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Protonix /PPI's How long to work?

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Posted 6/11/2009 4:03 PM (GMT 0)
I was put on Prontonix two days ago. How long does it take to work or until I will see imporvement in my heartburn and nausea (Gerd)?  I had been on Axid for two weeks but it only lasted about 4-5 hours before the acid broke thru. All other tests negative although I take anit-anxiety pills ( Buspar) 30 mgs /day but am increasing those to 45 gradually this week. Thanks This is my first post.
Posted 6/11/2009 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
I noticed that I felt an improvement on day 4 and a real improvement in about a week.

I just weaned off of Protonix, and the rebound started at about day 4-5, so it makes sense that it takes that long to start really working as well as wear off completely.

Hope you are feeling much better very soon.

Lisa
Posted 6/11/2009 7:19 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks Lisa,

Actually this is day 3 for me and I am feeling much worse. Don't know if I am being affected by side-effects or if I am just having a bad day. General Malaise, nausea to point of almost vomiting, severe heart burn. I decided to call the Dr. and see how long he thinks I should give this drug befrore trying something else. I was less sick just taking the Axid I used for two weeks prior to this.

Posted 6/11/2009 7:20 PM (GMT 0)
lakelover

Welcome to HealingWell.  I agree on  how quickly the med takes depends on your body and how well the med works for you.

Some people have to try several different PPI's before they find one that works so I would give it at least 5-7 days.

Are you changing any other things in your lifestyle besides starting this med and increasing your Buspar?

Sometimes it takes more then just starting medication.

I see you posted in A & P so I will welcome you to that forum too.................I moderate in both  :)

 

Nice to meet you and I hope to get to know you better.

Kitt

 

 


 

Posted 6/11/2009 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
about 4-5 days for me with Prilisec!
gentleman k
Posted 6/11/2009 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
I think it was about 4 or 5 days for me the first time also. WOw, that was a long time ago.

Take care,
BIll
Posted 6/12/2009 6:14 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on Protonix this year for a little over a month..came off cold turkey..symptoms came back in day 3/4..so I started Nexium 40mg for a little over 2 months until everything leveled out..and am on day 8 of coming off cold turkey...I had minor reflux the first few days and got bad stomach pain on day 4...since then I am taking DGL (3x daily) and Probiotics..and I think it is helping.. stomach pain is not quite as bad and still a little burping reflux... Lisa..curious how things are going for you?
Posted 6/13/2009 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hi lakeover,
I started on 20mg Prilosec probably 15 or so years ago (later increased to 20mg twice a day), and as my GERD got progressively worse, switched to Nexium 40mg, then Nexium 40mg twice a day. In my case GERD was causing serious asthma symptoms, which added to the need for aggressive treatment. about 4 years ago, I was hospitalized for severe asthma that was brought on by GERD (created by a stomach reaction to an antibiotic). At that time the GI docs on the case put me on Protonix 40mg twice a day, which I took from then on.

I found the Protonix to be very effective, and did not experience any side effects. I always got breakthrough reflux, though, and also used Tums and Maalox periodically. My asthma was very severe, and my family and asthma doctor continued to urge me to consider the Nissen Fundoplication surgery, which I finally did in February. Since then, my asthma has improved GREATLY. (I still have asthma symptoms from allergies, but they are much less severe without the underlying inflammation that had been caused by GERD.)

I wish you lots of luck in finding improvement with your GERD symptoms. Keep in mind, that even without acid, the damage to your esophagus and stomach will take time to heal and resolve.

It's important to be very careful with what you eat--nothing acidic, spicy, or rough (like popcorn). Remember to avoid traditional triggers like caffeine, chocolate, peppermint, alcohol, fried foods--and find which comfort foods you can manage. Eat small meals, and maintain this careful eating for a LONG TIME.

It's hard to wait...you'll be wanting to go back to your normal foods...but it's important to continue to be careful for about 2 weeks after you stomach feels all better--then introduce foods back into your diet one at a time.

I could always tell when I'd moved too soon, because my symptoms would get worse right away.

Be sure to let your GI doc know if your symptoms continue to bother you. Everybody is different, and you need to listen to your own body.
Best wishes for a speedy recovery! We're here to help you through!
Take care,
Denise
Posted 6/19/2009 1:44 PM (GMT 0)
Lakelover,

I've been through the hunt for trying to find a stomach med that works for me multiple times. My general experience has been ... If I'm feeling WORSE the more days I take the medication ... It means the medication is not working for me.

I was previously on prevacid for several years but unfortunately my insurance stopped covering it this year. My stock of pills ran out last week so I had to start the search for a drug all over again. (I tried 2 before finding prevacid worked). So so far I've already exhausted aciphex, nexium, and now prevacid so I thought I'd try generic prilosec.

