Omeprazole experiences anyone?

It sounds as though your GP has very sound reasons for keeping you on Omeprazole, so going off it is something not to be decided lightly.

I can only say that I was unfortunate and got lots of little gastric polyps which were thought to be due to PPIs - but this is very rare indeed. I still take them but only as needed.

The consultant sounds a bit irresponsible to simply write you off because you showed reluctance to take PPIs - that is a bit unprofessional. He should have been monitoring you.

Thanks for the prompt reply.I havent stopped the Omeprazole but have cut down to one a day,which is what the GP suggested.So I will continue for another month as told.The GP herself said current thinking is PPIs shouldn't be viewed as a long term solution and reducing stomach acid indefinitely isn't the answer.Because of polyps and increased risk of bacterial infections.So I will trust her judgement and finish the course.Yes she said the consultant was a being a typical pompous surgeon (her words !)and shouldn't have dismissed me.I had done as I was told and been on the blooming drug for months by then. Would also be interested to hear anyone's experiences stopping PPIS and if they had any rebound or adverse effects.

I have been on Omprazole for quite a while as stomach protection from Naproxen. I shall stop taking it when I get over my recent surgery but have never suffered any side affects

I take it occasionally, when I have a stomach 'flare up'. This is not as the doctor ordered, because every time I went to the doctor about the problems I was having, it was a different doctor with a different view. I now keep a supply of Omeprazole, and usually find that a few weeks on this will sort out whatever problem I have, hopefully none of it too serious, although I know I have diverticulitis which rears it ugly head after eating things I know I should not, but the Omeprazole is not for this. I just go with my instinct these days.

I take Omniprozale but find it can upset my stomach have to keep going to the loo? I have cut the dosage down I now take one tablet each morning instead of two and find that helps me, but I was also diagnosed with hector pylori bu my GP and had a course of antibiotics, it might be worth while getting checked out by your GP for this

Are you sure you had gastritis ww? Most of what you describe are symptoms of GORD gastrointestinal oesophageal reflux disease.
I cut coffee, alcohol, and a host of other things out of my diet, tomatoes and onions are my worst triggers. I can go to bed and lie down now without the terrible heartburn.
here is a leaflet have a look at it and see if it is helpful.

I took Omeprazole for some years before it ceased to be effective; the GP put me on Ranitidine. This also now seems to be losing its effectiveness recently so the GP suggested that I restart the Omeprazole and take one Ranitidine also! The Pharmacist raised his eyebrows at this. Said it was "unusual". I only managed to take three of the Omeprazole and was so ill with explosive diarrhoea that I stopped taking them. I am now back on Ranitidine only, with additional Gaviscon if I need it. I think they run out of options after a while.

Thanks Hildajenni. I have read up about GORD previously and generally follow the diet recommendations until I let things slide.It's just so hard to stick rigidly and I love my food and cooking .tbh this latest episode started up so suddenly I'm pretty sure it was gastritis but with my hernia I know I will have to be more careful in future.It occused to me today the evening before I started feeling rubbish DH made dinner and we had mussels. Don't think I will have them again !
Tina I am going to query H Pylori with my GP.Thinking about it my brother had really digestive problems a few years ago and was eventually diagnosed with that.They just don't seem to look beyond giving out PPIS.

I have mentioned this many times on Gransnet, but I can't not say anything. Try Bicarbonate of Soda, not to be mixed up with Baking Powder. I have mentioned before my mother died of Cancer of the Oesophagus five years ago. My mother wasnt a drinker or smoker, but it seems to run in families. My family unfortunately, even my niece before she was thirty had problems. My eldest sister has just been diagnosed with a hiatus hernia just like my father had. I do remember nothing seemed to help my father.

We have found you have to be aware of what you eat. We all have smoothies for breakfast now, with wholegrain rolled oats, a banana, other frozen fruit ie blue berries etc, pumpkin, sunflower, chia seeds, raw honey and always a few almonds. That's a good way to not have bread or cereal and milk for breakfast. Preservatives are one thing that I can't eat which are in bought bread and cereals.

If you try the bicarbonate of soda, I would suggest 1/2 teaspoon in a glass of water. I drink mine through the night. If I have indigestion or heartburn in the day I have another glass but don't have it straight after meals.

