Hello, advice please on long term use of Omeprazole, one 20mgs a day.
I've been on Omeprazole for years now as I suffer from GERD.
I recently asked my consultant about coming off Omeprazole but he stated as it is such a low dosage, to keep taking.
There is so much on the internet about this medication that it is not good for your stomach and I wonder if anyone has managed to wean themselves off this PPI?
Previously, I have tried to come off Omeprazole but suffer from a lot of indigestion. When this happened, I took a Rennie tablet which did help but as I got into the 4th week of being off Omeprazole, the indigestion became worse and went up from happening once a day to three/four times a day.
Any suggestions, greatly appreciated.
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Harley1020
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I was on a high dose of Esomeprazole, 40 mg twice a day, for some years, because of gastritis. I very slowly weaned myself off, but it was a very slow process, starting with the evening capsule. First, dropping one tablet on the fourth evening for a while and then dropping a tablet on the third evening and so on. Then I tackled the morning capsule in a similar way, but it took several months..
I also used Rennies when necessary.
Perhaps you could try it more slowly?
However, my thought is that if you find you are often suffering with indigestion, perhaps it would be better to continue.
I've been on Lansoprozole for years, due to Gerd, a hiatus hernia and other meds I've been taking.Sometimes long term use is necessary. I personally couldn't function without it or the other meds. I've found a balance that works for me. I work full time and need to. Yes I have the odd flare up of problems but on the whole life is manageable and I'm not confined to my bed 😊
Yes, I've come off it after 5 years. As a consequence of this long term use my digestive system was shot and I had funding polyps, one side effect of PPIs (along with subsequent Pernicious Anemia). In my view this a very problematic drug that should not be handed out with the rations and it's use should be monitored. My symptoms worsened before I stopped it.I went onto H2 Blockers for a short while and then went all out to nurse my digestion back to something like normal. Lifestyle changes, minimizing stress, aloe Vera juice, slippery elm, Juvia (mentioned on this forum recently) and anything else I can lay my hands on, hear about, read about that I can use to mitigate my digestive issues including IBS. Incidentally, fundic polyps can shrink with time (about a year) and I'm working on the assumption that my gut can improve with care rather than medication. Im other words, the effects of PPIs can be ameliorated.
Hello 👋 many thanks for your reply, greatly appreciated.
Sorry to hear the gut problems you are having which will hopefully be resolved soon.
After reading your information, I’m going to come off Omeprazole gradually as I previously came off them ‘cold turkey, which is probably why I had so much indigestion. Also looking at lifestyle changes the same as yours.
Once again, massive thank you for taking the time to respond.
My symptoms are mild so I only take omeprazole occasionally. I have noticed that large meals make it worse as can some foods - onions being esp troublesome. You might find that if you have food, drink or portion size triggers then avoiding those will help you adjust better as you slowly decrease your dose.
I’ve also been on omeprazole and now esomeprazole for many years for Gerd. As I’ve now got a hiatus hernia as well, Gp says have to stay on them. To be honest I worry about the long term use, I also have fundic polyps, but the risk of not taking them is also of a concern, Barretts oesophagus being one of them. You can only go by advice from your Gp about the pros and cons of taking them in your case. Good luck whatever you decide
I've tried, with similar results. I cut it down for a few days but severe acid forced me to go back and double the dose. I'm staying on them until I can persuade doctor to give me H2 blocker instead.
I was on Zantac until it got stopped. No problem with it.
Many thanks for your response, greatly appreciated.
Like you, I had severe acid and had to go back on Omeprazole. It’s just all the terrible things you hear about being on it long term but I have no choice. Take care.
I've had GERD for many years and have been taking Omeprazole for it. I have not read any terrible things about it but I do have kidney disease and my Nephrologist has asked me if I could cut back as I guess it is not good for kidneys. I tried going to every other day and filling in with Zantac or Famatodine but the GERD came back on those days. My kidney function has not changed over the past 4 years so I'm thinking it hasn't had any effect.
