Prevacid/Lansoprazole rebound

I stopped taking Lanzoprazole (Prevacid) a month ago after taking 30mg for 1 ½ years to treat GERD. I had an endoscopy a year ago and everything was normal, but doctor told me to stay on them. I had terrible rebound symptoms for about 10 days and now I have a permanent ‘sour stomach‘ with  I started to take Lanzoprazole again but it is not working anymore.
What is weird is that I never had any of those symptoms when I was first put on Lanzoprazole, my only symptom was a bitter sensation in the esophagus. So basically I feel much worse now than when I started the treatment. Does anyone know if it may take months for the body to re-balance itself after stopping lanzoprazole?

Post Edited By Moderator (stkitt) : 6/24/2010 4:14:27 PM (GMT-6)

My doctor says to take 300mg of Zantac instead but I don’t know if this is better or worse than Prevacid. I think you are right by trying to do it slowly. I actually went back to Prevacid 30mg but it wasn’t working anymore, though it does help. Then I did 15mg, again I felt a bit better but not fully ok by far. I haven’t taken any for 3 days now and the ‘sour stomach’ is there permanently. I have no idea what the hell this is as I never had it before.
I think PPIs should only be taken in moderation and I am questioning if they do permanent damage. I read some articles where it says it could take months for the body to go back to how it was if you take them for long period of times.
Good luck to you and thank you.

If everything looks normal now why did he tell you to keep taking them? PPis have lots of side effects and we need acid in our stomach anyway. In my experience doctors have no time for people and they give too much medication for immediate relief but in a long run it is worse. I wish I never took Prevacid for that long.