Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Katherine]

Dear ladies

I’ve been on omeprazole for silent reflux 20mg a day for about 3 weeks increasing to 40mg a day about a week ago. The problem is it’s started to make me feel unwell with nausea, tiredness and just a horrible exhausted feeling like it’s sucking the life out of me. I want to stop taking it but have read that stopping suddenly can cause a sudden increase in stomach acid. Has anyone had to stop taking it and how did you do it? Also is there an alternative without these side effects?

[chopsuey]

Hi Katherine

I preferred lansprazole to omeprazole and found it more effective. I suffered with reflux for over a year, possibly triggered by menopause, although I suspect I had been suffering with it for a while, just at a lower level.

In the end, I managed to deal with mine through lifestyle changes - leaving longer gaps between food and lying down, avoiding certain foods - for me dark chocolate and garlic are particularly problematic, and having the head end of my bed raised up were some of the main things.

I no longer use PPIs but use Gaviscon Advanced if I get a flare up, which I think can work very well for silent reflux, without the side effecfts of PPIs. You are right that you can get a rebound effect if you come off them suddenly though.

Have you had an endoscopy? 

This is quite a good leaflet I found about drug options and lifestyle modifications

https://www.nhsfife.org/media/lyhb5fb3/reflux-information-leaflet.pdf

[Katherine]

Hi Chopsuey,

It says on the main nhs website that you can usually stop taking them if you’ve been on them for a short time but if you’ve been on them for a long time you need to taper. I’m not sure whether 4 weeks is classed as a long time though.

I haven’t had an endoscopy yet but am thinking of having one. Have you had one? I’m a bit scared of it to be honest. I’ve changed my diet drastically in the last 2 weeks, I don’t eat for 3-4 hours before bed and I’ve raised the head of my bed and I take 2tsp gaviscon advance before bed.

I haven’t had reflux for 4-5 nights now but I’m unsure which of these factors has stopped it. I will have a look at the link, thank you so much for the info.

[chopsuey]

I also read this book on the subject, an extract is in the link below. That was very helpful. For me, certain foods were the real culprit. I am on HRT now, which has maybe helped with the integrity of the valves.

https://entsurrey.com/Download/ENT-SURREY/Dietary%20advice%20for%20Laryngopharyngeal%20Reflux.pdf

Have you been assessed for SIBO? That can also cause similar symptoms.

I did have an endoscopy - I didn't have any sedation, so it was pretty grim. I would advise you to do so if you have it.  It found I had an inlet patch, which is basically secretory stomach lining cells in my oesophagus, which can then secrete acid. The consultant didn't think it was large enough to have caused symptoms. I also had overnight tests with a probe through my nose and into my oesophagus to check the level of acid I was producing - again nothing significant.

What investigations, if any, have you had or have you been given the omeprazole by your GP based on symptoms?  You may be fine to come off it after such a short period and just use the Gaviscon Advanced or maybe taper down from 40 to 20 for a day or so. 

[DottyD68]

Hi Katherine,

I have been prescribed one month's worth of omeprazole a few times over the years just to settle a bout of acid reflux. It has usually done the trick. I am not a medic but based on the prescriptions I have had (i.e. 1 month) I would say that 3 weeks is not considered a long time. I was not made aware of any potential rebound effect. I use Gaviscon as and when I need it. Hope that helps x

[VioletAquarius]

Ring the consultant's secretary, your gp, or ask the pharmacist, they will be able to tell you how long is too long.

I was diagnosed with silent reflux during covid, well slightly after when we started to be able to have appointments again.

It started during lockdown and as i couldn't be seen by my gp during this time my anxiety was really bad, thinking the worst, but once I was diagnosed, and after a while my symptoms started improving, where now, the only time I get a sore throat is when I've eaten too much chocolate.  Anxiety made it much more worse.

I cut out everything that makes it worse and gradually brought it back to see what foods and drinks affected me.

I took gaviscon advance for a while, but stopped as it's not good to take long term.

[Katherine]

I also read this book on the subject, an extract is in the link below. That was very helpful. For me, certain foods were the real culprit. I am on HRT now, which has maybe helped with the integrity of the valves.

https://entsurrey.com/Download/ENT-SURREY/Dietary%20advice%20for%20Laryngopharyngeal%20Reflux.pdf

Have you been assessed for SIBO? That can also cause similar symptoms.

I did have an endoscopy - I didn't have any sedation, so it was pretty grim. I would advise you to do so if you have it.  It found I had an inlet patch, which is basically secretory stomach lining cells in my oesophagus, which can then secrete acid. The consultant didn't think it was large enough to have caused symptoms. I also had overnight tests with a probe through my nose and into my oesophagus to check the level of acid I was producing - again nothing significant.

What investigations, if any, have you had or have you been given the omeprazole by your GP based on symptoms?  You may be fine to come off it after such a short period and just use the Gaviscon Advanced or maybe taper down from 40 to 20 for a day or so.