Many thanks for your response. Like you, I’ll have to stay on 20mg Omeprazole daily as it does make a massive difference if I try to come off it. Glad to hear your kidneys are still ok. Take care.
It might help you to understand the mechanism of taking a PPI and why there is always rebound reflux.. and things you will need to do to retrain your LES… please read carefully because the cure is easier than you think.
Any PPI will work in the same way if taken 30 minutes before food.. and becomes activated once you eat any food.. PPI’s instruct the stomach’s acid making cells to produce less acid… and when you stop taking them all together your stomach acid cells have no brakes so produce excess acid even without food.. hence rebound acid output levels rising....
The main dilemma is the LES needs acid to close tightly properly.. it is a muscle and strangely becomes weaker when acid levels drop .. which they often do as we age.. due to another problem.. low melatonin… we produce less as we age..which may explain why young people have less need for reflux medicines… taking ppi long term compounds this issue.
Taking PPI’s in the short term is helpful for things like esophagitis and acute conditions that inflame the swallowing tube..help inflamed mucosa heal..they can even be used PIP for the odd time you get a flare up. But taking them long term causes food not be broken down properly so certain vitamins and minerals do not get absorbed from foods .. magnesium B12 and melatonin from plants.
Now you do not have the building blocks to help the LES to work properly.. and so begins the viscous circle… now let’s look at things that help restore the way things should work.
There are two supplements you must stock up on before you start the withdrawal process…as a fail safe that work better than rennies.
DGL licorice and Slippery elm bark.these two will lower acid reflux within minutes and work all along the digestive tract…they both make a temporary barrier on all mucosal surfaces.. and lower inflammation.. therefore heal and repair thin mucosa often caused by nsaid usage… antibiotics alcohol… and excess acid.
Peptac (aniseed) for last thing at night will form a barrier as you lay down… but use sparingly occasionally because it has a high sodium content.
Introduce melatonin into your diet…walnuts are high.. spinach leafy greens… and the best by far… white cabbage.. try to spend time staring at blue sky..(not the sun!) and avoid artificial blue light from digital devices led bulbs.. try use incandescent lights in bedroom at night.. take melatonin supplements preferably plant based .. this normally gets released at night and should help the LES to close but it takes a few weeks of retraining in chronic reflux conditions..
Any supplement with chloride will increase stomach acid cell health…and often improves LES .. things like Eating high fat meat/foods prolongs the acid making output beyond 2 hours.. so try to avoid foods that take longer to break down..more vegetables more alkalinity.
A very low dose of apple cider vinegar 5 or 10 ml in a little water right before a meal will help close the LES.. it sounds counter productive.. but this is often the cause of reflux.. not the stomach but the LES being too relaxed.( Dr Eric Berg YouTube)
Doing all the above while you continue using ppi will improve the LES condition and make it easier to withdraw the Ppi.. over a two/four week period… then use only when necessary.
Vagal tone exercises will improve the LES and digestion process..learn to massage the pyloric valve(again Dr Eric Berg YouTube) about an hour after food.. as this often causes slow emptying of stomach contents..try this once acid seems to rise..especially after a fatty meal.. often you can get immediate relief.
May sound like mumbo jumbo but lots of scientific peer reviewed papers support melatonin use for LES /reflux issues… that a quick fix ppi seems to correct .. it really does help things improve..by adding these protocols alongside your ppi intake.. maybe help you wean off once and for all..,best wishes UK.
Reading all these posts I'm beginning to think I'm lucky. My local pharmacist ran out of Omeprazole and I was unable to have my prescription for over a week due to me developing a cold in the interval. I was in a panic state as I had been on these tablets for about 5 years (2 ml per day) but strangely, twelve days have now passed and I've been fine. Can I begin to hope that the problem has disappeared? Over the last year I have changed my diet quite considerably and I have lost a bit of weight. Could this be the reason? I'm really happy so far as my sister had the op for Gerd but is still having problems.
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