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20 years on omeprazole...need help coming off!!

Posted , 56 users are following.

mark_34879
mark_34879

Hi, 

I'm 47 and have been taking omeprazole for the best part of 20 years. I recently discovered that the recommendation (by those wonderful/caring people at the pharmaceuticals!) is 14 days so yep, really need to come off em!!

Originally diagnosed with reflux oesophogatis (probably didn't spell that correctly!) and was told the valve that stops acid rising was damaged (too much smoking, drinking, and spicy food in my 20s) I have already reduced to 10mg quite some time ago and would really like any tips on coming off them for good.

I have a constant irritation in my stomach probably due to not digesting food properly, ringing in my ears, bloating/distension, depression/constant suicidal thoughts, and I also get acne/roscea etc- all of which I believe are connected to the imbalances caused by omeprazole.

Its also worth mentioning that I have NO FAITH WHATSOEVER in doctors whom I firmly consider to be glorified drug pushers for the pharmaceutical mafia. Yes that may well be a sweeping generalisation but I have yet to meet one who does not fit that description so I make no apologies for that whatsoever. Having said that I did once have a lovely doctor who, the day before he retired after 40 years, told me he was completely  disillusioned and ashamed of his profession and that I should always look into natural 'alternatives' before taking the "rubbish that we give you" (bless him!)

I am also on a very low budget having lost a lot of work lately so need affordable suggestions if at all possible.

Thanks in advance :-)

4 likes, 105 replies

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  • carl06714
    carl06714 mark_34879

    Posted

    Hi Mark

    Did you manage to stop taking them ?

    i have all the same problems as you and have been on them 10 years .

    my latest thing is roscea which i am taking antibiotics for which is not helping .

    Any help is appreciated

    Thanks Carl

    • eric72630
      eric72630 carl06714

      Posted

      See my reply below to Mark. I wouldn't be surprised if omeprazole is causing your roscea.

  • eric72630
    eric72630 mark_34879

    Posted

    Like you, I was around 47 when I needed to get off Prilosec due to the harm it was doing to my body. I had been taking Prilosec for 15-20 years, which initially was prescribed due to a persistent sore throat. After about a week on Prilosec, the sore throat was gone. I tried to stop taking the medicine but the acid reflux would just come back strong. I decided to continue taking it, after all, it was available OTC so how bad could it be? Turns out, pretty bad.

    I finally got off Prilosec about 3 years ago and realized it was the cause of a number of physical symptoms including:

    • Rashes in the armpits and on my forearms when in humid climates
    • Post-nasal drip - initially diagnosed as allergies - WRONG
    • Frequent allergy/cold type symptoms - initially diagnosed as allergies - WRONG
    • Fluid in the ears, which would clog during air travel - initially diagnosed as bacteria and given antibiotics. - WRONG
    • Swollen/bleeding gums - no real diagnosis, dentist said possible herpes (WRONG), Dr. didn't know.
    • Torn Achilles - This is debatable as a lot of 40+ weekend athletes tear this and I tore mine during soccer

    After some online research, I realized Prilosec would cause my body to not absorb, or would interfere with the absorption of certain vitamins and minerals (B12, Magnesium, Calcium). I made the decision to get off this immediately. Here's what I did:

    *Cut back from 20mg to 10mg by cutting the pill. Did this for several weeks

    • Started taking multi-vitamins and B12 supplements (lack of B12 can cause swollen/bleeding gums)
    • Cut back on coffee and especially cut back on alcohol.
    • After about a month on Zantac, I switched to Pepcid Complete with the occasional Tums thrown in.

    The first few weeks were the worst! But I had already committed to doing this so I had to continue. Three years later, all of those physical symptoms are gone! No allergy symptoms, no colds in three years, no swollen gums, everything is healthy again, just as it was before I started taking Prilosec. I still use Pepcid Complete and TUMS when needed. Sometimes TUMS is enough but when alcohol gets introduced it calls for Pepcid. I'd like to get off everything altogether but for now I'm happy to be done with Prilosec!

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