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Zantac?...an unlikely culprit.

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 3/25/2016 9:51 PM (GMT 0)
So I've been in a mini flare for close to a month. Mucous, some blood bad gas rumbling and cramping all day every day. 40 mg of prednisone, my regular remicaid and no changes. Went from solid bm for 4 months to all of this.

Met with my GI Tuesday and we made some changes but while there I mentioned that i had switched from Prilosec to Zantac for heartburn. He thought it might be worth a try to switch back.

So I stopped Zantac Wednesday and woke up today to a solid poo. And not a gas cramp or rumble all day. At all!

Could it be that stupid and simple? Anyone else have adverse reaction to Zantac?

I'm not going to say I'm cured or even out of a flare. The next few days will be the test. But fingers crossed!
Posted 3/25/2016 11:59 PM (GMT 0)
I take Zantac and have never had a problem but we all know meds affect each of us differently.
Posted 3/26/2016 2:23 AM (GMT 0)
No problem with it. Zantac does quicken the digestive tract for some.

q
Posted 3/26/2016 4:57 AM (GMT 0)
i'm assuming y'all are aware of this, but just on the off chance yer not,

www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/02/15/465279217/popular-heartburn-pills-can-be-hard-to-stop-and-may-be-risky
Posted 3/26/2016 11:11 AM (GMT 0)
I dint know it quickened the digestive tract but definitely explains why I was evacuating 6-7 hours after each meal.

I've tried to stay off ppi and heartburn meds because of all the studies with c diff, rebound, etc but one I started remicade and imuran, I figured what the hell? I'm already compromising myself with meds, may as well sleep at night.
Posted 3/26/2016 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
How often and when are you taking Zantac and what dosage?

The only way you'd know for sure is to be off it for about 4 days and then on it again.

Since you are flaring (nothing mini about it...it is what it is), I'd say that could be more in line with quicker digestive tract.
As you heal, however...things will slow down. Just be aware that a constipation phase will be part of that. I do strongly suggest you get on or ask for rectal meds...at least when tapering at the lower dosages of pred.

q
Posted 3/26/2016 3:28 PM (GMT 0)
I say mini flare only because my typical flare is 15-20 times a day and this one is only 3-4 so I actually can live my life. But I totally get what you are saying.

Was taking 150 Zantac once a day. Today is my 4th day off of it and no more blood mucous or watery stool. Just gas and cramping. I'm not sure I want to even try it again. The Prilosec is doing the trick.

I have rowasa on hand in case my taper goes badly!

We'll see what next few days bring. Just increased Imuran too so that may eventually kick in because I've only been on it 6 weeks and just hit 100mg.
Posted 3/26/2016 5:23 PM (GMT 0)
I saw an article linking PPIs to dementia recently www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20160215/widely-used-heartburn-drugs-linked-to-dementia-risk-in-study

Zantac is an h2 blocker, but after reading about the link, i will stay away from PPIs. I was taking them in the past for LPR. I know some people take both...

I hope stopping zantac continues to help you.
Posted 3/26/2016 11:00 PM (GMT 0)
Experiment failed! Mucous is back. Well was worth a shot and still may consider backing off the acid reducers given the research posted.
Thanks everyone.

Looks like I'm moving on to enemas. Yay 😡
Posted 3/27/2016 3:32 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on PPI's for over 10 years. Not really by choice. If I don't take them I get so nauseous and feel like I have an elephant sitting on my chest. I have been diagnosed with NERD. I currently take prescription aciphex twice a day and zantac or pepcid if needed too.
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