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Q. I have been taking Protonix for heartburn for at least six months. After I learned that long-term use might lead to complications, I tried to stop taking it. Big mistake!
After about a week, I had to start taking it again due to severe heartburn--the rebound effect, I suppose. I asked my pharmacist how to discontinue acid-suppressing drugs but she was unable to find out. Do you have any suggestions?
A. Rebound heartburn may make it difficult to stop medications such as Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid, Prilosec or Protonix. As a result, people sometimes end up taking such drugs for years. The consequences might include an increased risk of pneumonia, hip fractures and vitamin B12 deficiency, which can lead to nerve damage or cognitive problems.
We spoke recently with Tieraona Low Dog, MD, Director of Education for the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. She recommends a gradual approach for discontinuing acid-suppressors.
Dr. Low Dog suggests taking ginger capsules and chewing DGL (deglycyrrhizinated licorice) tablets as you phase out Protonix. Probiotics may also be helpful during this time. There is much more information about the pros and cons of acid-suppressing drugs and many non-drug approaches for controlling reflux and heartburn in our book, Best Choices From The People’s Pharmacy. It is available in libraries, bookstores and online at www.peoplespharmacy.com.
I have been reading about remedies for gout and learned that 2tbsp of vinegar and honey, daily, both organic, is an excellent remedy for heartburn and acid reflux.
Although I was only on Prilosec for about a month or so, I had the terrible rebound effect when I tried to quit. My pharmacist advised me to try alternating the Prilosec with Zantac which I had been taking for a long time before being on the Prilosec. He said to take Prilosec for two days, then the Zantac for one day.
After a week or so, take Prilosec for one day, then Zantac for two, etc. Then, Prilosec for one day, followed by Zantac for three. Continue adding more days on Zantac in sequence until you are just taking Zantac. That worked for me. It took about a month or less for me to get off it. You could then discontinue the Zantac if needed. I take it as a precaution with my NASIDS.
I would have preferred that you give the information that you furnished as well as warning that esophageal ulcers could be the result of eliminating acid suppressors. 'Suffering' with reflux, I share the concern over the side effects and don't have an answer. On the other hand, I do not wish upon myself esophageal cancer which I understand could be the alternative. Another example of the side effects perhaps being more severe than that the alternative.
Some people respond well to a combination of acupuncture in combo with a custom herbal formula from a trained herbalist. some herbs used are
Hai Pao Xiao (cuttlefish bone)
Scutelaria, Licorice, oyster shell ginger and jujube, Only a trained Chinese Herbalist should decide which combo
don't give up--you can get off prilosec, though now, even after 5 months, i still think about taking it again. just think small meals, watch the fat, yogurt is good, no eating close to bedtime--none of this is news, but isn't always easy. I gave up coffee and the strange manufactured foods like coolwhip. always have your tums at hand and i found that carrot juice (from the costco) either alone or even with orange juice seemed to help (this was a surprise). hang in there
I had the same problem and remembered my dad taking baking soda. I tried 1/2 teaspoon twice a day and it worked. I weaned myself off the medications and now I don't take any. I had a severe case of reflux/gerd/heartburn. When I feel a problem I take baking soda once a day.
I found that baking soda in water and/or Tums and/or Prelief work well in stopping rebound.
They also have been for me a better choice for acid control than any RX's -- they work, side effects are minor, and they are affordable alternatives.
Ginger is nice too and has been used for centuries - best to use in a form that doesn't have sugar as in ginger candies.
My husband and I were taking Prilosec for reflux disease. Then we began to follow a basic low carbohydrate diet, eating only fresh fruits, chicken, fish, limiting beef/pork, no coffee or alcohol. Avoiding all processed/artificial foods. Within a couple of weeks the reflux was gone and we discontinued all medication. We are what we eat.
I have had reflux for years and had taken Protonix and Nexium a very long time. As a result, I have major bone loss and osteoporosis (I'm only 53) which was a real shock to me... that the medications might have contributed to that. I made a decision to stop the Nexium, and have switched to Tums when needed, and Kefir (similar to yogurt) really helps.....6 to 8 oz. twice a day. I also cut out carbonated beverages and chocolate.
I take 40mg Protonix, but only every other day. Sometimes I have to take a tums at night, but not often. This has been working for me for several years.
I believe that this allows my stomach's acid level to normalize some and avoid some of the problems of continued use.
Using Nexium and other acid suppressors increased my arthritis pain.
Instead, I chew a piece of gum for about 45 minutes after eating. It seems to increase saliva flow and aids in digestion. No antacids, no reflux symptoms. Simple and quick.
I was so happy to find this site. I had a huge and awful rebound experience after having a stomach bug and not being able to take meds for a week or so. I thought it might be a good time to try to stay off Protonix and worse GERD symptoms than I had ever had.
I have just learned of the osteoporosis link and have read some of the medical research. My doctors KNEW I had osteopenia and still pushed the protonix long-term. In fact, the GI guy didn't even tell me it was the rebound effect (maybe he didn't know) but stated I should never go off the PPI drugs. I am very motivated to try alternatives!
I have been taking prevacid for about 10 years 30mgs 2 times per day. I'm
trying to take myself off of the prevacid due to medicare part D I'm in the donut hole and cannot afford the prevacid, it costs 343 dollars per month. I cannot afford this, this is my 4th day of trying to take only 1 prevacid per day. I am getting a severe cough, sore throat and on top of that my reflux is coming back even worst than it was.
Is a cough and sore throat common when trying to taper off of acid reducing drugs. What is the best way to do this? Is there something else I can take in place of the 2nd prevacid? I am still taking 1 prevacid but not 2.
I had been on Prilosec since 2000 and suffered from severe Acid reflux. I decided that I had to stop taking the medication simply because of the long term affects of the drug.
I reduced the dosage by 1/2 and took a half a pill for 6 weeks. I had a little heartburn late in the afternoon after the first 3 days. After the first week nothing. Weeks later I reduced the in-take to a quarter of a pill. Here I took it for a week and did have a bit more flareups of heartburn, but now 1 month later no heartburn.