Reaction to omeprazole.

[JulieB5200]

Hi, just wondering if anyone else has had a bad ibs flare up due to taking omeprazole? I’ve been taking them daily for around 3 weeks and today I’m in so much pain and discomfort all across the top of my stomach. I’m going to the loo albeit constipation ie hard stools with mucus but this upper pain is definitely related . I have had to pass stools around four times in the space of an hour and my insides are just hurting 😔I am supposed to take the pills for acid reflux but if they’re causing all this horrible pain and more severe constipation then what do you do ?

[Gingers]

Hi Julie. I have suffered for years with my ibs and worse since taking omeprazole. I've tried all the different ppis and they all make me ill. The reason for this is because you need some acid to digest your food and ppis like omeprazole stop acid from being released so then you can't digest your food. This causes food to ferment in your gut and the results are gas, bloating and constipation or diarrhoea which in turn causes pressure in your stomach where it then pushes any undigested food along with any acid into your eosophegus. Then it's just a vicious circle. I don't take them anymore. Instead I take an h2 antagonist which is much less of an acid blocker so you can digest your food. Ask your doctor about it. I wish someone had told me as I suffered needlessly. My ibs and reflux have been so much better since coming off omeprazole

[JulieB5200 in reply to Gingers]

Hi,thank you so much for your response and explanation,it really does make sense. My whole day has been wiped out today with the upper gi pain and trying to pass hard stools. I am used to getting pain with ibs but not this bad and long lasting. Usually the pain subsides when I’ve opened my bowels. I will stop taking them now and ask my gp about the ones you suggest. It does feel like a vicious circle of acid reflux followed by severe cramping and bowel pain this past month. I’m very grateful for you taking the time to explain what is probably occurring in my stomach.Do you take gaviscon or any over the counter medication? I’m on buscopan for ibs and have been for over 20 years but they have never had side effects.

[Orchard33 in reply to JulieB5200]

I stopped taking Omeprazole after long term use because it was making everything worse and, I believe, caused me to develop pernicious anaemia because of stomach damage. For anything more than short term use they should be banned. H2 Blockers are less damaging and just as effective. If I have bad reflux now I use Gaviscon as an effective non-systemic.

[JulieB5200 in reply to Orchard33]

This is interesting because since being on omeprazole for years I developed anaemia. Now I’m wondering if the two are linked 🤷‍♀️. I did wean myself off the omeprazole a few years ago because my endoscopy showed fundic polyps. The consultant said the pills had caused them . I didn’t want to go back on them but my gp insisted when I started having acid reflux again 🙈

[Orchard33 in reply to JulieB5200]

You are better off using an H2 Blocker rather than a PPI. I didn't develop serious problems until I was switched to a PPI. Sadly, they're used as a GPs insurance policy, rather like statins.You'll also find when you stop the PPI you'll get a rebound when for a while the symptoms are worse.

[JulieB5200 in reply to Orchard33]

Yes I got this last time I stopped has I’d been on them for years. Hopefully I won’t be as bad this time as I’ve only been on them 3 weeks. Two days in and I’m not too bad. Having to suck on gaviscon tablets though.Thank you for your advice.

[Escherichia in reply to JulieB5200]

I had similar experience with PPIs except I got chronic diahorea. I changed to an H2 inhibitor (Formatadine) and things eventually settled down.

[Gingers in reply to JulieB5200]

Yes Julie as others have commented, ppis are the worst. I have ended up in a and e several times whilst on them. They also caused fundic polyps which I was told by the gastroentologist was caused directly by ppis. If you have stopped them then be prepared for some acid rebound. Get some h2 antagonists from the pharmacy if you have to wait for a gp to prescribe them. You can also take gaviscon as well. Let me know how you get on please

[JulieB5200 in reply to Gingers]

Thank you. I haven’t had one for the past 3 days but taking gaviscon to try settle the acid. I have bought some Silicol gel today as someone recommended. It tastes horrendous,I imagine something like wallpaper paste would taste of lol. However it does feel like it has a calming effect on my gut.Thank you so much for your advice and concern 🥰

[Orchard33 in reply to JulieB5200]

Try slippery elm long term.

[Fergie53 in reply to Gingers]

So what is a h2 antagonist?

