for 4yrs.

My advice would be look for the cause, then deal with it.

If your doc is willing to refer for ct and endoscopy go for it, your not looking for cancer.... Your ruling it out...

Hope this helps.

[Teddy36]

Hi, thank you for your replies, that’s all really helpful to know. So glad I’ve found this forum. I saw a Private GP yesterday. They have written a letter of referral to a Gastroenterologist. A Private one but at least it will mean I’ll get some tests. They also switched my meds to Esomeprazole twice daily @20mg. Recommended ultrasound/endoscopy/CT scan and investigation for coeliac (which is in my family).

[Karendeena]

I had similar problems on lansoprazole and ended up with gastrointestinal issues that resulted in a CT colonoscopy. Doc changed me to omeprazole, still the same issues. Changed to Famotidine which works in a different way and I am ok on this. Been on it for over a year now

[Teddy36 in reply to Karendeena]

Thank you for replying. So glad they found something that worked for you.

[Teddy36]

Just wanted to provide an update on my progress. I paid for a Private Gastroscopy as my GP simply kept prescribing PPI’s with no diagnostic tests offered. I had this procedure on Tues. My Consultant found that my stomach and oesophagus are fine with no sign of acid damage at all. So I never needed PPI’s. However he did find a 6mm polyp in my Duodenum/Small intestine and took several biopsies. He’s also testing me for Celiac disease via a biopsy. I’m hoping the polyp will be benign but overall I’m so glad I listened to my body rather than my GP.