Cutting out Omeprazole

NanTheWiser I totally agree with what you've advised. We are on the same wavelength.

...forgot to add, that High carb foods (bread, potatoes, rice, pasta etc.) are notorious for acid reflux, due to the undigested sugars they produce, so reducing these in the diet would help.
I went low-carb 3 years ago, after having horrendous bloating and reflux, and the relief was almost instantaneous.

Something else to consider - as we age, our bodies are less efficient than when we were younger, and digestion often leaves a lot to be desired. Apparently, we produce less stomach acid in old age, so reducing it even further with PPIs seems to be contradictory. Guess what? the symptoms of too little acid are the same as too much - acid reflux, indigestion and bloating.
There are a number of home remedies to help with acid reflux - ginger tea helps, as does bicarb of soda in a glass of water, and Apple Cider Vinegar (raw, with the 'mother') is a very old remedy, but don't drink it neat! It must be diluted and sweetened if you must.
Just a few more ideas...

I take these for a leaky gut which caused severe acid reflux, I was convinced that I had got an HH, but an x-ray showed it not so. Reading the leaflet they do come in lower doses so perhaps you could ask if you could go onto the lowest strength 10mg for a while and then come off them and see how you get on. I am on 20mg and have tried taking on alternate days and adjusting my diet, some days it works and others not.

Aglassofroseplease Dr Mercola speaks a great deal of sense. I subscribe to his newsletters. If everyone read them, they would find other ways to control their oesophageal problems and would understand why there is the need for caution with Omeprazole and other PPIs.

Ps I’ve only been on Omeprazole for two months at 40 mg a day so it’s going to be easier for me to reduce them than someone who’s been on them for much longer. Also I’m glad my GP practice don’t advocate the long term use of pills unnecessarily. I’ve seen this with my mum whereby I’ve had to go through a long list of her medications including antidepressants that the doc had given her after my dad died and she was still being given 15 years later that the doc said it would be hard to wean her off now.

Gonegirl, reading all these interesting posts has made me think again about strict dieting. I imagine that oatmeal may be good for stopping excess acid.

I already use Oatly instead of milk and intend to take a lot more porridge instead of bread .

Omeprazole is amazing with all the meds I take for chronic arthritic pain, asthma etc it has stopped the oesophageal problems. My mum was seriously ill a year ago due to the same problems and the Omeprazole and months of care have solved her excruciating pain. Why stop them. There had to be a reason for your problem and if that still exists I’d be wary of allowing that to take over again. It depends on how your relationship is with your GP, do you trust him/her?

Thanks for your advice. I’m one day into my reducing Omeprazole plan - it’s early days. I woke early worrying about it - not a good sign!! But I’m fine - no symptoms as yet.
Thanks for all the advice on alternatives and the links to articles Sparkle and Nanthewiser . I’m someone who will always try and find my own way of healing myself - although prescribed medication is very necessary for people, I will choose the alternative route. This is good although a bit scary articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2018/01/03/acid-reflux-may-respond-better-to-foods.aspx
I’ve been taking turmeric, ginger, aloe vera capsules as well as lots of live yogurt and kefir.
Sparkle That’s useful and I’ll certainly look into that. I used to give my dog homeopathic treatment for a skin allergy to grass seed - the vet was doling out steroids which only worked for a while and cost ££££s. Mine cost under a £5 and worked long term

I tried to stop Omeprazole and the reflux returned .

Ranitidine gives me nausea. NanTheWiser,is there a way to take Ranitidine so it doesn't cause nausea?

I now have a polyp at the top of my gullet : Omeprazole related?

Besides Omeprazole I find that it helps with reflux to take small meals and , instead of no eating in late evening, to have a little of something easy to digest such as a small porridge or an egg.

Can the local pharmacist advise on the question of Omeprazole?

Willow500 I have PM'd you with a link to a stockist.

I stopped taking Omeprazole because it made me feel so ill, I felt like a very old woman instead of a seventy year old! Within days I started to feel better. I spoke to the pharmacist and he told me his mother had said the same thing!

Sparklefizz I will pass on your recommendation to my hairdresser/friend who suffers with acid reflux horrendously (as I am told every time I get my hair done ) She's tried all sorts and also doesn't like taking the prescribed medication for too long.

I'd like to try homeopathy but I'm happy on my lanzaprole (I think that's how it's spelled). Acid reflux is frightening. I don't know what causes it.. Perhaps it's more common with increasing age. I belch alot but its not uncomfortable, just loud!! I went gluten, dairy and tomato/orange 'free' and felt much better. Its so hard restricting your diet but I guess it's the only way

A couple of more reports on the dangers of prolonged PPI use:
www.uspharmacist.com/article/proton-pump-inhibitors-considerations-with-longterm-use

and:
www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/long-term-use-of-drugs-to-curb-acid-reflux-linked-to-doubling-in-stomach-cancer-risk/

Good post, Sparkle and very true.

