Would you .......

It is well known that proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole can cause small benign polyps in the stomach - that is what they did to me. It is also suspected that they might inhibit the absorption of some goodies that we need. The info about this is readily available on the internet.

As with all medication it is a matter of weighing up the risks and the benefits. If I had the serious problems that some gransnetters have outlined in these posts then the decision to take them would be the right thing to do in order to have a reasonable quality of life and relieve the misery.

I was able to control my problems in other ways, so made the decision to go off it. As with anything I always try and go for the tiniest dose that is effective.

Oh! I bought some magnesium tablets but then I couldn't remember what I had bought them for. That must be it. I can't find them now.

I do know that Omeprozole depletes Magnesium and something else that I can't remember.
Has anyone had a Pepsin test? I'm going to ask about this when I see the Gastroenterologist. I won't hold my breath, my own Dr didn't know about it!

Yours all sound a lot worse than my problems.The white tongue and bitter taste must be horrible.

I don't get the white tongue or horrible taste. It seems to affect everyone differently...

You get the white tongue and horrible bitter taste all the time though. I think it might be fumes from stomach acid that come up.

x posts jingl - yes, it's so much worse than GERD.

The trouble with 'silent reflux' or LPR though is that you don't get the heartburn or acid sensation in the throat, so it's very hard to know when it's happening.

Omeprazole works well for Gerd, but nothing really works for LPR (silent reflux)

I am on a prescribed dose of 10 mgs omeprazole. A while back I doubled up, took two tablets daily, then added another 10 mgs so I was taking 30 mgs. It didn't make any difference so I went back to the one tablet. I had a little bit of rebound for a couple of days, but could hardly tell the difference really. I am now having another go at doubling up to the 20 mgs.I don't think it matters how much you take, within the limits. Some people take 40 mgs.

The only way that I managed to stop acid rexflux was to lose weight, stay off fruit juices, not have more than one glass of wine, and not to eat anything at all after about 8 pm.
I was also having the hoarseness mentioned and some trouble swallowing, and a fair bit of choking easily.I never went to the GP about it, but tried different things myself.Never had the tooth pain others mention though.

That's interesting, Jess. I know my symptoms gradually became worse when on Lansoprazole (similar in action to Omeprazole) and much worse after stopping it. My GP seems clueless...

It is a safe drug but NICE don't actually recommend continuous use for years (possibly because long term effects not known?). Drug safety testing does not include testing years of use - nothing would ever get to market if it did.
There are a few concerns - it is normal to have stomach acid and abnormal to block its production.
One of the interesting things about it is that there was a study in which it was given to people without reflux symptoms - and when they stopped quite a %age developed "rebound" symptoms. So it may be a hard drug to give up.

Sorry, I should have responded to the OP's question.

Yes, I would mention anything I was taking, to my GP. Many drugs have an unwanted interaction.

I, too, would have doubts about using Chinese medicine. I can't see how strengths could be controlled, so one batch could be stronger than another etc.

Having written the above, if I were desperate and had not been able to find help with 'western' medicine, I can understand one trying anything from anywhere as a last resort.

What are the problems with Omeprazole? I have been prescribed it, using it daily (although a very low dose).

I have to admit that I assumed it was a 'safe' drug.

You should certainly tell your medics about the alternative medicines as they work through their chemical content. They are not tested and the doses of chemicals are not standardised as with tested medicines so mixing the two could cause overdoses or adverse reactions. Alternative medicines can be very powerful and dangerous when self prescribed. Digitalis can cause heart problems and St John's Wort should not be taken with prescription anti-depressants.

Probably petra. It was late May I had. Have never felt so ill and weak in all my life. I could hardly move across the bedroom. And I've had this thing ever since.

I wish I lived near Rotherham. Take a look on YouTube at this Dr at Rotherham Hospital. Dr Karna D Bardhan. He seems to know what he's talking about.

After several anti-depressants had completely failed to help me I put myself on St. John's Wort. I told my GP because SJW can interact with other medication. Now I'm on HRT (one of the ones that can interact) and have stopped the SJW. I really ought to tell my GP that I'm also taking progesterone, although with any really specialised medication we have to know a lot more about it than a GP would.

Cher53. That's odd, I suffer from Diverticulitus. Up until a moth ago I haven't had an attack for over 18 months, and yet I've had 2, 2 weeks apart, one so bad that OH had to call an ambulance as I had passed out ( not for long)

Riverwalk. This is another condition that nobody cares about.

Jingle. Was this that bloody awful thing thing we had earlier this year?

I google loads.

Mine came on with a virus! quite out of the blue.

Forgot to say I NEVER GOOGLE, especially for medical symptoms. It just scares the hell out of you because everything comes up cancer. You are better to go to the doctor, they train for years and I'd rather rely on them than an internet search engine which can come up with anything.

We had a friend with a medical book who was just as bad, eventually we persuaded her to throw the damn thing out, she's a lot more settled in her mind now and happier for this.

All of you with silent acid reflux or any type of acid reflux - you have my sympathy. It is an absolutely hellish condition, I have had it for 9 years, regarding the worry of the Omeprazole I am just grateful to have it and I use this along with Gaviscon Advance, another Godsend.

The diet part is trial and error, if I go through a bad spell I write down what I eat for a few days and look back and try and work out the trigger. I don't drink much alcohol now as that is an issue as well. I avoid spicy food and CHILLI - which for me is the worst offender and they seem to want chilli in just about everything nowadays. I was told by my Gastroenterologist that Acid Reflux is a strange condition, what affects one person foodwise, does not affect another. I have found this to be accurate. They say avoid fizzy drinks, yet I found the original Coca-Cola to be helpful to me, especially for settling down my IBS. Isn't that odd?

I also have IBS, Diverticular Disease and Asthma. For some of you who may not be aware Acid Reflux and Asthma are quite closely related. Though I was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma years after my acid reflux began. I took acid reflux and all the other Gastro-Intestinal/Bowel related issues after being ill with a virus. The doctors knew I had been ill with something and actually found something in a urine sample, but had no clue as to what it was.

I have a theory that Gastro/Bowel conditions have a hereditary factor also. In my family there were 3 with acid -reflux, 1 Crohn's, 1 Ulcerative Colitis and me with my issues.

Regarding the 'cancer' issue, I know people who are in their 80s who take Omeprazole. I also have a friend with 'Barratt's Oesophagus' which is meant to increase the chances of Oesophageal cancer. He takes his Omeprazole and (touch wood) he is still here and keeps well, though, like myself reduced his alcohol intake and watches his diet. I don't think there is any point to worrying about cancer, just follow whatever regime helps and hope for the best. I'm happy if I do not have the awful burning.

Back to the question in hand, yes, you need to tell your doctor about any homeopathic remedies you are taking. They have to diagnose the whole person. I suffer acute anxiety and receive no treatment from my GP, when it is unbearable I take a natural calming pill (cannot remember the name). My GP wasn't too happy about it but I told her that when I am really bad I need it, and fortunately it is not often I need them. However, incase they react with something or as someone else said remain within your system you need to tell your GP. They may not be happy but it then gives the opportunity to ask 'what is the alternative'?

bellows breathing