Omaprazole

Debutante

Hello
I’ve recently been diagnosed with silent reflux and a small hiatus hernia. Also a torturous oesophagus. As I was finding it painful to swallow when I eat I accepted the GPs decision to prescribe Onaprazoke inspite of being anti medication. I’ve now been on it for nearly a year and have tried several times to gradually reduce until stopping altogether. However, when I do this the pain on swallowing food returns. I’ve heard long term use can cause osteoporosis and Vitamin B deficiency so concerned about continuing with it.
Anyone else on one of the drugs for reflux?

I refuse to take it for this reason, it is a commonly used drug and everyone I know who takes it can't stop because their symptoms return.
I suppose it is a choice like most things in life.
I rarely get heartburn now but attribute my cough to silent reflux. I occasionally take an over-the counter omeprazole to relieve symptoms but not for ages. I take it three days max then stop. Works for me.

I have been on this drug for a quite a while as I too have a hernia and Sjogrens Syndrome which causes terrible GERDS.

I take Vitamin D3 and Vitamin B12 tablets as well and as far as I am concerned, the relief I get from taking the medication is well worth the problems that may arise. My daily life was horrendous as I was so ill during the day, stomach pains, my throat was raw from the terrible stuff coming into my throat, I felt sick all the time.

I started off taking one every single day for a few weeks and now take them every other day and that works for me. I can eat what I want with no problems and if that changed, I would start taking them every day again.

I have a sliding hiatus hernia and Secondary Sjogrens. I had to change from Omeprozale to Lansprozole, as the Omneprozale stopped helping.

I take two a day. Stopping them would mean awful reflux and being constantly sick. I have no choice or I would be unable to function.
I am already Vit D deficient and have had osteoporosis ( long term steroid use) for nearly forty years and have medication to manage this.
One has to weigh up the pros and cons. Some of my other medication arepretty toxic, but taking them means I am still here!
You should seek advice from a clinician, every patient is different.

I am taking lansprozole, one a day, since being diagnosed, from a chest X-ray, with hiatus hernia.

The cough has mainly stopped but I am now on penicillin for a nasty dog bite so stopped the other tablets for a few days.
I had the worst heartburn ever. So I'm back on them again.

I think I was told that if the medication stops working there's an operation that can be done.

I take it every day, and I know about it if I don't!,

It is meant as a preventative, and that's how, it works best.

I take Lansoprazole every day. Like you MissA, it works for me.

I did take it every day, but about a year ago I started taking it as and when I needed it, it seems to work alright with me…🤷‍♀️

I can do that for a while, but then the problems start again, slowly.

I don’t have good tolerance to pain killers but have been prescribed different ones for osteoarthritis since my 50s.

I was put on this medication because the painkillers apparently gave me reflux. The doctor prescribed this medication with prescribed high dose Ibuprofen for the osteoarthritis pain.

I was told after blood tests confirmed I had CKD and was taken off both meds. I was told at the time the medication was most probably the cause of CKD it’s on my medical records.

I take Lansoprazole every day. I have a hiatus hernia, GORD, bowel problems, chronic nausea as well as having suffered a blood clot on my heart, osteoporosis, osteoarthritis & COPD … I could go on!! I take vitamin D daily, I’m on Warfarin to prevent further blood clots and various other prescription medications. Most medication has side effects, some of which are awful but unfortunately I have no alternative. In my case the osteoporosis came years before the need for Lansoprazole.

I take it daily as I have a sliding hiatus hernia (due to be operated on, I’m now on the list…) and still get odd bursts of burning reflux and stomach upsets, but it would be worse without it.

The annoying thing for me is that I am a singer, and the reflux gives me a rough throat of course.
I don’t think about side effects as I feel the medication is necessary.

I take lansoprazole 15mg twice a day.. I always have kefir for breakfast and hope that that is supporting my digestive system..

The potential damage from continuous acid in your oesophageal tract can be worse than ‘what you’ve heard’ Debutante. I would discuss your concerns with either your GP or a pharmacist.