Another thing I find which is very soothing and works to stop heartburn is watermelon, grapes and food like celery. They are alkaline and alkaline food are what you should mainly be eating.

thanks so much for this thread. I have been taking omeprazole for almost a year, after I was diagnosed as having ulcers or pre-ulcers. In spite of having read the leaflet that came with them, I was unaware of all the business with PPI's - until I just googled it. I am also taking calcium for osteoporosis, so will check this with DR at next appointment.
I am supposed to take two omeprazole, but in fact only take 1, as I seemed to be losing hair and also had pains in my legs (although Dr said that this was not a side effect. Pains vanished after I started taking just one omeprazole. I did not really want to take it at all, but a friend told me that acid reflux can damage your throat. Lots to discuss with DR on next appointment!!

Thanks also from me re Omeprazole dosage. I had been taking 1tablet every morning. A couple of weeks ago I started to take 1every other day instead. I had tried stopping them altogether, but sometimes had reflux/heartburn, so tried the alternate day dose. It seems to be OK for me.

In all fairness the GP I saw this time is new to the practice and ,unlike the other one 2 years ago, did say PPIs were not suitable for long term use,and permanently reducing the amount of stomach acid threw up other health issues so seems far more receptive to me stopping them and looking at other ways of managing my hernia.I too seem much better one one a day,and also had bad leg cramps on 2 per day.I'm going to go back as feeling so much better and ask if I can wean myself off now.I'm also looking at ways to improve my diet further,a lot less acidic and supported by probiotics and a digestive enzyme after advice at our local health food store,who were really helpful.I've cut back on bread consumption and only buy from a local organic bakery and eat organic,preservative free food wherever possible.
Thanks for the tip about soda bic.I think Apple Cider Vinegar has similar benefits and have some in so may try .
My biggest concern is if /when I have another endoscopy I will see the same consultant he will be equally scathing that I had a break from PPIs.Prior to this latest ,sudden flare up I really felt ok and it only occurred to me the night before I it started DH cooked moules mariniere,which in hindsight I didn't enjoy ,and it all started from there.At the health store they did say maybe some bacterial element had kicked off the gastritis, and again PPIs reducing stomach acid could possibly make things worse,as it's harder to digest food.Hope that all makes sense!

I was prescribed one tablet per day of Omeprazole by my GP a couple of years ago or so because I was suffering from a chronic cough and awful indigestion and within a month my cough had completely gone. After six months or so, my GP said that I didn't need to take it daily just as and when required and this is what I now do. Not noticed any side effects.

Discontinued them after two months of constant diarrhoea, it has taken over 6 weeks to get right. Having to be careful what I eat though, completely cut out sugar and any food with preservatives in.Fingers crossed.

I've taken alot of Omep in these last years but not any more. I am strict about not mixing foods. No desert or sweet stuff after other foods. Let the proteins get digested first.
As to coffee I drink a milky coffee and make it an instant decaff and a proper one just once a day
Give yourself time and cut out cakes and pastries for a while.

I take Omeprazole for laryngo-pharyngeal reflux which did some damage to my vocal chords. I've never had a problem with it and if it contributed to saving my voice, I'm more than grateful. I also take Ranitidine and Gaviscon Advance. I did try to knock off Omeprazole but after a few days was getting awful reflux.

About ?three years ago now I developed the heliobacter pylori bug which can cause ulcers. This was discovered at a gastroscopy after getting regular indigestion and taking omeprazole.

NB I did not have any reflux. Just plain indigestion which is quite a different situation to some of you. Reflux is a more complicated issue than I had.

I took the heavy duty antibiotics for the bug and it seemed to clear up. I was still taking the omeprazole and still had some discomfort.
No evidence but there are concerns by some, that taking regular PPI medication can make matters worse.

In the end I weaned off the Omep and just tried Gaviscon liquid which largely acts as a barrier to stomach acid rather than being a drug that interfere in quite a major way on normal body function. That worked for me and I stopped taking it. I do think the omeprazole might have been making me worse.

