Print this page
Email a friend
Was this information helpful?
100% said yes!
(2 votes)What do you think? Click "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" to vote!
If you have more to say, post a comment below!
Richard Knox did a splendid job on NPR discussing rebound hyperacidity brought on by the sudden discontinuation of acid-suppressing heartburn drugs like Nexium (esomeprazole), Prilosec (omeprazole) and Prevacid (lansoprazole). When such medications are stopped, they frequently cause the very symptoms (acid reflux) that they were originally supposed to eliminate.
Many gastroenterologists have a hard time believing this, since they prescribe huge quantities of PPIs (proton pump inhibitors). Until recently, it was easier to say that the patient's symptoms just returned and that the drugs could not be responsible for worsening symptoms.
This is reminiscent of the days when drugs like Valium (diazepam), Librium (chlordiazepoxide) and Xanax (alprazolam) were so popular. When patients complained of severe anxiety and insomnia on stopping such drugs many physicians replied that such symptoms were merely the return of the underlying psychological problems. We now know, however, that withdrawal from benzodiazepines (Valium-like drugs) is common and requires gradual tapering over weeks or months.
No doctor wants to cause harm. But it is surprising how many medications can cause unexpected side effects. When such drugs are first introduced there is a tremendous marketing effort by the pharmaceutical firms touting the benefits of their new pills. Just think back to those "Purple Pill" commercials for Nexium! Rarely do companies tell patients or physicians that there may be a dark side to their hugely successful medications.
To read more about this fascinating topic and to listen to Joe on NPR, just click on the link below:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112564382
Good Morning,
I just heard a report on NPR (KERA) about the problems people are having with stopping using drugs like prilosec. Joe had an input on the program.
We have found that when we have heartburn - which is seldom - fresh fruit, in particular apple, immediately relieves the problem.
Grapes, orange, grapefruit, and many other things work well also.
Have you heard from others as well?
Regards,
I have been on Nexium, Prevacid, and Protonix due to severe acid reflux and have permanent damage to my esophagus resulting in Nissen Fundoplication surgery. I have been on Protonix since 11/05 but due to the economy and the high cost of this medication I stopped taking it.
Is Protonix included in this study? I have been ill since going off of this product but I also have Fibromyalgia and have been diagnosed with Crohn's Disease and have been treated several times for H-Pilory. My diet consists of a LOT of soda crackers.
Could discontinuation of Protonix be adding to my gastrointestinal problems?
I have a peptic ulcer and have been on Protonix since 2005. Recently, my insurance company stopped covering it and I have been very sick since then. Apples do help, because of the pectin, and I carry a bottle of liquid antacid around with me. I have heard that a mixture of apple cider vinegar and honey helps but I haven't tried it yet.
I have been taking these drugs continuously for about seven years. At first Protonix, then Nexium and for the past five years Prilosec. I switched only because I was getting samples until five years ago and when my doctor ran out I could get the Prilosec OTC. For the past year and a half I have been taking two pills, one in the morning and one at night. One had ceased being adequate.
I have been literally afraid of how my body would respond if I stopped. About two months ago my wife and I began feeling concerned that all this Prilosec could be affecting my bone-calcium. I am 63 years old. I began cutting back by taking a half in the evenings for two weeks and a whole in the morning. Then I took the half every other evening for two weeks. Two weeks ago I switched to the whole at night and that was it. I have missed as many as two days in a row with no ill effects.
I am currently being fairly regular about the one at night. Remembering five or six nights a week. I have had no particular ill effects from this significant cut back. But maybe I'll go buy some Broccoli in the morning....
I read an article that warned of the 2 months of agony I would be in if I stopped the Prilosec so I was prepared. I argued with the gastroenterologist who put me on it and wish I had stood my ground. Even though I gradually reduced the dosage, I still had the two bad months.
My problem is that there is always a one centimeter opening between my esophagus and stomach. I am a mechanical engineer. This is a mechanical problem. There is nothing wrong with my stomach acid. I have read that reducing stomach acid reduces the body's absorption of critical vitamins and can lead to brain function deterioration among other scary things.
I am planning to have the hiatal valve fixed when insurance agrees to pay for the non-invasive surgery - which is cheaper... Meanwhile I eat early and sleep on a slant. I hope my esophagus is not too torn up. I have developed a problem of pills getting stuck in my throat so know there is some deterioration.
