Weaning of Omeprazole

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Dear all, I need help in weaning of Omeprazole. I have been a 20Mg a day user since 2002 and the last 5 years have been hell. I am now at the point that I really need to get off this drug, whatever my GP is saying. Does anyone have any tips and suggestions on how they got off the pills. The daily symptoms I'm having is terrible. Hope to hear from you soon.

André

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  • Posted

    When I stop omeprazole I was feeling a lot of new symptoms too. For example regurgitation, difficultty drinking water (hard to explain it because I dont know what was happening but terrible terrible felling), the acid irritated my tongue. It was really red and hurts a lot like cut with a knife. On top of that I could feel the acid on my nose when I breath. But not only that I got more symptoms...it was the most difficult time of my life.

    I was really scared. Every single day was different and was driving me crazy. Some symtomps stop after 3 days and then a got 2 or 3 new symtomps again and off course the acid and burning 24/7....I didnt know what to do because during all that time I was eaten only chicken soup. And I could digest my food. I feel like my stomach stop working I was thinking that I got something else and acid reflux but to do test I got to be out of the medicine. Some days took 8 hours for the soup to digest and I could eat only one small plate a day, I could sleep, etc. I thought i was dying. I like in NY and made my mother fligth from my country (Peru) to say good bye. Im 42 years old and I was really scared.

    I didnt stop cold turkey. I lower my dose slowly. In my case I open the capsule and took a little of the stuff out. I count it. I was feeling the effect every time I did that. I did it for 5 weeks. Then I stop. I was fine for 4 days. After that the acid rebound hit me.

    I supplements that I took dgl plus, aloe vera help with the burning but I didnt felling at the begging because the acid was to strong but I took it anyway. Now I can notice it help.

    I know every case its different but I knew I had to stop the omeprazole. Im still sick but nothing like before...I got some many side effects and symtomps that there is not enough space...anxiety, depression, etc.

    You are in my prayers.

    • Posted

      Dear Olga,

      Thank you for sharing. It helps in my ordeal to read what fellow sufferers have gone through. I have started with Aloe Vera today. I do not know what DGL is as it could be called different in Holland. I am taking extra supplemets like tumeric pills, garlic pills and liquorice pills. I know I can eat it all fresh, but at the moment I believe I need a bit more then usually.

      Take care,

      André

       

    • Posted

      Hi i feel the same way and on scared out of my mind. I was taking the medicine for a month. I noticed my symptoms getting worst and just stopped the medicine. This is day 2 off of it and my throat feels funny and burning of face should i go to the er?
    • Posted

      I know how you feel. I was scared too. It is a decision that you have to make. I didn't go to ER because I was thinking that they are going to tell me to stay on the ppi. Its going to be difficult but you can do it.

      The rebound hit me on day 5 after stopping the pill. Take 2 on of aloe vera every 2 hours and DGL plus to help with the burning. In my case even with that the burning and other symptomps stay for one month. After that the symptomps didnt stop but were less.

      The first 2 weeks are the most diff. Be strong. Some people take ranitidine (day and night) to find relief. I didn't I used aloe vera and DGL pills. I took it for 8 weeks. I hope your rebound its only for 2 weeks.

    • Posted

      Im just seeing this I went to the er & thats what the dr said stay on the ppi. All they gave me was benadryl and sent me on my way oh and told me to stay off of the internet. Where can i get the pills from? Did you have upper chest and throat spasms?
    • Posted

      I'm sorry that they didn't help. When I was taking omeprazole I went to a Naturophatic Dr. She explain that ppi are not suposse to be taken more than 3 or 4 weeks. She explain all the problems cause by this medicine. At the same time, she said you are not taking omeprazole for a very long time. You should stop it. Otherwise you will be taken this forever. I think that is you case too.

      I got Aloe Vera (George's aleo vera. Doesnt have laxative) from Amazon. Buy the big container. Buy the big container. At the beggining I didnt feel any diffe. because the acid rebound was to strong but later I notice a relief. Take 2on every 2 hours.

      I got DGL plus from Amazon too. (White container with blue label that said Pure encapsulations 120pills. Dr said 6 a day. 2 with breakfast, 2 lunch and 2 dinner.

      I didnt feel chest spams but I feel difficulty swalloging. And a LOT of symptoms when I stop the pill. They change every 3 day.

      But now I only feel a little burning and throat irritation (im praying it goes away). My dr told me that i should stay drinking aloe vera because reduce inflamation and help woth the burning.

      Drs put patients on ppi for life. I think this is the best time to stop it. Its scary and you should take something else for your reflux (could be natural or medicine) but omeprazole was poison to me.

      About the ranitidine (zantac) here in USA you can buy it over the counter.

      I wish i never took omeprazole. All the acid rebound damge my throat, tongue and body. Before that my only symptom was nauseas.

      Im not a dr but you can see that all the people who take ppi for a long time have more health problems plus acid reflux.

      Be strong. You can do it. Buy aloe vera and dgl plus its going to help.

      Feel free to contact me. God bless.