[Gingers in reply to Fergie53]

An h2 antagonist is better known by the name ranitidine or famotidine (this is the one I take) and can be purchased from a pharmacy under the name of pepcid.

[Dudders123]

I was taking lanzaprosole, similar and stopped recently, had dreadful reflux and pancreatitis - much better without it, and yes - using gaviscon now but rarely , the stuff is really not good for long term, if at all x

[Nothingimpossible]

I can't take omeprazole or lansaprazole. Gp put me on Famotidine 1 at night before bed . These were good but I stopped taking them as don't like relying on them. For the last 2 years, I have gaviscon advance after my evening meal only, i dont need during the day and fingers crossed been fine. Hope you sort what helps you.

[JulieB5200 in reply to Nothingimpossible]

Thank you for your advice. I have stopped the omeprazole and if things don’t settle with gaviscon I will go back to my gp and ask for the drug you mentioned 👍

[Andann]

All those ppi are not meant to be taken for more than a few weeks. I took them for more than 10 years and now have fundic polyps in my stomach. They did help a little but my major problems turned out to be onion , garlic and other fructose bearing foods, and fats. I use gaviscon if problems arise but dont use it as a preventative, often a peppermint helps too with nausea and burps.

[JulieB5200 in reply to Andann]

I too was on them for years and the last time I had an endoscopy the consultant said the same, they had caused fundic polyps. This concerned me but he reassured me they weren’t anything to worry about 🤷‍♀️

[LFHell in reply to Andann]

I'm so glad you said that. I'm on low fodmap diet and its 99.5% cured my reflux, luckily my gp told me to see a dietician when i didnt take the PPI he offered coz my colleague was on them and warned me off! My bowel movements seemed better on PPI's tho, when taken short term for gastritis. Do you know why that is?

[tomdickharry]

I was on esomeprazole since Zantac got banned. Gradually other side effects came in but not yours. High blood pressure and kidney malfunction, gynaecomastia, leg oedema, amongst others.

I got myself onto famotidine but after five days, though those symptoms subsided, I got nausea, bloating, gas, and burning in throat.

So I now have to wait weeks for a doctor to switch me back.

[Ellie-Louise]

You need to drink a lot with constipation, doc told me that this week.

I don’t have IBS but do have acid reflux and was constipated.

[gurgleguts]

I had a problem with it. Got moved to esomeprazole which was better but I had problems after a few months. Then moved to Lansoprazole which worked for about 2 weeks and I had some very weird symptoms. Terrible stomach pains and diarrhoea plus feeling really rough. After all these trials I spoke to a locus GP who told me to come off all of them! He advised I may get worse short term and to be very careful what I ate but ive just about managed to get it under control. I now use SILICOL gel to keep it at bay and it seems to do the trick.

For whats worth some GPs are anti PPI, others are pro so get a second opinion. Ideally you dont want to be on PPI long term. Best of luck resolving this

[JulieB5200 in reply to gurgleguts]

Thank you,I’m going to try buy some of that stuff you mentioned Silicol. I definitely need to stay clear of the ppi’s now.My gp insisted I go back on them after I’d managed to wean myself off them two years ago. Sounds like they are bad news after all the negative feedback coming through 😔

[JulieB5200]

Thanks to all of you for your helpful comments and advice,greatly appreciated 👍xx

[Andann]

Yes, good to hear of all your experiences. I may ask a GP for H2 to keep reflux at bay.

[Charlesowen]

Hi Julie I was prescribed lansoprazol for gastric reflux & dysphagia & the initial effect was brilliant. Swallowing back to normal & no reflux, After about a week side effects kicked in big time including extreme breathing problems chest discomfort and oedema around the eyes. I was then prescribed famotide but had different adverse effects. Some years back I was prescribed omeprazole which affected muscle tone My best medicine was Zantac until it was banned. Now take Silicolgel daily which seems to control reflux plus a Gaviscon at night as necessary both of which help. Good Luck- Charlie

[JulieB5200 in reply to Charlesowen]

Hi Charlie,thank you for your message. I have stopped taking the omeprazole now. I am also taking Silicol gel and gaviscon to keep the acid at bay. So far so good. I’m having lots of joint pain but I don’t know if that’s connected to the pills.

[kronos50]

It does the same to me, try Famotidine, it's easier on the gut.