Long term use can have very serious side effects for some people. A relative took it for 10 years successfully and then developed a series of issues. Pins and needles in hands and feet, terrible headaches accompanied by severe neck and joint pains. High temperature , constantly falling asleep , confusion, and vomiting. Own GP was useless.

A Sunday afternoon visit from a doctor after calling 111 resulted in an urgent blood test and a resultant phone call at 1 a.m to tell her that an ambulance was on the way, and not to waste time packing a bag as it was critical that she got to hospital immediately.

She was blue-lighted to hospital and had a seizure in the ambulance, another one on arrival and was in intensive care for 3 days . A further 5 days being stabilised.

She had severe electrolyte imbalance caused by the drug and would definitely have died at home that night if it hadn’t been for the diligent GP who saw her and recognised the symptoms.

This is apparently rare but nevertheless important for long term users to know.

It’s very rare NotaGran55 I can’t take Omeprazole regularly as I have low sodium and it lowers it further, picked up on a blood test. I take Famotidine for a hiatus hernia and associated reflux, I’m allowed 10mg Omeprazole if I need it.

All long term medication can carry risks and side effects, but the condition for which they are prescribed may cause worse long term risks, so there is little choice.

I have silent reflux, and am aware that if I do not take medication, such as a omeprazole ( a PPI) for this it can cause damage to my oesophagus, resulting in Barrett’s oesophagus.

I was on omeprazole for some years, but have now switched to a H2 Blocker, Famotidine, because of side effects of omeprazole. I do realise however that in the future I may have to switch back to omeprazole, because H2 Blockers do not reduce the stomach acid to the same extent.

It’s a dilemma, but common for many as reflux can be a major problem which it is estimated that around 20% of the population suffer from.

My late DH had heartburn for years, took over-the counter pills and at the age of 76 was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer. Fortunately the chemo worked magically and he recovered very well from the operation. He had ten years of very good quality of life, dying 20 months ago from a different cancer at the age of 87.
He took Lansaprazole every day, having no sphincter to keep the stomach closed, and basically relied on gravity to keep the food in place. It was a vital medicine.
He said that no-one should ignore heartburn. He was one of the lucky ones who made a good recovery. He was part of a group of survivors, nearly all younger, and not all of whom had made such a good recovery.

Thank you for passing this on Romola and great to know that your husband enjoyed a good quality of life after diagnosis and treatment of a serious disease.

It does put into perspective that we often worry about medication side effects, when the disease they may be preventing can be so much worse.

I have been on this for about 15 years and if I don’t take it my reflux is awful 😢

Hi, I was on em for 40 yrs.only taking when I was going to eat curries, spices ect. Plus wine. Then I had to to go on em every day for about 3 year's. I read what you did and thought what can I do to help all this problem.. I decided to take Turkey tail capsules. From Mother Nature.. I started with 1 a day in the morning after breakfast.
I've now been on them for months.. I've since stopped taking omaprazole and I've stopped having the reflux.. And the inflammation in tummy which was very painful. These Turkey tail mushroom capsules really help. If I get a bit of heart burn I take a renni.. I've since stopped taking amitriptyline for nerve pain.. As I've got a cyst on the spine..
I also started taking Magnesium tablets.. You can try these things.. But always keep your meds in just incase.. Have a read up about these things.. See what you think honey..

I have been on omeprazole for quite a few years now - 2 a day. I did not have heartburn but during an endoscopy (for another problem) they found a small hiatus hernia and also that the end of the oesophagus was pre cancerous due to stomach acid escaping through the hernia. I think it has now healed but I must stay on omeprazole for life.

I have been taking lansoprazol for 15 years. I started off taking 60mg a day to get my GERD under control and thereafter 30mg once a day as a maintenance dose. I’ve tried to stop taking it but when I get to the second day my symptoms return so I start taking them again. I couldn’t be without them. I take vitamin D during winter and try to eat a balanced healthy diet. So far, so good.

Discuss your concerns with your GP. She or he will be better informed that 'what I've heard' chat.