GERD Medications

yes I agree. I was on Prilosec too and although it helped with the GERD, I had other problems, I mentioned it on a few posts here. I quit and now take herbal stuff and occasionally a Zantac. I watch what I eat, no caffeine (even decaf), dairy, soda, tomato sauce, citrus fruits, etc. etc. It's hard but it's worth it. Every now and then I will splurge and drink pop but then I usually get payback for it and I end up taking a Zantac which is fine.

You know when I was on Prilosec, one thing I noticed was that my concetration was off. I mean I would be driving and I would just zone out. Very weird. I had other side effects from it too aside from that. The worse drug that made me even worse was Nexium. I'm glad it works for others but this drug gave me severe nausea and dizziness, stomach ache, feeling like I have the flu, heart palpitations that would wake me up at night, etc.

What's ur email address?

Okay .. now I am a little worried as my doctor just upped my omeprazole (prilosec) 40mg. I am new to this drug as I was taking Ranitidine for awhile, went off and on until it stopped working.

Cutiecally84 - I am not sure what you are asking... or suggesting...

"Does anyone know where this GERD originally came into play? Do any of you need to lose weight, cut out junk food or soda, maybe quit smoking?"

I am not overweight (I am an avid runner and swimmer), I am a healthy eater and I don't smoke. I asked my doctor for an increase in this medication because it was helping (I was in chronic pain all day/all night) - I asked for an increase because she wanted to schedule an endoscopy and I preferred having the medication as opposed to anesthetic/tube/camera put down my throat.
Now I am worried about the side effects you are speaking of. I have been on 20 mg once a day for about 2 weeks... with no side-effects.

I guess I also feel a little insulted by your post because you have made the assumption that we are all leading unhealthy lifestyles or born with some "odd severe GERD issue or something". You are right - you're not a doctor. There are a lot of other factors that may cause issues people are trying to cope with e.g: Helicobacter pylori (the only way to get rid of this bacteria is to take a combination of antibiotics and PPI), a hiatal herna, trauma, etc. I am not sure if you are aware that this condition can also cause difficulty swallowing, persistent cough, trouble sleeping and the medication can prevent serious acid damage to your digestive system (e.g., ulcers and cancer of the esophagus). You have to remember that some doctors carefully prescribe this medication because he/she has judged that the benefit is greater than the risk of side effects. Having said this, I can not describe to you the amount of discomfort I was in. The medication has reduced this to half.

When you pose the question for us to think back on life before the medication.... makes me laugh - one of the first things a good doctor will suggest is to make lifestyle changes (if there are changes to make) as the ones you have mentioned.. and in answer to your question - all I do sometimes is think about the way life was before the medication...I had a great life before i started to suffer from GERDS - the medication has offered me some relief. Sounds to me like you have had a bad reaction/side effect to the prilosec. I am glad you are feeling better and I hope you continue to feel better. I once was also feeling better when I was in my 20's (and able to come off the medication).

I guess I am trying to ask that you not make presumptions about peoples symptoms and causes - especially when the only hope/relief they seem to have is medication. What works for one, doesn't necessarily work for another.

...in good health

I wasn't saying that people should not be on these medications but the reality with a lot of medications is they create more issues. Some people need these, even my mom legitimitely needs these pills. She is fine with them. I was asking because there are some people out there who are sicker because of them and maybe hadn't realized.

It took me a lot of tests and a doctor to point me in the right direction that even on the box it says not to be used for more than 2 weeks. I must have just had a bad reaction (obviously) and I'm not trying to scare anyone. It's just that some people on these, even on these boards don't know what happened to their lives, etc etc and I myself, as well as other older people who are in touch with me, have had this happened. I guess I worded it in a not so pleasant way.

Basically if you get sicker (which may not even happen) just don't worry it may be a million different things. It could just be as simple as the medicine. I have had tests done and been on pills for all of these diagnoses people now have. So I was just trying to say if people are in doubt, don't forget to consider the pills.

When I was younger I had my wisdom teeth removed in an office and i remember waking up during the procedure. I don't remember seeing anything (they told me after they put Vaseline on my eyes and taped them) and my arms were held down with velcro. I was in a chair just like at the dentist. I remember hearing the nurse say something and I also remember them yanking - but I don't have much memory of the pain. I'm not sure if I felt pain or panic. I know I struggled and then I forget. When I came out of the anesthetic, I asked if I woke up or if I dreamt it and the doctor told me that I had woken up. They told me my vein had rolled and my arm looked like I had a hard baseball in it b/c the anesthetic has seeped into my arm. Doctors have difficulty getting blood from me because my veins roll and I usually come out black and blue. I think this is why I prefer to take the medication. Waking up wasn't that big of a deal except for the fact that I now fear waking up in other procedures...which is why I never go for other procedures I think (not that I've needed to go to any until now).

My doctor told me she would give me a month on the omeprazole 20 mg twice day and if it doesn't work then the endoscopy. I had the blood work for H. pylori and it came back neg (took forever for them to get my blood). Mary Love - you bring up a good point which makes me consider getting it done and that is the biopsy for H. pylori. I have researched this extensively and I have a lot of the symptoms (ie: rash on t-zone area of the face at times, headaches, gas...the list goes on) and i also read that often H. pylori can hide in the lining of the stomach and in essence, the acid helps conceal the possibility of having it. Blood work isn't always reliable. I will probably end up getting the endoscopy - I think I just wanted a little more time.

Precious and Mary love - you both are very convincing. When I read posts I hear some people get that nissen surgery done and they STILL have to take medication. A little part (very little part) of me thinks I ought to get the endoscopy b/c then I will know for myself what the acid has done.... With the amount of pain, I am sure they will see something. It would be a little validating I think.

Cutiecally - my mother died of lung/brain cancer and it use to really frustrate me with everything she was going through to hear people ask her, "well, do you/did you smoke?" I found this really blaming as she had never smoked and maybe its human nature to blame the person. I think it is important for people to realize that yep, sometimes there are lifestyle factors that contribute to medical issues but not always. Environmental issues also contribute and I try to look at things as the, "the person isn't the problem..the problem is the problem"

Now after having said that - I'm going to go eat a bag of chips and have a cup of coffee (lol...just kidding)