Within 3 days I had symptoms very much like yours. The first two days I actually had a lot of diarrhea on the prilosec and felt AWFUL and nauseous and then by days 3 and 4 the lower GI stuff stopped but I felt like I was getting worse heartburn and I just felt crappy in general. So on day 5 I switched off of the omeprazole (prilosec) to protonix to see if that was any better. Even by day 1 I knew it would be better because I didn't feel nearly as crappy.

So my advice ... If you feel that miserable tell your doc that med isn't working and you need to try another one. I went through the same thing with nexium a few years ago. Took it about 3 days and felt really horrible so I switched to prevacid and was good as gold within just a few days. I'm just really bummed that I found a drug that worked great and now my insurance won't pay for it.

Good luck!

I'm hoping the protonix works for me ... I'm only on day 3 (haven't taken today's dose yet though) and I've had a little trouble - stuff isn't sitting in my stomach right - but I'm way better than when I was trying the prilosec earlier this week. So it's a start...
Posted 6/21/2009 4:54 AM (GMT 0)
Another thing I have tried that has some relief is taking Acidopholis (sp?) daily. It seems to help a little. I am on Nexium 40 mg and that took about 4 to 5 days to start working, but it seems like i have breakthrough reflux if I miss a day or two. I also take Prilosec OTC on days when the Nexium does not seem to be working as well.
Posted 12/5/2010 10:36 PM (GMT 0)
about a year ago I almost choked on chinese food, then it happened several times again on various foods over the span of this year and after that first incident. The food wasn't going down. I thought it was from eating too much too fast. But it wasn't the case. So I finally couldn't swallow well at all with or without foods. Ended up in the ER so scared. Thought I would choke or my throat would close on me. They did an endoscopy a day later and found out I had a condition called eosinophilic esophagitis. It was a struggle for several months after that. They gave me some meds- Nexium-and we hoped for the best. I showed some signs of improvement and then would get bad again for weeks and weeks. They did tons of allergy testing and I was negative for all. MRI of throat was negative of anything abnormal. 
Now at this point 5 months after that initial diagnosis I am still struggling having a hard time eating foods getting foods to go down and swallowing. And now believe my symptoms to be in my throat. And all along. That is where the food gets stuck and won't go down. Then I get so scared. I have to drink tons of water in hopes it will pass and go down. The last endoscopy shows no more eosinophils present and my esophagus is open now. So it is something else. And I believe something with my throat or trachea. I have no other symptoms- no heartburn or pain or anything. But the Dr's still now say it's possible it's acid reflux causing this. Sometimes feels like a lump in my throat and a pressure and very hard to swallow and often even without foods. Been to so many different Dr's and tons of tests. I do have acid reflux present.
Not sure what to do next. I am not living life now and haven't been for some time. Just existing. I want my life back!

Posted 12/6/2010 6:08 PM (GMT 0)

Hi to everybody out there on one or other "prazole" medication .. all these PPI's seem to end with prazole ...

These medications supposed to be very good when you have high acid in your stomach .. it will soon cut down that extra acids.    If it doesnt work for you .. could you perhaps be suffering from low acid?  When you have heartburn .. doctors always assume its due to high acid, (although the symptoms for hi and low acid the same) ...and on the "prazoles" you go ... this happened to me.  After 3 weeks on this medication .. no improvement, maybe a bit worse.  Did some research.  Found out I took it at the wrong time of the day, ie after lunch.  Was supposed to take it first thing in the morning on a complete empty tummy .. and not eat for at least another one hour.   Did that.   Every day after that I became worse and worse and eventually decided that I must have low acid. - turned out I was right .. not only did the PPI cut the little bit of acid I had left in my stomach, but I did damage to myself .. taking Tumms etc .. containing calcium which cancels out any acids,  but also taking calcium supplements making things worse!

Did research, and found that most of our digestive symptoms caused by low levels of enzymes .. check this -symptoms of lack of enzymes:

Flatulence,  heartburn,  spasms,  lactose intolerance,  constipation,  gastro esophgeal reflux, peptic ulcers,  indigestion

Bought "bioenzymes for life" from a health clinic and after only 3 days had relief.    My husband used to belch and pass gas on both sides ... for Africa .. and he also started taking the enzymes ..  the result a miracle for both of us.  We dont want to take enzyme capsules for the rest of our lives, so doing research on natural ones ..  we now eat a lot of papaya, (paw-paw), as well as dates, and have pineapple juice with all our meals.

Regular pals on Healing well would have read my comments by now .. please be patient ... we feel as if we have been part of a miracle ..  and would like to share this with others out there as doctors never ever mention enzymes .. and even reading all the posts .. you are bombarded with all different drugs which you have never heard of ... but nobody mentions the natural enzymes which we destroy when we cook our veges ..  just think:  How many fresh items containing the enzymes you need did you eat today?

We wish all of you good health!   Cecelia

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