Hi chopsuey, the only test I’ve had so far is a camera up my nose and halfway down my throat and she didn’t see anything significant. A couple of nurses have looked in my mouth and said my throat looks inflamed. It’s red but not swollen.

I haven’t been assessed for SIBO but I just looked it up and I don’t think it’s that. Part of the reason I’m so cautious is the reflux has been triggering my throat to spasm during my sleep and I’ve woke up many times with my throat full of mucus or thick saliva and I’ve had to really fight for breath. I have asthma too.

I’ve made several changes over the past month, I’m following the Acid Watcher diet, I’ve propped up the head of my bed, and I started the omeprazole. Also I stopped sipping water after taking gaviscon which apparently stops it working. I haven’t had a spasm for 5 nights not which coincides with me leaving 3-4 hours between dinner and sleep and not eating after 7pm. Nothing else stopped it.

I just spoke with a gp and she has prescribed an alternative PPI but said I can just stop PPIs if I need to. She also said it might be worth delaying the endoscopy as I might not need it. I’m sorry you had a bad experience with the endoscopy, I will definitely get sedation if I need one.

[Katherine]

Hi Katherine,

I have been prescribed one month's worth of omeprazole a few times over the years just to settle a bout of acid reflux. It has usually done the trick. I am not a medic but based on the prescriptions I have had (i.e. 1 month) I would say that 3 weeks is not considered a long time. I was not made aware of any potential rebound effect. I use Gaviscon as and when I need it. Hope that helps x

Thanks Dotty. You’re right, the gp said 4 weeks isn’t long and that just taking a ppi for 1-2 months can be enough to settle acid reflux. I will stick to the diet changes though and leaving a 3 hour gap after eating before sleep. I’m going to try a different ppi but she says I can stop it if I need to.

[Katherine]

Ring the consultant's secretary, your gp, or ask the pharmacist, they will be able to tell you how long is too long.

I was diagnosed with silent reflux during covid, well slightly after when we started to be able to have appointments again.

It started during lockdown and as i couldn't be seen by my gp during this time my anxiety was really bad, thinking the worst, but once I was diagnosed, and after a while my symptoms started improving, where now, the only time I get a sore throat is when I've eaten too much chocolate.  Anxiety made it much more worse.

I cut out everything that makes it worse and gradually brought it back to see what foods and drinks affected me.

I took gaviscon advance for a while, but stopped as it's not good to take long term.

Hi violetaquarius, thanks so much for sharing. Sorry to hear you’ve been through it too. I understand about the anxiety. I’m going to try a different ppi but the gp says I can stop if I need to and it shouldn’t cause an increase in acid. Once I’ve been on my new diet for a couple of months I might stop both ppi and gaviscon as I agree it can’t be healthy to take them long term. I hope you continue to be symptom free x

[Terri123]

I'm prescribed Famotidine and Pantoprazole.  Either of those might be worth a try.

[Katherine]

I'm prescribed Famotidine and Pantoprazole.  Either of those might be worth a try.

Thank you. I have come off the omeprazole and am doing ok without it now. I still get reflux but gradually figuring out what to do and not do to avoid it so having less and less choking incidents thankfully.

[CrispyChick]

I second famotidine.

I used it for a while. Felt much gentler than PPIs. Can kind of stop and start easier too and adjust the dose.

I find GPs hot so keen to prescribe it though. No idea why.

And, I've had two endoscopies without sedation. It's ok. Obviously not pleasant. But tolerable. Now, I had a colonoscopy in my 20s with sedation - I never ever want one of those again! So there's my comparison.

[Katherine]

Thanks for the info crispy chick much appreciated. I am just having gaviscon advance now. Apparently it’s very safe as it doesn’t go into the bloodstream. I take 4 tsp a day.

[CLKD]

I would never consider anything invasive without sedation.

I ran out of 'omeprazole' recently and heartburn was back within 36 hours, so swallowing Milk of Magnesia when ever symptoms became troublesome.

Gaviscon 

[Terri123]

I would never consider anything invasive without sedation.

I ran out of 'omeprazole' recently and heartburn was back within 36 hours, so swallowing Milk of Magnesia when ever symptoms became troublesome.

Gaviscon 

As an aside to the main topic, info for anyone undergoing colonoscopy....

I have colonoscopy (and gastroscopy) every 2 years minimum and have done for decades.   A few years ago I declined sedation as it was proving so difficult to cannulate me (previous chemo -> crap veins).  I've never gone back to sedation as I much prefer having the control of self-administered Entonox during the colonoscopy (not possible during gastroscopy obvs, but, honestly, that part is over really quickly anyway).  Apart from the autonomy,  another big advantage is being able to just get on with one's day after the procedure with none of the restrictions imposed by having sedation.