A couple of my triggers are black pepper and uncooked onion family members (onions, garlic, shallots, leeks, that sort of thing). Black pepper seems to be in EVERYTHING these days, up to and including hot chocolate and cookies.
They’re both proton pump inhibitors, so they do the same job. But they differ slightly in chemical structure. Go with whatever one’s on your insurance formulary, or whatever one works best for you.
Qadgop I Googled and didn’t find anything, maybe you can help.
Is there any detrimental side effects to long term use of omeprazole?
TIA
This issue was studied for a long time. Initially it was recommended that omeprazole use be limited to under a year, because of theoretical concerns over long-term use. But research on people who’ve been on the med continuously for over a decade now have failed to reveal problems. I’m unaware of any new concerns being raised over its chronic use.
I was put on Aciphex for my heartburn. I haven’t had a problem since. Of course the cause of mine is pregnancy so that might make a difference.
Well, I’m on my third day of Prilosec OTC, and so far, it’s working extremely well. It didn’t even take 24 hours to kick in - I was heartburn-free the very first day, although it took another 24 hours for bloating and belching to go away. Thanks, Duke of Rat and zoid.
One thing I’m puzzled about though - what do I do after I use up the 14 days’ worth? Take nothing for four months? Go back to Zantac or Pepcid Complete?
Thanks for all the info, Dr. QtM. When I first started getting treated with Zantac, I was unaware there were different levels of treatment should the heartburn be unresponsive to the first level. My doctor didn’t mention this, so I thought Zantac was the
end-all and be-all treatment.
Glad to hear it’s helping.
In my earlier posts, I alluded to the fact that I have been over the 14 day limit for some time. That’s the reason I was interested in the long term effects (good or bad) of continued use.
I had been to the doctor and after tests he had me on Gaviscon, then Tagamet. I tried Prilosec OTC on my own and it did more for me than either of those 2. I can usually take just one pill every other day with no problems, but sometimes I would still get heartburn from being a little too cocky. So I can take it every day and eat anything, or every other day and be a little more careful, both work. DO NOT take 1/2 a pill, it’s time release and a broken pill gave me a stomach ache (and it says to not chew or crush them on the box…)
I think the strategy is to take them for 14 days, and if they work, go to your doctor and tell him that. Then I presume he would prescribe something similar or identical. But not being a doctor, I’ll let him make that call.
After self medicating for chronic heartburn for a couple of years I finally broke down and discussed the situation with my doctor. I was sent to a GI specialist and after an endoscopic exam was diagnosed with a hiatal hernia and precancerous lesions in the esophagus. I was given a prescription for Nexxium and it worked wonders. I had to get special approval from my then HMO to have the prescription written for 1 year, but they approved it after my doctor wrote them a letter.
A year later, when the prescription ran out I decided to see if I had been cured. The heartburn returned with a vengence. I went back to my doctor and asked him if there was any way to repair the hernia, or was I doomed to take medication forever. He told me that hiatal hernia repairs were seldom totally effective and had a high rate of recurrence and the current practice was to medicate if it was effective.
At the time, Nexxium was costing me ~$80/month, so I inquired as to lower cost alternatives. He switched me over to generic omeprazole (20mg once daily) at about half the price and it proved just as effective. When Prilosec OTC came out a year or so ago, I switched over to it and it works just as well for me as any of the others did before, and it only costs ~$25 for a 42 day supply (at Sam’s or Wal-mart).
I’ve been taking one proton pump inhibitor or another continuously for about 4 years now and haven’t seen any bad side effects. I do sometimes worry that I may develop a tolerance for the drug and have to increase the dosage to continue to be effective, but so far that hasn’t been a problem. YMMV, of course, but if the Prilosec OTC is working for you, I’d say stick with it. As I said above, I’ve been past the supposed 14-day limit for many years now, and it hasn’t killed me yet.
SC
I’ve been diagnosed via endoscopy with digestive problems due to surgery when I was a tiny baby.
I just want to totally recommend Prilosec. It’s the only thing that’s ever totally worked on my bad stomach pains and heartburn that rarely let me sleep. One pill once a day and all is fine. Thank God it’s covered under my insurance plan. I’ve been taking it happily for two years without a single side effect.
pugluvr I second the go talk to your doctor ASAP advice.