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Omeprazole how to come off it after long term use.

(71 Posts)
Lovetopaint037 Mon 07-Oct-24 16:37:29

Just this. I am now anaemic and have low sodium. Tried to come off it a year ago and I was in agony. Now awaiting a bowel test as doctor is concerned about my anaemia. Now I see that Omeprazole reduces iron absorption. I have all the symptoms of anaemia and so want to feel better. Any .
long term user who has managed to come off it and could help before speaking again to my doctor and could help I would be grateful.

Lovetopaint037 Sun 13-Oct-24 13:00:40

Well it says not to be taken with aspirin on the information leaflet. I was so disappointed.

growstuff Sun 13-Oct-24 13:44:18

I think Omeprazole reduces the effectiveness of aspirin.

growstuff Sun 13-Oct-24 13:44:53

Sorry, I meant Gaviscon.

www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/aspirin-with-gaviscon-2-243-0-121-8978.html?professional=1

Yoginimeisje Mon 14-Oct-24 08:20:10

Thank you Loveto Best of luck to you too x

Farmor15 Mon 14-Oct-24 09:02:04

I just read the label of my Gaviscon advance chewable tablets and found no mention of aspirin. It warns about high sodium, which my pharmacist also said. The Gaviscon liquid may be different, but the reference Growstuff mentions above is to high dose aspirin anyway.
Loveto - I'd suggest talking to your pharmacist - I suspect if you take your aspirin in the morning, sucking a Gaviscon (or Rennie) later in the day to relieve symptoms, should be OK.
Like Yogi - I thought Lanzoprazole was a miracle cure when I was prescribed it after being diagnosed with a hiatus hernia. I had suffered acid reflux for years and had gastroscopy. I was only on it for about 6 weeks when I started to get increasingly worse gassy diarrhoea. It was horrible, but somehow I suspected it might be connected with Lanzoprazole. I stopped the med, and the diarrhoea stopped almost immediately!

Babs03 Mon 14-Oct-24 09:26:18

I have GERD so take omeprazole, have tried coming off it, adjusting my diet and glugging the gaviscon but still end up propped up in bed at night coughing up battery acid.
One unfortunate side effect apart from anaemia is that because stomach acid is suppressed bacteria that normally would be killed off thrives and can cause tummy upsets. Have had several that am sure are caused by this.

Lovetopaint037 Wed 23-Oct-24 10:10:45

I have now had to go back to a full 20mg until I have an endoscopy to see if I have an ulcer. To be honest I’m pretty sure I have. Don’t know how long the wait is!

Yoginimeisje Thu 24-Oct-24 07:55:01

Sorry to hear that Loveto. Touch wood, I seem fine now, I wondered if I had an ulcer &/or hiatic hernia and after almost a year of changing my diet they have healed. I'm amazed that after suffering for maybe 10yrs, getting worse & worse, I now don't even take a Rennie. It's truly amazing what you can do with a change in diet!

BevSec Thu 24-Oct-24 10:00:44

Has anyone had or been offered a fundoplication?

Yoginimeisje Fri 25-Oct-24 10:22:20

BevSec I wouldn't want an operation that mimics the side effects of Lansoprozac and similar. The op will leave you unable to vomit, so if you get food poisoning it is alarming as I've already said and experience. So not for me.

BevSec Fri 25-Oct-24 10:40:13

Yoginimeisje, I didnt realise it mimics the side effects of Lansoprazole, I will research further. Thank you for replying to my post.

SparklyGrandma Fri 25-Oct-24 10:47:19

For me I know the risks about absorption but the extreme pain of gastric reflux is pretty unbearable. If I run out of Lansoprazole, the discomfort kicks in at day two.
It runs in my family.
Gaviscon didn’t ever touch it.

Good luck. Leaving gastric reflux to progress has its own risks, damage to oesophageal cells are one risk.

BevSec Fri 25-Oct-24 12:06:33

That is true, the cells can become cancerous, its worrying. I too have extreme pain after some meals.

Yoginimeisje Sat 26-Oct-24 08:11:19

As I've already said, I didn't think I could live anymore with the severe acid indigest I had suffered for around 8yrs, but also couldn't tolerate the severe adverse effects of the medication. Before the meds I was swallowing about 100 Rennies per week [2 big boxes]. Taking after breakfast and then after each meal and during the night too, terrible!

I cured myself with a change in diet, I was amazed it could be done, I hardly even take a Rennie now. So, you must try this for yourselves, it works. It has taken me about 1 year to be free of the acid indigestion, I am now comfortable and can sleep easy. If you look back on my posts, I say the changes I made. It's worth trying but give it time to work.

Ashcombe Sat 05-Jul-25 16:43:27

Some of you who follow the Good Morning thread may remember that I was seriously ill in March this year with dangerously low sodium levels and anaemia. After a week in hospital undergoing sodium infusions and blood transfusions, I went home, still very weak. The physician took me off all my medication, including Lanzoprazole, Ramipril and Indapamide, before gradually introducing a new regime including Famotidine.

Initially, he was unsure what the outcome would be so he sent for my daughter and son who live over 200 miles away. Fortunately, I have made a good recovery, helped by different medication and including previously absent salt in my cooking and on food. Occasional use of Rennies deals with any minor heartburn but in general, I am feeling better than I have for many months.

Lovetopaint037 Sat 05-Jul-25 19:42:53

In January I had an Endoscopy which showed I had a very large hiatus hernia which was showing fresh blood. I was put on an immediate high dose of Omeprazole which was 40mg in the morning and 40mg of the same in the evening. I was having a months prescription in a week and continued this for 6 weeks when I returned to the hospital. They said the bleeding had stopped. I have now been prescribed 20 mg daily but also 20mg of Famotidine in the evening for the rest of my life. In order to have the Endoscopy I had had to come off Omeprazole for about a week. I was told to just take Rennies or Gaviscon. I got both and was in absolute agony so not surprised when they said it could have caused the bleeding. I am 84 in a few days and will never be coming off them despite my low sodium etc. I can’t tell you how relieved I am to experience only the occasional spate of pain for which I take some Rennies. I consume a lot of salt and my anaemia diminished when the doctor gave me some iron tablets. I have the occasional blood test which shows sodium at 130. I can feel my hiatus hernia which feels like a roll above my waist. It’s very odd. Along with various other problems like joints, knees and accidents for which I need the help of Tena etc. I am hoping for the best and that’s all. Take care all of you.

Luckygirl3 Sat 05-Jul-25 19:55:45

I am on it cos of antiplatelet treatment that can damage stomach. I am about to come off that treatment but have no plans to stop the omeprazole any time soon. I have quite enough problems without rudking indigestion.

Luckygirl3 Sat 05-Jul-25 19:56:01

Risking ....

HelterSkelter1 Sun 06-Jul-25 11:07:35

I have been reading this thread wuth interest as my sister is about to have a gastroscopy and a fundoplcation has been mentione
DH was happily on Ranitidine for many years but it was removed from sale due to cancer scares and he had no replacement for several years until suddenly with no explanation Lansoprazole appeared in his prescription this gave him almost immediate diarrhoea. This was changed to Omeprazole. Which doesnt seem to cause any noticeable syptoms. But he is a very ill man anyway.
I too feel that meds are prescribed and then not reviewed sufficiently.

annodomini Sun 06-Jul-25 11:36:02

I see that I answered this last year. I should have added that, in addition to prescribing omeprazole to control reflux, the consultant also prescribed Gaviscon Advance, to be taken last thing at night.