Nonnie Thumbs down to your GP for scaremongering. As I'm sure he knows but didn't bother to say - too much acid over a period of time can lead in a few cases to Barretts Oesophagus ..... and Barretts Oesophagus can lead in a few cases to cancer. The key phrase is "in a few cases". If it automatically led to cancer, then that would be the leading cause of cancer in the world .... and it's not.

If you understand how the digestive system works and why we have stomach acid in the first place (because we need it), then it becomes obvious that we should not get rid of it altogether, but keep it in balance if it gets out of hand.

But anyway, far be it from me to suggest anyone stops taking a drug, whether longterm use is harmful (which has been pointed out in an earlier post above by someone else) or not. Each of us has to find our own way and take our own risks, and I take personal responsibility for my health and research everything before I take it, drugs included. I was on the verge of a stroke caused by a drug prescribed in far too high a dose by my previous GP, so I know only too well that doctors can make mistakes, and I check everything.

I am just trying to help by suggesting an alternative. If people don't want to try it when it has no side effects, then that is their choice.

GoneGirl :

Natrum Phos:
Natrum Phosphoricum 6X. Natrum Phosphoricum (Phosphate of Sodium) is a homeopathic remedy to help relieve acid indigestion, sour stomach, throat inflammation, and the sensation of a lump in the throat, vomiting, flatulence, and colic. Natrum Phos. ... For the relief of sour stomach or acid indigestion.

Nonnie, as I mentioned in my post above, when you stop PPIs (any of the 'prazoles) you get rebound acid, as your stomach recovers, and it can be worse than the original reflux. That's why you should taper the dose gradually, and maybe take ranitidine.
This is an admittedly old report, and based on a study in the US, but does raise the question of the use of PPIs, and the risk of osteoporosis, among other quite serious side effects.
It can block the uptake of Vit B12, which has led to a few people suffering from Pernicious anaemia, and there is also a risk of stomach polyps with long term use, which may be associated with stomach cancer:
www.nhs.uk/news/medication/use-of-stomach-drugs-debated/

I find my reflux is worse if I don't eat enough because I then seem to have 'spare' stomach acid sloshing about. It improves if I eat plenty of bread. Which is a sod from a losing weight point of view.

I don't understand how alternative remedies can help. Surely, if you have a hiatus hernia it means your oesophagus isn't closing off properly at the bottom, and it is allowing stomach acid to rise up to your throat. So, it's a physical failure. . I realise omeprazole reduces the amount of stomach acid so it doesn't rise so much, but do these other remedies also reduce acid? Or how do they work?

I'm asking because I would like to try the Natrum Phos, but I don't want to waste money.

I tried to stop it and got indigestion, asked the doc if this would stop after a while and he said that the acid from indigestion causes cancer and to stay on them. Now I miss the odd day with no ill effects but if I miss two days I start to get heartburn.

NanTheWiser I'm glad. I've sent you a PM with a link.

Well, Sparklefizz you aren't invisible as far as I'm concerned, I shall have a look-out for the Natrum Phos, and will give it a whirl (if I find it), I'm always happy to try complementary treatments, as I'm somewhat dubious about many of the main-stream medications and their side effects.

It's funny .... whenever I mention a homeopathic remedy which I have found from experience works really well .... I become invisible and people ignore me!

I was brought up to have an open mind and when I collapsed with an incurable illness, I discovered various alternative therapies that worked well to control many of the symptoms. Homeopathy is one of those, but many people seem completely closed to it.

Such a shame that they are missing out on something very helpful.

Thanks for all your advice it’s really helpful.
Ive just called into the chemist and spoke to the pharmacist who thought I’d be ok just cutting them out over a few days and like my Dr, she said I can always get some more from my Dr if my symptoms return.

My reasons for not wanting to be on Omeprazole or similar for longer than necessary-although it’s been a godsend when I was feeling so bad - is that my mum is 10 years into Alzheimer’s and her two sisters both had it and it’s been linked to an increased risk of getting it - ok i know it’s just one piece of research in a sea of research, but I’m choosing to heed it because of my mum and my two aunts so I don’t want to increase my risk factors - even though I know dementia isn’t heredity, only certain types .

I do think lifestyle and diet contribute to it ? I feel better having changed my diet - a bad diet and stress etc probably caused it so, I’ve cut out triggers and try to stick to a healthy Mediterranean type diet. Even the consultants commented on the improved state of my oesophagus.

Thanks Nanthewiser for pointing me in the direction of low carb etc