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Weaning off Nexium after more than 2 years...

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Posted 1/16/2008 12:37 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on Nexium for well over 2 years and have read enough things in the press and online to make me want to stop and try to solve this problem some other way other than a drug that might have dire effects on hips and bones. I read about and have started taking D-limonene in the 1,000 mg capsule form. This is my second day without taking my little 40mg purple pill and I am surely feeling the burn this afternoon. Today was the first day of the D-limonene therapy. I have take 2 DGL pills for the initial burn this PM but I am scared to death that I will be going to bed with that horrible burn. How bad is it if I take a Pepcid AD chewable tonight? Is this a good way to wean off the Nexium or am I just deafeating the purpose?
Posted 1/16/2008 12:46 AM (GMT 0)
Personally, I would take the Pepcid.  I am also in the process of trying to wean off....but slowly.  What is D-limonene?
Posted 1/16/2008 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
Something I read on this board actually. I then googled it and saw that there is some thought that it can help GERD and heartburn. It is the oil of the orange peel I believe. I took my first pill today and I have to say that it is a rather unpleasant feeling buping up this orange oil. You are supposed to take one pill every other day for 20 days and then stop. I bought it it at Whole Foods under the name "Heartburn Free". It is made by Enzmatic Therapy.
Posted 1/16/2008 2:09 AM (GMT 0)
I am weaning too!  Please keep us posted on successes and failures.  What works and what doesnt.  Orange peel extract is probably the only thing I have not tried so far.  haha  I take dgl and digestive enzymes before a meal or snack.  I also take 3 probiotics a day, a multivitamin, and omega 3.  I have gone from 40mg a day to 20 with little problem.  I am trying to watch what I eat also.  Let me just tell you though that I went from 40 to nothing and it was the most painful experience of my life so far...no matter WHAT I ATE.  Even celery.  My point is...dont get discouraged.  You should probably try decreasing dosage by month.  You may be more successful that way.  Keep us posted!!

PS - Exercise, meditation, yoga, and positive thinking have helped me more in the last couple weeks then ANY meds or supplements have to the last ten years.  There is a REAL connection here with stress, anxiety, and gerd!!!  FYI

Posted 1/16/2008 3:46 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Lucy:  Yes...my weaning hasn't been so bad, especially for being on 80 mgs down to 40 in less then 2 weeks.  My doc knows, but I am going to ask him to give me 20's soon.  I am on a digestive enzyme and probiotics too.  So, did you work your way up to that many probiotics?  Do you find the more you take the better your GERD is?  Do you think the dgl really helps you? I haven't tried that...well I should say my ND didn't put me on that or recommend it.
Posted 1/16/2008 3:48 AM (GMT 0)
Oh...and my ND told me to take the digestive enzyme with my meal.  Do you find it works the same before?  And you take both DGL and the enzyme together?
Posted 1/16/2008 4:15 AM (GMT 0)
It is great that you guys are sharing your stories about weaning off these meds. It can be a rough time for some, and it's great that you have eachother to help through it! Wishing everyone the best!
Posted 1/16/2008 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
Hi,
I just joined the forum today after reading the very interesting discussions here. I thought I would share a little about my weaning story, including a little background. I started experiencing reflux at 26, about 10 years ago, and was started on Prevacid about 8 years ago while I was in my medical residency training. I continued taking either this or Prilosec. I started thinking about attempting to get off of proton pump inhibitors (PPI's) about 2 or 3 years ago, and finally decided to do it about a year ago. I took about 4 months to slowly decrease my Prilosec dose. I supplemented my acid reduction regimen with Zantac (which I still have to take at this time). So far, so good at about eight months out.

I think it takes a long time to get your gastrin secretion low enough to get acid production levels (without PPI's) back to a manageable level, so don't get discouraged if your trying to taper your dose. I would think you probably need AT LEAST 4-6 weeks at a dosage, before decreasing to the next lower dose, probably longer if your not using anything to decrease acid production.

Of course, this is based on a trial of one with me being the only subject, and everyone is a little different.
Posted 1/16/2008 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Well this is day 3 of cold turkey from 40mgs of Nexium. I took a Pepcid AD Chewable last night before going to sleep because the acid was unbearable. If I can manage the cold turkey through the D-limonene, DGL and a Pepcid AD at nightime then maybe I can do this thing cold turkey. Right now I am fighting myself to get that cup of morning coffee. Sigh....
Posted 1/16/2008 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Hiiii....I started on 2 probiotics/day.  Then to 3.  Honestly, I have no idea if the dgl really is doing anything to help.  I dont notice a difference either way, but I hear it is good for the stomach so I figure what the heck.  haha  Im not sure if the probiotics are helping my symptoms bc I started them before I dropped down to 20mg.  But, I am surprised at how well I am feeling no matter what I eat so I'd like to say yes probably.  Can I ask a stupid question??  What is an ND?  Is that like holistic or homeopathic doc?  How do you like it?  I just started that route this past week and Im looking forward to the journey and healing this for once and for all!  When do u take your digestive enzymes?  Like in the middle of eating?  I just take them before bc its easy.  ha  Okay, well lets all keep each other informed!! 

ALSO - has anyone noticed there first symptoms of gerd after long term antibiotic use??  I just remembered recently that my gerd showed up after almost a year of consistent antibiotic due to mono followed by consistent strep throat infections...at least 7 times in a rowww!!!!  Im curious if anyone else has had a significant health issue or current event occur around the time they came down with their first gerd symptoms???

