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Help! Trying to get off PPIs

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Posted 3/26/2006 1:11 PM (GMT 0)

HI. I'm trying to get off PPIs(Prilosec for me) bec. a recent blood test shows it's been affecting my liver, at least that's what the doc thought. So I was told to quit cold turkey. I wasn't able to do it so last week I started reducing the dose to 1 pill a day instead of 2 a day.  I was fine for 2 days and then after that started getting all the symptoms again especially at night.  Started also taking Tums after dinner to help but still waking up with pain/burning in my throat! I have the wedge pillow too, and on top of that 3 more pillows! It's so uncomfortable!

Anyway, yesterday was my first day to really NOT take the prilosec. I didn't take any.....I started on Papaya enzymes and a have been eating a lot of apples(i read in a book that it helps with heartburn).  Around lunchtime, I started getting very bad nausea!!!!  So I took a zantac(which by the way the doc also told me to not take).  I need help!

Does anyone know what I can take for the nausea(preferably herbal)? Also does anyone know of a link to find a naturopathic doctor in my area?  I live in Michigan and I'm desperate for help.

I'm getting another blood test this week to check how my liver is doing.....

For all you people taking PPIs, be very careful as I found out it can wreck havock on your liver. I'm barely in my 30s and I don't want to have to live w/ liver issues on top of the GERD!

 

Posted 3/26/2006 1:24 PM (GMT 0)
Sorry to hear about your pain. I went off the PPIs in early February (Protonix 40mg). At the same time, I lowered my carb intake (there is a theory by some on this board that excess carbs contribute to heartburn and reflux). The first week was bad, but I managed to get through it and have occasionally had a little heartburn but nothing like before. If the carb theory is correct, then the apples could be contributing to the problem. It's just a thought...
Posted 3/26/2006 4:59 PM (GMT 0)
Precious, you could try ginger products for nausea.

Posted 3/26/2006 5:56 PM (GMT 0)
If I were you I wouldnt take tums. They tend to make heartburn worse. For your night time bouts I would use Mylanta or something similar.
Posted 3/26/2006 7:38 PM (GMT 0)

Precious, I'm sorry you're having a hard time. I've been there. I tried to get off Prevacid (30 mg) several times without success.  This time, I started a low-carb diet (25 grams or less) a couple of weeks before attempting to quit.  Then I began taking the PPIs on alternate days, and finally stretched that out to every three or four days. Also took Zantac sometimes on off days, and Nightime Maalox (it's supposed to form a "raft" that reduces reflux) at bedtime.  I'm about to celebrate two weeks of freedom from PPIs, but I'm still keeping my carb count really low. My druggist says Zantac plus Maalox is a good way to step down from PPIs. 

Oh, yes, I also take digestive enzymes with every meal, and ginger juice in the morning. I have a suspicion that PPIs do bad things to one's stomach lining, so it may take a while for your body to heal.  Good luck. I hope you find a solution. As Niki says, the first week can be tough.

Seagal

Posted 3/26/2006 8:27 PM (GMT 0)

Well, thanks for all the comments so far.  I went to a health food store(again) and bought some DGL and Gamma Oryzanol(rice bran oil). I'm doing fine right now, I just had lunch and I feel ok. I took some of the papaya enzymes and 1 DGL(licorice).  However after breakfast this morning, I had real bad nausea, felt like the food was coming up my throat and my stomach felt like it was going around in circles.  2nd day of being off the Prilosec today.

My husband suggested though that I start back on prilosec and start tapering it slowly, instead of cold turkey....

ANy advice on that?

Thanks for all your help!

Posted 3/26/2006 8:42 PM (GMT 0)
Did the doctor think zantac damaged your liver too? Seems like if the doc suggested you get on them in the first place and then suggested you get off, he would have an alternate plan for the pain.

I think the ppis do something to your stomach making it hard to quit them cold turkey. All this prilosec, zantac is new, know what I mean? Did our parents never suffer daily heartburn? Where did this "epidemic" come from? Seems like the drugs are actually the problem. Just my two cents worth.

I suffer daily so I know what it is like to go to the doctor, health food store, drug store, etc....constantly looking for answers. This site is helpful but I just don't know the answer. I lot of people seem helped by the low carb approach. I know I have times where I HAVE to eat some protein just to get my pain at bay. Don't know what that is all about...I am basically a vegetarian but not any more. I carry chicken sandwiches in my purse!!!!!!!
Posted 3/26/2006 10:19 PM (GMT 0)

It seems to me the proton pumps go into overdrive once the PPIs leave the scene. It's very hard to quit cold turkey. You'd almost think the addiction factor was built in. When it comes to advice on drugs (including quitting), I've had a lot better luck with pharmacists than with doctors.

Seagal

Posted 3/26/2006 10:23 PM (GMT 0)

Precious, according to Dr. Weil (and numerous other sources), milk thistle is very good to detoxify the liver.

Seagal

Posted 3/27/2006 8:52 AM (GMT 0)
I am aiming to get off the PPI's and just wanted to share my experience over the last couple of weeks.

I have been keeping a food diary and recording symptoms which has helped me to find out more about certain foods. Through doing this and repeating certain meals I have discovered a few things.

When I eat high carbs I feel like my stomach produces much more acid than when I eat a small amount of carbs. For example this morning I ate a bagel and muesli which is a high carb breakfast! Didn't feel at my best that's for sure.I have therefore cut back slightly on the hard grains/potato/bread etc and replaced with a bit more soya/vegs. I feel better with this approach.

I have also realised that green vegs tend to give me stomach pain as these are gas producing vegs. I now have more orange vegs such as carrots/swede/parsnips as I am ok with these.

I read that dairy products may not be good for gerd due to 'carageenan' which can result in more bad bacteria. I have replaced cows milk for soya milk and I'm takin acidophillus to repopulate the good bacteria.

I hope that eventually my symptoms will ease with my good diet and I will be brave enough to cut back on the PPI's (my doctor says he is cutting them down soon anyway).I am preparing myself!

I hope this helps in some way. I'm still trying things out.

Best wishes to all you guys. :-)

 

Posted 3/27/2006 9:42 PM (GMT 0)
Hey hearty, in regards to your question, yes the GI doc said zantac was doing the same thing to the liver. His alternative was to just use TUMS...can you believe it? That's it.

Anyway, to all of you....thanks. It's 3rd day quitting prilosec. Nausea and feeling of churning in the stomach was bad this morning, but still was able to drive to work. Does anyone get headaches too from withdrawal? I did good today, there was pizza at work and I said NO to pizza. Hahahha. Also found out that the licorice (DGL) works really fast. It tastes nasty at first but I'm getting the hang of it. I used it several times and it worked. But today I woke up w/ a sore throat w/c I attribute to the GERD.
Since being diagnosed last year, I've been eating healthy. Gave up pop, caffeine, chocolate (I try) and all the stuff supposed to cause it.
Also I've been taking milk thistle since last Friday....for the liver.
Posted 3/28/2006 12:59 AM (GMT 0)
Does the licorice work like tums...fast but wears off quickly or like zantac....works for a long time and then you need more?
Posted 3/29/2006 1:28 AM (GMT 0)

Hearty,

The DGL(licorice) works fast and seems to stay on for a while. I have been taking them before meals and I can tell  a big difference.

Just talked to my regular doctor and he said to take zantac at night until i get my liver/blood test on Monday. At most, I'm ok during the day, it's the night time reflux that bothers me.

If you try the licorice, make sure you get the deglycyrrinated one...I think I said that right.

Precious

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