PPIs - omeprazole

[Chickens44]

I was on omeprazole for probably 20 years every day, I think originally for IBS symptoms. Never advised to stop.

I found out last December what it can do to stomach acid and think this is why I had Vitamin D, B12 and other nutrient deficiencies. I’ve always eaten well and don’t eat any junk food. But I’ve probably not been absorbing properly.

My question is, how long does the stomach take to regain the correct pH acid level after stopping PPIs? I have been taking Betaine HCL and have tried apple cider vinegar and lime juice. But I feel I’m possibly still not absorbing.

I did the bicarbonate of soda test this morning, and had a small burp after 10 minutes. I’m going to do it again for the next couple of days.

[Starfush]

you can get sublingual D and B12 evens injection private or ask doctor.

As for stomach acid I think alkaline and probiotics are ironically better, but yes I guess that could affect. Maybe try electrolytes too magnesium and potassium. Dehydration is killer for everything

[bburzycki]

Good question the real question is after that time frame. I know for acid reduction medicines I have been on for shorter term runs I believe the acid levels can return pretty quickly..at least for me.

[Angrybelly]

I was on ppi for 8 years it caused my ibs in almost sure. Developed SIBO and now I've been in hell for the last 10 years.

[PinkDragonfly]

omerprazole made my IBS intolerable and gave me bad diarrhoea every day. As soon as I stopped taking it I felt better. I now use Gaviscon instead which for me, works much better.

[Fergie53 in reply to PinkDragonfly]

Yes I think Omeprazole has increased my IBS issues but difficult to know, I need something otherwise I get chest pain which gastric reflux

[gurgleguts]

Omeprazole gave me all sorts of problems so I was moved to lansoprazole which was even worse. Felt sick, jabbing stomach pains and tiredness. Esomeprazole worked but I saw a news article advising not to take it long term. Mentioned this to me GP who rolled her eyes and said it was safe and to continue taking it. Fast forward a few months and my digestion problems returned and spoke to a locum GP who was against ppi in general. He said “you could try completely stopping them, your acid levels are likely to spike for a while but they should eventually return to normal levels although this is probably against current general medical advice so come back if you’re having problems”. Took me a few weeks using gaviscon in emergencies but I’m completely off them. I use silicol gel if I get a bad patch. About £10 a bottle and the gp said the contents were harmless. Gaviscon should be avoided long term if possible. Best of luck sorting it out.

[Fergie53 in reply to gurgleguts]

Ohh interesting I’ve just bought silicol gel ..

[Spaceboy_60]

Omeprazole for ibs symptoms ?? Omeprazole can cause ibs!! Exasperate symptoms at the very least

[Starfush in reply to Spaceboy_60]

I was going to say also this medication depleted body of magnesium what is never good enough

[tomdickharry]

I was much the same as you but had to stop them quickly as my kidneys stopped working and BP went extremely high. Mostly OK now but still get some reflux and occasional BP spike. Using Rennies.

[SueMount]

I have had IBS for 20 years or more. Then I had gall bladder problems. I have also been taking Omeprazol for about ten years. After I had my gallbladder out I felt so much better. I have had about 3 or 4 years where I have felt almost normal, so I stopped taking the Omeprazol, it took a few months to stop it totally. I have been off it for about six months but then my acid came back really bad. So I started taking it again. The acid has improved but I have had pains in my stomach and then in the place where my gallbladder once was for the last couple of weeks. I was getting worried that I had a blocked bile duct or something , but now you make wonder if it is the Omeprazole causing the pains?

[JulieB5200 in reply to SueMount]

Hi,I’m in a similar position!Was in daily omeprazole for around 7 years but after an endoscopy a few years ago I was advised to wean myself off them. The consultant said they had caused fundal polyps in my stomach 🤷‍♀️. So I gradually stopped taking them but after around six months later the acid came back really bad. So this past few weeks I’m taking them again at random.Without them I feel my ibs is better but the acid is worse,with them my gut feels so bunged up and slower transit (causing me more pain)but the acid disappears 🤪so it’s a difficult one. I’m trying to replace them with gaviscon and the Silicol gel but they are only temporary fixes.Also I have suffered with anaemia for the past ten years so now I’m wondering if the omeprazole have stopped my iron absorption. I tried the other medication for acid(famitadine I think it’s called) but that upset my gut even worse. I got really awful cramping with those.

[SueMount in reply to JulieB5200]

Yes it's a difficult one. I think I might go back to the doctors and see what she thinks. I might ask for some blood tests to check liver & kidney function. i think I might drop the omeprazole down to every other day again now.

[JulieB5200 in reply to SueMount]

Yeah it’s a case of trial and error and seeing how you get on without it.

[Fergie53 in reply to SueMount]

I have gallstones and get gallbladder pain occasionally but not severe. I’ve heard that if you have your gallbladder out it does increase your heartburn so no easy answer!

[drax83]

I was put on omeprozale some years ago IBS and hiatus hernia. However I have very big problem with most synthetic drugs. I have done an extensive study of these ppis. There NOT for taking every day.

As noted there's a problem with them suppressing vital parts of food which give us nutrients. I then started to take a differant view on eating. I never eat after 7pm. Second I cut down on all spicy type foods. I have smaller main meals now, I don't start moving around or doing jobs for at least an hour or more. However I'm retired so I please myself. Omeprozale I only take before if I'm going to a do which may be later than 7pm. Or sometimes a late curry which happens sometimes. I only take about two pills a month. Even my doctor was pleased I cut down how many I actually need a month.

[ELLE7771843]

I'm not sure but I did a food sensitivity test and it came that I was very low on vitamin B3 this one effects the gut and nervous system but when I asked the gastro team they do not rate vitamins !!!! So was left even more confused .I am also on omeperazole .clearly some vitamins are more important than others however it does beg the question that even the ones they say are not important do have some impact on various individuals .I am still on a search of trial and error to see what works .it is an interesting topic .I hope you find answers and please do let us know as you never know who you can help on here .many kind regards

[roseter]

I was on Omeprazole for 15 years and was becoming more and more ill until I couldn't function as a normal person. My GP took me off the tablets and I was a new person within 2 days!!

Btw, what is the bicarb test?

[Chickens44 in reply to roseter]

You’re supposed to add quarter of teaspoon to small glass of water, drink on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. If you do a good belch under 5 minutes you have good stomach acid, anything over that time, or not at all, means you may have low acid. But not everyone agrees it works.

[Fergie53 in reply to roseter]

Wow this is so interesting, I’m thinking of stopping Omeprazole but scared of rebound heartburn, I may try every other day to start with!

[roseter]

I have a different tablet now famotidine and see one gaviscon when necessary. So unbelievably better!