Posted 1/17/2008 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
An ND is a naturopathic physician.  I like it so far.  I said I only wanted supplements to treat the GERD and my constipation.  I am also exploring acupuncture.

I take my enzyme after a few bites. 

Today was a bad reflux day for me...nausea, lump in the throat...I hate that!

Has anyone read/heard about the possibility of not producing enough acid?  That this can actually have the same symptoms of acid reflux, when it's really not enough?  Well, tonight, after dinner, I had terrible reflux, and I just kept feeling like I wasn't digesting my food.  I took one Betaine HCL capsule and sure enough, with in 20 min. no more reflux or belching. 

I had mono too and strep throat a lot growing up.  I was diagnosed with GERD around 16.  It went away till I got the mono, then it reared its ugly head during my pregnancy and got 10 times worse after I had her....probably all the stress.

Posted 1/17/2008 1:47 AM (GMT 0)
WOW...thats crazy about the mono and strep.  I have no idea if they are connected, but I wouldnt be surprised.  I am so happy that supplement worked for you?!?!  You have no idea how many things I have taken with no relief.  I had my first visit with a homeopathic doc this mon.  He too told me all about gerd being caused by lack of acid in a lot of people.  The only reason I ever doubted that was bc I have tried organic raw apple cider vinegar which made my gerd HORRIFIC for  an entire day.  I think the same principle lies behind the use of apple cider vinegar.  Did you ever try that?  Did it work?  Did you take anything when you were younger?  How long before it went away?  Sorry to ask you so many questions.  Its nice to find people with similar situations.  As you know most friends and family have absolutely no idea how painful this can be.  And I enjoy food so it makes me miserable when I cant eat.  Im thin too...so weight is not an issue.  I almost wish I was overweight so I could lose 20 pounds and this would go away :(  OK staying positive.  One more question...how long have you been taking PPIs this time around and did you take them when you were pregnant?

Posted 1/17/2008 3:11 AM (GMT 0)
Didn't take PPI's when I was preggo....been on Nexium since Jan 07.

Never tried apple cider vinegar...I can't stand the taste, so if it is in pill form, I will try it, otherwise, forget it.

I took Prilosec or Prevacid when I was younger...it went away after about 2 years or so.  But for a while I remember taking OTC stuff.

Ok...forget the HCL...it worked on my reflux, but now I am literally doubled over with terrible cramping and what feels like diarrhea pains...it's not that, just feels like it, KWIM?  I find something that works for reflux, but it affects the other end mad

Posted 1/18/2008 3:35 PM (GMT 0)
Hi mom2sophia...just wanted to check in and see how things are going with the weaning and the ND.  I have my next appt on Monday where I get all this blood work done and so on.  Have you had any tests like that done through your nd?  Anyhow, I am doing well beside the constant burning in my throat.  I mean it is so constant that I am prepared to just live with it for the rest of my life.  Oh well.  Today is not a good day so far.  Im trying to stay positive, but sometimes it just gets so old.  You know, its like why am I denying myself the things I love like coffee...just to feel the same pain?!?!?! haha  K hope things are well.  Send an update when you can!

Posted 1/18/2008 3:37 PM (GMT 0)
Yes mom2sophia, please send an update when you can!!!!!!!! We are all thinking about you!
Posted 1/18/2008 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Ok....it wasn't the HCL....I am allergic to cumin!!! Can you believe that?  I ended up getting hives and everything! 

Still taking 40 mgs...doing pretty good now (except for a little itching tongue )

Posted 1/18/2008 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
OHHHH!!!!  hahaha  I am so happy you are allergic to cumin and it wasnt the hcl.  So is the hcl working for you now?  Feel better:)

Posted 1/18/2008 5:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have a question for burndtjamb if you are still reading this thread...so does that mean you took PPIs for about 8 years?  How many mg/day?  You said you are still taking zantac...did you mean every day?  And how much?  Im just curious.  I know we are all different but it seems we have a similar situation and length of time using ppis.  Today is a discouraging day for me so any words of encouragment and motivation would be great!!!  haha  Thanks.
Posted 1/18/2008 6:44 PM (GMT 0)
Yes, I actually was on PPI's for about 7 years. If I ever forgot to take one the burn I experienced was so far beyond anything I experienced before I started taking them. That's got to be one of the reasons it's so hard to get off of them. Your stomach starts making an incredibly abnormal amount of acid when you try to stop.

I was on 15 mg of Prevacid for about 5 of the 7 years, then was switched to 20 mg generic omeprazole because of my insurance. I was taking the 20 mg omeprazole when I started weaning. The Zantac was part of my routine as I decreased the omeprazole, and it almost entirely kept me from having any symptoms during that time.

I'm still taking Zantac daily, although I skip one occasionally. I still get a little breakthrough heartburn with some foods occasionally, and take Tums for it, when it happens.

I would like to be completely off of the meds, but the only thing I have left that I can change is my diet. I don't eat many fatty foods at all, but there are other things, like spicy foods and chocolate, that I'm just not willing to give up. Either way, I'm glad to be free of the PPI addiction.

As a side note, I only found out about another risk of PPI's within the last year. Apparently people on PPI's are at a significantly increased risk of infections with Clostridium dificile. This is an especially nasty little type of bacteria that I would never wish on anyone.
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