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Is Nexium safe?

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Posted 10/26/2013 6:37 AM (GMT 0)
Does anyone know if Nexium is safe to take? Especially when one also has IBD?

My uncle (who previously was a pharmacist) thinks my IBS issues are related to too much acid entering my gut from my stomach. He has recommended 2 weeks of Nexium (20mg twice daily) to see if I have symptom improvement. He has also recommended taking it in conjunction with a pill called "Veragel" (which includes two main ingredients: aloe vera + Dicyclomine). 

I took Nexium earlier in the year for about a week and a half without much symptom change. I think there was mild improvement initially but it disappeared after 3 or 4 days. My uncle told me to have at least a 3 month gap between when I took Nexium last time and starting it now. I forgot to ask him why. Is Nexium dangerous if taken too often?

 

Posted 10/26/2013 12:41 PM (GMT 0)
Nexium is safe to take but I wouldn't expect any different results than what you got the first time around. I think you are chasing a wild goose with that idea but it is possible the aloe vera could help, maybe. It does in some. You never know though so you could try this strategy and see what happens. I don't see where it could do any harm.
Posted 10/26/2013 3:13 PM (GMT 0)
I don't see why it wouldn't be safe.. I have pretty bad acid and I took omeprozle for quite a while without any improvement. Not to be negative but I doubt a pharmacist knows too much about your condition. It's nice that he wants to help but acid doesn't cause UC symptoms, inflammation does. Trying nexium probably can't hurt. I think you should give it a month or two this time just so you can better assess whether it's helping. At the same time, even if your symptoms improve, it doesn't mean it was the nexium. How are your symptoms?
Posted 10/26/2013 10:56 PM (GMT 0)
I have not used Nexium mainly because of the cost but if you are going to pay more than Prevacid, take Prevacid. I use Prevacid, it is little better than Omeprazole and not much difference in cost (at Costco or Walmart)

To your specific question,
Nexium is safe, just make sure to supplement with Mg and B12 (which I presume you are already taking).

And your uncle's theory is wrong, sorry to be blunt but he is, from my knowledge. If I know correctly, pH changes at small intestines, it is not acidic anymore. This is the main reason why many of the nutrients are absorbed there. If he says, the acid enters in your intestine, then your sphincter is royally messed up and your anus should irritate like hell by the time it comes out. The alkalinity in the intestine is not enough to neutralize acid pH and essentially you should have a leaky gut. Talk to the GI about it.

I respect his opinion. I am a pharmacist too, just never practiced one, so sure, his experience and practical knowledge trumps over mine, so get an opinion from your GI.
Plus, search Pubmed for results of Nexium vs Prevacid vs Omeprazole. There is a study comparing Prevacid and Omeprazole but I don't know about all 3 of them.
And do NOT take more than 2 weeks at a stretch. If you need more than that, find non medicine alternatives. Find triggers and avoid those foods.
Do not use Ranitidine, not good for us (in long term).
Posted 10/26/2013 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry Nexium not totally safe.

Old Mike

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2012/02/08/stomach-acid-drugs-increase-risk-bacterial-infections-fda-warns/

Posted 10/26/2013 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
I take nexium, how come we shouldn't take it for more than 2 weeks? Also why take mg and b12 with it? Thanks so much!
Posted 10/26/2013 11:32 PM (GMT 0)
Wow old mike! CDiff??? I am so not taking it unless I am really bad off!!!
Posted 10/27/2013 12:05 AM (GMT 0)
That's one reason I switched from Omeprazole to Pepcid. The fact is that every single one of these acid reducers increases C-Diff risk. I guess it is the acid in your stomach that helps keep C-Diff at bay. I think Pepcid has 2 times the risk where most of the others carry 3 times the risk. I'm a firm believer that taking probiotics helps mitigate the risk although that is just my opinion.
Posted 10/27/2013 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
 

"Nexium is safe to take but I wouldn't expect any different results than what you got the first time around"

"That's one reason I switched from Omeprazole to Pepcid. The fact is that every single one of these acid reducers increases C-Diff risk. I guess it is the acid in your stomach that helps keep C-Diff at bay. I think Pepcid has 2 times the risk where most of the others carry 3 times the risk. I'm a firm believer that taking probiotics helps mitigate the risk although that is just my opinion"

so which is it gary ?

Posted 10/27/2013 2:17 AM (GMT 0)
What about just a Tums once in a while?
Posted 10/27/2013 3:29 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the replies.