    • Posted

      Thank you so much it feels so good to have a converstation with someone you can relate to. I stopped the pills on Sunday. I was in & out of the er for chest pains and tightness in throat and other symtoms they kept saying that it was my reflux and to take it twice a day. All of my test for my heart & xrays were fine. I got on here and saw the side effects and stopped the medicine. I still feel the spasms in my upper chest throat & shoulder area and other symptoms. I know I have to be very patient. Thanks again
    • Posted

      You are right that PPIs should not be taken for more than a few weeks - unless supervised by a doctor.

      PPIs may be a necessary tool for anyone experiencing complications of excess acid - eg Barrett's Oesophagus, which can progress to cancer. Research has shown they may have a chemo-protective effect.

      Medical supervision should establish you are taking lowest effective dose

    • Posted

      Hi Olga

      I'm searching for the DGL plus on Amazon, and don't see the one you suggested there. I started to come off the Omeprazole, and realized I have to go slow. I went for 3 days without taking it and experienced bruised tongue and sore mouth symptoms. I used to take DGL and stopped, so aiming to go back on. I also have been taking Aloe vera and probably will increae the amount depending on symptoms.Any tips are greatly appreciated!

      Look forward to hearing from you!

      Thanks so much!

      Jeannie

  • Posted

    hi

    are you coming off it becuase of problems it is giving you?

    • Posted

      Hi Turvell

      Yes. I have nearly all the side effects happen to me. Terrible.

    • Posted

      i stopped them 2 weeks ago and i thiught i was going to die. severe bloating pain burning in my abdoem etc so back on them. i hate it so much
    • Posted

      Turvell,

      Sorry to hear that, How long have you been on them? I'm still trying to get rid of them. According to my specialist I either need to use them or have an operation done for my GERD. If I do nothing I might get cancer of the Oesaphagus.

      https://patient.info/health/acid-reflux-and-oesophagitis

      Emis Moderator comment: I have replaced the given link with a link to the equivalent article on our site.

    • Posted

      i have been on the on and off for 2 years. i stopped again tuesday and im taking DGL pills before each meal and Mastic Gum at night. i hear that this can relieve the pains of the acid coming back. when i get heartburn i just take bicarbonate of soda in water. but as of yet i have not had the heartburn yet. im really very p*ssed off that my doc put my on these for what was just occasional heartburn. i think that i have to be better off without them. i dont really know what gerd is. what i get is stomach ache and buring in my chest and throat. but that stops the moment i drink bicarb
    • Posted

      Liquorice is a demulcent. It can soothe the inflamed area but doesn't prevent it from happening. Because glycyrrhizic acid, which liquorice contains, can cause harmful side effects, deglycyrrhizinated liquorice (DGL) has been manufactured from it.

      Baking soda neutralises the hydrochloric acid in the stomach producing salt, water and gas. Chalk (calcium carbonate) is even more "natural" than sodium bicarbonate and is the main constituent of many instant acting antacids.

      Derived from seaweed, Gaviscon could also fit some people's definition of a "natural" remedy.

      But for those who suggest they don't want chemical reactions taking place in their insides (apart from the normal interaction between the acids, enzymes, bile and food), it may be better to prevent excess acid being produced in the firts place. This can be done by stopping messages from the brain that tell the stomach to make acid (a Histamine H2 blocker - eg ranitidine) or by telling the stomach not to make so many acid creating cells (proton pumps) by using a PPI (eg omeprazole).

      So do you want to produce excess acid and then neutralise it or prevent the excess acid being made in the first place?

    • Posted

      i want to stop taking ompeperazole its not for me never was it was given to me for something that is totally inapropiate. taking it has made me very ill and i am not two weeks off it and findin that i am now feeling much better. ompeperazole is not to be taken for more than 6 weeks at a time,it is clearly stated on the insturtions. ive been very ill for 2 years and now im getting better now i stopped it

       

    • Posted

      i want to stop taking ompeperazole its not for me never was it was given to me for something that is totally inapropiate. taking it has made me very ill and i am not two weeks off it and findin that i am now feeling much better. ompeperazole is not to be taken for more than 6 weeks at a time,it is clearly stated on the insturtions. ive been very ill for 2 years and now im getting better now i stopped it
    • Posted

      What symptoms were you experiencing as a result of being on omeprazole?

      If you are not producing excess dangerous acid nor refluxing the same to where it would cause damage, then there probably is no need for you to be taking PPIs. Why were you taking them initially?

      The box inserts are for self-medicators. These are powerful drugs and should not be taken for prolonged periods without medical supervision. Alas, for some people they will need to rely on them for life. (And, being probably chemo-protective, for some they could literally be life-savers.)

    • Posted

      i had occasional heart burn. once in a while. i would just take a rennie. this locum doc put me on then and i just took them. my fault really not all docs know what they are talking about. i would have severe stomach pain and spasms and really bad undigested food in my stools. i was crippled for well over a year. another doc just said oh it just IBS dont worry. so i didnt but then read so much about it and that it cans cause that. so im now weaning off and have not issues at all for 2 weeks and i can poo normally again
    • Posted

      I too don't know why my GP prescribed Omeprazole to me, I was getting pains in my chest and occasional heartburn which I don't get anymore, instead I'm left with a feeling of constant dread, dizziness, blurry vision and just a general unwell feeling so I'm going to stop taking them, I am only taking 20mg in the morning and 20mg and night so only a low dose,I'm hoping I'll feel better soon

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