Reducing Omeprazole

I have been on 40 mg for 4 weeks having moved from 10mg (7 years) to 20mg for 4 weeks then 40. I want to get down to 20 again as I have felt worse generally on the higher dose with (i think) more symptoms caused by the drug than the reflux inc increased burping and flatulence ( we are fun to be around aren't we?)
I was fine and symptom free for 3 weeks on 40 then v mild gripey/crampiness for a couple of dyas then fine so decided to cut down to one dose a day on Thursday-fine also fine Friday and eating and drinking red wine like a champ -off for a meal tonight and ... typical have been upset stomach/bowel today -so wonder if i cut it too soon -any advice? Im going to take a 20mg before we go out as my wife has been looking forward to this meal (and I have cancelled twice already due to stomach) and hope Im ok.
Had an ultrasound on Thursday -no gallstones - but back to discuss with Dr on Friday and hoping nothing else shows up
cheers

cheers thanks -I think its a tolerance thing-i have friends which have had the same and perhaps as you get older (im now 57) the sphincters wear out (!)
Im in UK and I don't think we can get Nexium here on the NHS-does anyone know if that is correct?

Oh very interesting - i cancelled my meal tonight so feeling a bit sorry for myself and hoping the 20mg will kick in soon
cheers

Hey Croft

We're in the same boat, been on PPI for 4 weeks , two of Nexium and two Losec ( omeprazole). Starting to feel like 20mgs twice a day is also making me like crap honestly. This is my second big flare in 3 1/2 years and I also think maybe omeprazole has become used to my body. Got some nausea still, not 100% on omeprazole eating wise and I'm counting the days till I reduce to one 20mg. Nexium was one PPI I couldn't tolerate where as my sister has been fine on it for many many years. Different strokes for different folks , feel better soon ! :)

I'm pushing forty so I hear ya :) And omeprazole worked like a charm the first flare, this time it's exasperating. I'm scared foe all tests, any tests but I know my body sometimes forges on without me. I've had all other tests except the endoscopy, my body fights the tranquilizers way to easy, very bad I know but part of my anxiety disorder. I am following Drop the Acid diet which I think helped quit a bit if I look back to my journal of my first flare compared to this journal and also intend to try natural remedies as so many others have. I also take an anti nausea pill at lunch time here and there, seems to help. Keep posting of results, good to know we aren't alone :))

Hi

Thankfully I am not in the business of distributing or medical doctor. I do have a keen interest in quantum physics and quantum chemistry in general. I can read biology and their associated research papers quite easily even though its not my field. I have spent the last year researching on the mechanism by which acid is produced and on detailed chemistry, physiology and mechanism oh how the gastro intestinal system works. By no means is my knowledge complete or i am qualified enough to give medical advice, i always advise you to consult doctors on the matters but lets say I has some very incompetent doctors that almost killed me if i did not take matters into my own hand. The new breed of doctors are unable to think outside the box. I regret not doing medicine now, i wish i could help people from these new breed of doctors. Lets say 3 consultants and 4GP made my life a living hell by listening to them. The ppi were playing havoc with my nerves and me.

enough of my rant, but basically omeprazole is composed of 2 molecules. If you took one molecule and reflected it into a mirror you get the other but are not superposable (Very simplified explanation here). In chemistry these are called enantiomer and have usually different chemical properties specially when considering human body. Omeprazole is a racemate meaning its there in equal amounts of both enantiomer. You have a S and R Omeprazole in 50-50 mix. The S is actually the active part in omeprazole while the R not effective, but in this case the R is converted to S enantiomer by the body using cytochrome p-450( well its CYP2C19 isozome of cytochrome p450). But this conversion(chiral shift ) process differs in different people, hence why some people find nexium more effective than omeprazole.

good luck

I agree with your statement James_a, molecules do play differently on people even if medications have the same ingredients. I am sad when I hear doctors and pharmacists speak of these medications like they are candies to be taken liberally at our discretion. You would think pharmacists who have more experience in medical drug dispensing would know more but on my end they are on same wavelength as doctors as to effects/symptoms etc. We are short on doctors in my province more so good ones, specialists etc. It is a hit and miss thing I agree and by trial and error I learned on my own (no doctor or pharmacist) that my organs can't assimilate certain molecules of certain drugs and certainly not generic brands which costs more for me in the end. But I trudge on like a little soldier :)) Have a good one guys!

Hey guys:)

Update for me and might help or offer encouragement. I'm on day two of weaning off Omeprazole (Losec here in Canada) from 20mg twice a day to once. I was feeling so very wrong on it, loss of time, moody crying, my digestive system took a major hit this time around and I just couldn't take it anymore. I will look into IBS thing as ericapeace2000 said, thanks for that info:) But I do feel better of of it...I'm more aware but now it's to heal my digestive problems a little at a time and and transit on Zantac OTC for a couple days. Hope you guys are well, please take care and keep posting updates..feels less lonely :)

So glad to hear things are looking well for you both, i too am off PPI unfortunately for me, i had no choice and they were making me very ill, It flared my gastritis back up and in my 3rd week almost. I was taking sucralfate but because of sever gallbladder pains I have stopped that and my tapering dose amitriptyline and even gaviscone and tell you what i am so busted up right now but in positive spirit that i actually managed to get of PPI. The sucralfate really helps with gastritis, , with stomach pains, and worst amitriptyline withdrawal symptoms,it might not be 2ffective like PPI but its the closes thing to natural you are going to get. Ask your doctor to prescribe it or the liquid version if you can rather than tablets, it does not much for pain reduction but trust me its effective and certainly more than Zantac there studies done in Italian hospitals which sucralfate was more successful at curing gastritis in 8 weeks than Zantac and it does not get metabolised by your body but excreetedbout by your kidneys - take care if you sensitive to aluminium please discuss with you health care provider. Talk with your GP about taking it, shame i could not continue with it, remember most think it does nothing because it does not too much for pain but its next best thing to the horrid PPI.

It also stimulates stomach mucosal production and also bicarbonate production and other benefits that are still debated on.

good luck all, hope you a speedy recovery.



good luck all

hi ericapeace:)

I'm doing so so, I think I may have gastritis and I've been bumped up speedily to a gastro doctor next Tuesday. I'm loosing too much weigh and all I can hold down is water and watered down soup. Something is really out of wack here. I hope everyone is better than I and I keep you in my thoughts and prayers.