I remember reading about the potential for infection whilst using PPIs. My uncle did tell me to use them for only 2 weeks at most so I'll probably stick to that. Its day 2 of Nexium and my abdomen has a mildish ache. Not sure if its related. Other than that, my symptoms are still the same.

NSG: I am doing ok thanks for asking. Hope you are doing well. My symptoms are still random D and occassional urgency after eating. I tried the low FODMAP diet for the last two weeks with very mild improvement. I've stopped the diet now and I thought I might as well give the Nexium another go. I am taking Kefir too so hopefully that will prevent any pathogenic infection whilst I am on the PPIs.

delta: I understand your opinion. I am not agreeing with my uncle's logic, I am just randomly trying any possible treatments because I am frustrated with my symptoms, that have not really responded to anything. My gut has endured many potentially dangerous treatments this year (did 2 weeks of Rifaximin antibiotic treatment, 2 weeks of amoxicilin + clarithromycin antibiotic treatment and 1.5 weeks of Nexium) so I am kind of nervous about starting anything harsh. None of the treatments did anything, aside from mild changes in my BMs which reverted back once treatment was ceased.

My G.I wants me to try a week of Flagyl but after telling him the treatments I've done this year, he says wait till next year to try to Flagyl.

The other thing I am concerned about is that I don't have any of the symptoms that Nexium is specifically designed to treat (heart burn). I don't have GERD at all. I remember reading some patients who took Nexium initially didn't have any GERD, but after taking the Nexium and ceasing treatment, they started to develop GERD symptoms and were thus forced to continue taking Nexium...

Posted 10/27/2013 5:31 PM (GMT 0)
I know what you are talking about because I went through same phase around 2007. Initially I thought I have GERD, because my mom had it and I would throw up so often with throat irritated all the time (because of the acid). After 2 years of meticulous note taking and symptom tracking, finally I figured it was connected to migraine. The most surprising part is, I did not have migraine that time. The neurologist mentioned that it could be silent headache. When it became ferocious, only then I could connect the dots. During this period, I was taking omeprazole for my breakfast !!

I can not really tell you what the heck is wrong. I would strongly recommend to track what you eat, hows your overall mental health (stress/mood etc.), GERD symptoms if any and then may be the picture will be little clearer.
How much water do you drink BTW?
Have you considered drinking lemon water first thing in the morning? You warm up water in microwave, squeeze a quarter of lemon/lime and drink that water. Although lemon is acidic outside, supposedly it works to create alkaline atmosphere inside. Jack up use of cucumber, cantaloupe and similar foods and see if it helps. You will not see any overnight change, it will take rather a long time. If the above part doesn't help you, it will certainly not harm.
Posted 10/27/2013 5:48 PM (GMT 0)
DMC: Since stomach acid helps keep C-Diff at bay, any kind of acid reducer would have an effect. That doesn't mean you can't take a tums once in a while but the more often and better you fight the acid the higher your chances are of bringing on a c-diff infection. It can be a double edged sword as I have had a heartburn problem for decades which absolutely has to be addressed. When I discovered that Omeprazole increased your chances by a factor of three, I switched to Pepcid Complete (generic) which has a two times greater risk. I also believe that taking a lot of good probiotics can help tremendously at keeping C-Diff at bay.
Posted 10/27/2013 7:12 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the response Gary. I gonna really reduce my nexium!
Posted 10/27/2013 8:06 PM (GMT 0)
Depends on your definition of "safe".

 

Posted 10/27/2013 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
In one word, no.

PPI inhibitors should only be taken short term to prevent long term complications like osteoporosis and b12 deficiency.

My suggestion is to get to the root cause of acid reflux. No mainstream doctor will tell you this, but most of the time, acid reflux is the result of too little stomach acid and supplementation with Betaine HCL will fix it right up.
Posted 10/28/2013 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
What if you take it and you actually do have too much acid? How long does it take to work. Today I did not take a nexium and right now I gad to take it as I feel like an elephant is sitting on my chest!
Posted 10/29/2013 1:00 AM (GMT 0)
I bought some betaine HCL and took my first dose after dinner tonight. Can't hurt to try it even though my dr was not sure of it. He told me to keep taking nexium. But I will give this a try!

I am so afraid of cDiff! Wish me luck! :-)
Posted 10/29/2013 2:26 AM (GMT 0)
http://www.myhomeremedies.com/remedy.cgi?remedyid=18693

There are tons of natural remedies too. I gonna buy pickles :-)
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