Long term use of Omeprazole

As someone else mentioned above, PPIs greatly reduce the production of stomach acid. The result is often insufficient absorption and metabolization of vitamins and minerals, particularly, calcium, magnesium, potassium and Vitamin D. Since most people don't get enough of these nutrients in their diet to begin with, it's not surprising that osteoporosis is the most well known side effect. It's already started, and the more severe lack cause by PPI use only accelerates the process, even in young people.

But what are the other effects? Many of them are unknown as these drugs have not been around that long. But here's my speculation. Take it for what it's worth. If improper absorption of vitamins and minerals is the result, it can only get worse. It's interesting that many people in this forum who report long term PPI use, have also had gall bladder problems. I read the same thing in forum after forum. My neighbor's wife has been on PPIs for 5 years, and just informed me last week she need to have her gall bladder removed. While I have no medical explanation, I doubt this connection to gall bladder problems is a coincidence. And life only gets more complicated without a gall bladder. Neither PPIs or antacids can stop or neutralize bile acids.

Since it's the actual presence of stomach acid breaking down the food in the stomach that causes the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus to close, isn't the use of acid suppressing drugs likely to keep it open longer and more often, allowing the little bit of acid that IS there, to get up too far? Is that why many people on PPIs while mostly free of acid indigestion still report occasional acid reflex into the throat? For those who have had their gall bladder removed and get that reflux, perhaps it's not stomach acid at all, but bile acid instead. Either bile or stomach acid will cause damage to the esophagus, and after repeated exposure, the esophagus will attempt to alter the cells in the damaged area to mimic stomach lining cells, which are a protective against such acids. This mutation of cells results in what's known as Barrett's Esophagus, and it can lead to cancer of the esophagus in a small percentage of those diagnosed with Barrett's..

Even though esophageal cancer is still fairly rare, it's incidence has increased over the last 20. Is it just a coincidence that PPIs were introduced about 25 years ago? There ARE NO SYMPTOMS of cancer in the esophagus. A 60 year old lady where I work complained of headaches. After aspirin and prescription Motrin use did no good, an MRI revealed brain cancer. And it had already spread to the lymph nodes, spleen, and bones. She had part of her brain removed, and is on chemo, but the outlook is not promising. After several months of testing they finally determined where the cancer had started, in her esophagus. They estimate it had been growing for over a year. NO SYMPTOMS until the headaches, at which point it was beyond cure.

Those of us with severe reflux or heartburn issues are the lucky ones in terms of catching this early. We get endoscopies, which is the only way to spot cancer in the esophagus in time. Let me restate that many of my conclusions above are speculative, because we just don't know. Please consult your doctor before stopping any medications, especially PPIs. They need to be weaned off of gradually to prevent a raging return of acid.

When you stop taking this drug, you will experience a flood of acid, this is when people relent and take the Omeprazole again.

Please dont ignore when people post regarding the side effects of this drug, they are real and they will destroy your bone structure, your immunity and will stop you being alerted to your stomach contents doing damage to your Oesophagus.

The Medical field is beginning to recognise the issues:

January 31, 2012: New research published in the British Medical Journal has found that women who take Prilosec or other Proton Pump Inhibitor medications regularly for at least two years have a 35% higher risk of suffering a hip fracture. Women who are post-menopausal and smoke had the greatest risk of a hip fracture.

Afterwards, I experienced considerable Bloating pains, which I had been warned about. I stopped taking 30mg Lansoprazole and suffered worst acid reflux than before! Following my own research and advice from two other consultants, I was told that I was suffering from Rebound Reflux, due to suddenly stopping medication. I stopped taking medication in September after more slowly phasing out the PPI's over 3 months.

In hindsight I would not put myself through a similar operation, but adapt to a more stricter diet and lifestyle! I feel I am no more better off now albeit with milder symptoms, but thankfully no longer taking any worrying medication.

hernia). My back pains, joint aches and cramps have also improved drastically. I think I was well on the way to getting premature ostheoporosis. So, Thanks to the guy who wrote to me... Madness was his name, but not his demeanour..... Yeah, GP's - mine just told me to take Omep on demand and dont worry.... problem was my body demanded it every day and like you, I think the Omep got to a stage where it was producing the symptoms itself.

Can you try gaviscon? I believe there are no side effects

My doc says... stay on the OMPRE for quality of life and begin taking 1600mg calcium and a magnesium each day... then in one year we will do the bone scan again and measure the progression of the osteoporosis.

MY QUESTIONS ARE: Can I reverse the osterop 2.7? with calcium and magnesium & B12? with some weight bearing exercises ? What can I expect in the future? What else can I do? Will the calcium and some exercise really help reverse this?thank all.

Youre obviously very aware of the issues and side effects and suffering them now... it does beg the question..why would you want to keep putting this into your body (Im not intending to be rude asking that)

Hydrochloric acid is produced to do a job, proton pump inhibitors stop production and this does cause problems. I would advise you to do as much research on everything, the drug, how the body utilises the acid and why you actually need it, then if you wish to continue taking the drug, its your body and your life.. but, Oteoporosis at its worse is devastating and if you are unable to stop or reverse this, you will be very miserable. 66 is very young

Hydrochloric acid has many other uses also and you need to be aware of all this when making decisions (if you research, you will find that there are Lawyers in US who deal with claims now purely down to this drug effects..that has to sound alarm bells!)

Its great that you find that you have no obvious physical problems causing the increased acid, so I ask; have you tried diet? So many people have intollerences of different food stuffs, they can come from additives, food production methods and even pesticides sprayed onto crops..man is killing himself!

When taking yourself off the Omeprazole, you will undoubtedly experience horrendous amounts of acid being produced, its not for the feint hearted I assure you. When the Proton pumps start working again, they go heywire and have a party, it takes a good two weeks in my personal experience to have them start settling down. It is worth it if you can stand it, but along with this you do need to find out what your issue is.

If you had a huge crack down the front of your house, would you paper over it, have it look great, everyone think it wonderful but underneath its crumbling?

Youre young, healthy and obviously intelligent enough.. raise the head end of your bed a good 9 inches higher than the foot, find out what your food problems might be, get a good plant based calcium (forget the rock calcium...you could drain it of the kettle and eat that! It clogs the arteries and kidneys)

Eat a healthy diet, nuts, fruit, green veg and a Calcium complex tablet (plant based) with magnesium, vit D, vit K, Boron.etc

There are many such complexes available, as oppose to what is available on NHS.

Look at the ingredients in what you eat and drink, the artificial sweeteners produced to 'make us healthy' are doing quite the reverse, they destroy the body from within and we develop many side effects and illnesses in response to them. The chemicals make us very acidic and when our blood is acidic, it leaches calcium from our bones ..

Try cutting down on meat, esp red meat or even cutting it out altogether. Google a 98yr cardiac surgeon in USA, he is incredible, he still operates and speaks at length on health and making your one and only life on this planet a happier one!