Endoscope..functional dyspepsia and Prilosec

[turaj]

Finally had endoscope which shows not much of anything that one takes Prilosec for....been taking for well over a year....I think it is actually causing my stomach issues. Anyone else had this experience? Will be meeting with GI and want to get off of this. Looking for input from those with similar experience. Thanks.

[711debbie]

Yes, a PPI I took for 3 months for an ulcer destroyed the balance of my microbiome and resulted in the beginning of IBS (now I've had it for 6 years). I was able to get off the PPI by not eating any kind of bread for a couple of weeks. I don't know why that worked or if it would work for anyone else. Good luck!

[turaj in reply to 711debbie]

Thank you, Given the scope results This FD is a strange illness..more Brain-Gut for many. Never had an ulcer. She told me I don't need to taper off Prilosec but just stop taking it. We will see. Drug is fine for some but bad if you don't really need it. We will see how this goes.

[711debbie in reply to turaj]

Hope you don't have the problems I think you will have going "cold turkey". Again, good luck, and if you do have problems, send a message to the good people here and you'll get tons of advice!

[turaj in reply to 711debbie]

Well debbie as you expected back...wow rough does not begin to describe this. All the advice from Dr. is take Tums. If anyone has advice...I am on about day 5 now...cold turkey and stomach really hurts...more than ever. I read this can last for about 2 weeks....not sure if anything can help. Welcome any comments preferably encouraging? Cause can't get any lower than right now. Thanks.

[turaj]

going to be mind over matter here because that is a drug I just don't need. I have asked repeatedly about the "cold turkey" and have gotten the same answer from several docs including the last consult with GI at Mayo Clinic. Maybe it has to do with if you really had the issues it treats? I do believe it changes the balance in your gut but not for the best so I expect some rocky days but at some point it will level off. Trying to be optimistic but going off any med even one doing nothing scares me. But time to do it. Not sure it should have ever been prescribed. a

[711debbie in reply to turaj]

Here's a million ideas from a Reddit thread that might help:

reddit.com/r/GERD/comments/...

[turaj in reply to 711debbie]

I have come to conclusion that GI docs are guessing at everything. I think the smart thing would have been to taper down. Am considering taking the dose I was on 40 and seeing if I can feel better and take it down to 20 after about a week. I dont think it will hurt anything to try that. Maybe some can do this cold turkey but not when you have been taking for a long period of time. At least I should have been warned this "can" happen. I would have elected the slow method. Maybe things are so screwed up now can't get back to neutral. Things were not great and thus wanted to get off but my daily life was okay...I have lost about 5 days so far...can't really do anything. Enough. Just random thoughts in case anyone else is going thru this. Acid in the stomach sure can give you some bad pain.

[turaj]

will try Pepsid...but that is another drug. I curse the day I ever took Prilosec.

[711debbie]

Like I said it destroyed my microbiome and gave me IBS. Yet my brother and his wife have been on it for years and wouldn't think of going off it. Also, get checked for a B12 deficiency or just read up on side effects of PPIs in general and see if you recognize other problems.

Again, I stopped bread but I wasn't eating other carbs like rice, potatoes or pasta either. Try going without carbs for awhile. That might be the trick. Good luck!

[turaj]

just another day in this journey. Decided to go with conventional wisdom that says taper down. spoke with pharmacist and she confirmed no way the cold turkey that was recommended to me. She said go to20mg for a couple of weeks...they go every other day etc. I assume that is what most GI recommend per my googling. will try that. She seemed VERY AWARE of what happens by just stopping a PPI. Funny a GI doc did not know that.