I have recently stopped eating sweet peppers as my stomach discomfort seemed to be related to meals when I had eaten these. I asked a few friends about this and a number of people say they they also get bad stomach ache from eating peppers. Do think about what you might be eating.

So interesting Washerwoman that you too had leg pains with Ome. My Dr gave me a scathing look when I asked if it could be causing the pains - I could hardly walk. Needless to say I ignored the Dr and cut the dose to one a day. I am a bit sceptical of doctors!! Don't know if I can cut out sugar and pastries - this would be a major heartache! Maybe worth it though?

Incidentally my son says that they add 'stuff' to flour which of course goes into bread. He has to be v. careful and can only eat a certain brand of white bread, in small doses.

There is another lanospromole may spelt wrong that I am on, myngp prefers it to omezapromole
Also gavisgon 4 tines day
I have had awful diarrhoea now referred to gastroentologist as a level was high in faces sample,
However I am on 60md codeine and paracetemol (solpadol) also morphine as and when plus specialist just prescribed gabapentin

I don't think main relief I am on helps roll on my operation

Morgana.My leg pains were like weird spasm,cramps in my upper thighs and back of my legs radiating down.In the evenings when I sat down,and very painful.Quite unlike any other cramp I've ever felt,say in the calf after exercise.Just checked and listed under rare side effects are leg pains and spasms.So your GP was so wrong to be scathing,as I feel the consultant was with me when I said after months on the drug I preferred to try dietary and lifestyle modifications to keep things settled.
I stopped taking it 2 days ago,and am taking the probiotics and digestive enzymes only.Dringing lots of water,fennel and chamomile tea and eating fish,chicken and lots of leafy veg with the odd complex carbon snack .Plus finding almonds very soothing to nibble on.No pastries or processed foods.Have to say maybe I was on the mend,thankfully, but already feeling so much better.Last time I stopped I had an awful rebound effect but had taken it much longer,this time not at all thankfully.

Celebgran.
That sounds miserable.At the back of my mind with PPIS is a memory of having full blown shigella dysentery when I was much younger.Absolutely vile and took months to get over it.Knowing that PPIs of all type reduce the stomach acid to the extent that harmful bacteria like c.difficile and clostridium can proliferate, and overtake the gut's own friendly bacteria, is one of the reasons I'm keen not to take them long term.Especially now I've had episodes of sudden ,watery diarhoea when on 2 a day dose.Obviously needing an operation your situation is much more complicated. Wishing you well,and hope you get relief soon.

My DH was on Omeprazole for several years. Like Nelliemoser, he had the heliobacter pylori diagnosed via a gastroscopy. I can't help but feel that the constant use of omeprazole masked his symptoms when, three years ago, he was found to have oesophageal cancer which took his life two years ago.

Like Nelliemoser I had the antibiotic bombardment when I had H Pylori a couple of years back. It was diagnosed after only a couple of months of indigestion,and some reflux, and seemed to work well. I was given Omeprazole to take while the results of my tests came through and during the treatment, about 4 weeks in all, and then I stopped taking them.

After a year or so with no problems, the indigestion started recurring. I was more concerned about taking so many antibiotics again than about taking Omeprazole, so tried the probiotic tablets from Holland & Barrett. They have many times the probiotic levels of the drinks and seem to have worked a treat for me. Might be worth a try for some of you with only minor symptoms?

Quick update.Just over a week since I stopped Omeprazole and been taking the probiotics and digestive enzymes and don't know if it's a coincidence but feeling the best I have in weeks.Bowels back to normal,no reflux and although still eating very healthily -did have dessert at the weekend at a special family birthday and a glass of red wine - hard to describe it but feel something has 'cleared' in my system.That may sound a bit far fetched,and I realise it's early days but instinct tells me diet and probiotics is far better long term for me than PPIs.
Then today received a copy of a letter sent to my GP from the consultant I saw previously who signed me off very curtly when I very politely said could a try without PPIs as things had settled.Basically said I told this woman that I wouldn't do a follow up endoscopy, and if she wants one will have to go through Open Access and Choose and Book, whatever that means ?I guess it means go somewhere else.So I will go back to the GP and discuss,as she stressed on or off PPIs she thought I should have one more endoscopy as a precaution.