I was initially prescribed protonex, and after a couple of months on it I stopped using it and went Over The Counter with Prilosec which I used for about five years. My experience is that I could lower the dosage but then I needed to take it very regularly. If I got off of the regularity I would experience very sharp reflux recurrence pains, and not only did it take about a day for a re-initiation of prilosec to calm the acid, I would also experience regular chest pains which were quite alarming because they did not feel like acid pains.
It is my understanding that Proton Pump Inhibitors either turn off the acid producing cells or not, you can't take fewer tablets and expect that to work, because they either are working (no acid) or they fall below a threshhold and the acid is full on. Therefore you don't 'wean' yourself off with a reduced dose, you substitute another drug or face the fact that you'll go off cold turkey, which is what I did.
Ultimately I read that if one followed up the last meal of the day with apples or almonds one would experience a sharp reduction in acid reflux pains. So a week ago I quit prilosec cold turkey and have been eating more apples. I am now back to standard reflux pains and I intend to deal with them by some other means than a proton pump inhibitor in future.
One word of caution with the surgery to repair the hiatal valve. Be sure to have the test done that measures the strength of the esophageal peristaltic action --- if you are having problems in swallowing, it may be that this action is simply not strong enough to force food down the esophagus (it does not ‘free fall’ to the stomach!).
If the hiatal valve is tightened, this will cause food to not be allowed to pass into the stomach and will back up in the esophagus. Have had this done and it proved that I could not have the valve repaired for the mentioned reasons. Small bites, well chewed, and minimum reflux med (famotidine 10 mg prior to meals has worked for me), plus T of maalox at bedtime has helped tremendously.
Followed the "Best choices..." advice on stopping PPI med, (in my case Prevacid,) and it worked. When I had any discomfort or pain, took a CHEWABLE calcium citrate tablet with just enough water to swallow, and at other times especially after meals chewed some sugarless gum. After two months of doing this I am much better and only need minimal amt of calcium. This regimen also possibly SAVED MY LIFE!
In the beginning, 2003, Prevacid was a life-saver and the damage from reflux mostly healed (some residual damage), and continued med at reduced dosage and frequency till 2009 when I started to become sick. Lab tests showed high ALT and AST (liver enzymes) in May. By July the levels had doubled again and I was extremely ill, couldn't eat, losing weight rapidly and had a swollen abdomen. Ultrasound and cancer test negative, but on my own I suspected Prevacid and stopped taking it. This month ALT and AST normal and am feeling well and gaining back lost weight.
The literature from the drug mfr does say that these meds are for short term use and have not been tested for long term. But the doctors I have asked about this had all said it was ok to keep taking it and not a word about how to stop.
Thanks again to People's Pharmacy.
My 8-year old daughter had the Nissen surgery as a baby, GERD complications from prematurity. She is the size of a 5 to 6 year old. GI doctor put her in Prevacid for two months, now she has symptoms of chest/stomach pain, which she didn't have before. would a calcium citrate chewable, maybe half tablet be ok for a 42-pound kid? Plus the Persimmon tea, which I am having trouble finding, a tea spoon at night?
I started taking aciphex 8 years ago. I went for a routine exam and my blood work came back showing anemia. I was then given many endoscopys and colonoscopys to determine if there was bleeding; the results were negative. I told the doctor that I believed the aciphex was causing me to have the anemia reading because in order for iron to be adequately absorbed it requires an acidic condition.
He said in theory I was correct, But he said many people are on acephex without problems; But I said everyone was not alike. I also had numbing in my toes. I continued with the drug for 2 more years. Then my insurance didn't cover Acephex, so the Doctor switched me to Nexium.
The problem still continued although I learned not to complain; thinking everyone goes through this. Again, the Insurance did not want to continue the Nexium drug, My Doctor prescribed Zantac. I went off Nexium and started Zantac.
I have had stomach cramps and indigestion since going on it; but no acid reflux. It has been about a week and my stomach feels upset. I am taking the Zantac every day sometimes every other day. I have a hiatel hernia.My bloodwork also shows Low levels of Vitamin D. Is the Zantac just as bad? Will I have to go through stomach upset for months?
Just read the comments regarding low iron and vitamin D levels in regard to PPI use.
I too had low ferritin levels and below normal vit D while using a PPI. The doctors response was to send me for Venofer infusions, which worked for a while, and vitamin D orally, which didn't. In fact, vitamin D tablets LOWERED the level.
I have not had these deficiency problems since stopping the medication and now just make sure I get some sunshine a few times a week (in my southern area 10-15 min 2-3 times a week is sufficient.