Is Dexilant (Dexlansoprazole) losing it's effectiveness?

To all who take it,

I have been using Dexilant @ 60mg QD (once daily) for my severe GERD symtoms for about 5 months now.

I'm beginning to feel a lack of coverage about 15 hours post dosing and I wonder if it is losing it's effectiveness or my GERD is just getting a bit worse.

I understand that this is the PPI drug of last resort before surgical intervention.

Does anyone else have a similar problem?

Cheers!

GM

Post Edited (Gastricman) : 1/18/2013 3:31:16 PM (GMT-7)

Hi Crystal,

Thanks for your reply.

I can tell you form personal experience that all these PPI's have adversely affected my Bone Density, verfied by several DEXA scans, causing Osteopenia. The have left me open to several gastrointestional infections (probably due to my higher stomach Ph) at the point where the mere mention of a restaurant makes me break out in sweats. So I need to eat home or from limited hygienic sources - but what kind of life is this?

Eating out right now is like playing Russian Roulette ;) Am I the only one?

PPI's also lowered my serum Ferritin level into the teens, FWIW.

Now I am faced with either a Nissen Total Wrap (360) or the LINX procedure and get off these PPI's.

Hard choices ahead.

 

Best,

Gastricman

Post Edited (Gastricman) : 1/19/2013 11:09:37 AM (GMT-7)

Looks like we're in the same boat:( I haven't had any gastrointestinal infections, but in order to eat a bland diet, I need to eat at home too. I tried the paleo diet for only 5 days because it was so difficult and I didn't feel any better, but I probably didn't give it enough time. Lately I've been eating pretty bad because I figure that no matter what I eat, I have symptoms, so what the heck. Might as well try to enjoy food anyway. But I do avoid all spicy and citrus foods. I've only been indulging in too much sugar lately, mainly chocolate here and there. I know it's bad, but I suffer anyways.

How long have you been on PPIs? I'm only 31 and i'm afraid that my bone density is suffering. I need to get off these things! But the only way for that to happen is surgery:( Yes, hard choices ahead for sure!

I'm not sure about the Dexilant. I've always taken them a 1/2 hour before meals. Dexilant didn't work good at all for me. I'm on Aciphex twice a day right now and of course, still burning. I have burning in the morning as well before I've eaten anything. Also, I have a bitter/sweet/sour taste on my tongue most of the time. How about you?

Hi Crystal,

PPI's are a blessing and a curse.

Only recently have the side effects been proven by science, such as decrease in bone density, being susceptible to frequent gastointestinal infections, etc. I'm 48 and have been on PPI's since I was 35 - this is not a misprint. GERD is progessive which means that it doesn't get better, only worse with the only high degree of "cure" being surgery.

I was on Protonix 40mg/BID (total 80mg/day) with relatively good control up to a year ago, before I started to get sick eating out at restaurants. Severe vomiting, cramps, diarrhea - you name it. So, I eat at home where everything is controlled and no problems. Since my GERD became worse I was tranferred to Dexilant (as above) and am now getting a burning in the back of my throat suggesting thet the coverage (at maximum dose ) is waning.

It would not surprise me if the Protonix did other things to my gut, above and beyond when I had described above. I have always had a sensitive GI tract and feel a twinge of discomfort in the stomach/intestinal area.

No problems with taste or tongue, but I always avoid acidic foods since I am so senstive to the taste of them.

My only chance left is to bide some more time and opt for surgery, either the LINX of a total 360 Nissen.

Gastricman

 

There has got to be other people in the same boat! Yes, it seems like you're right there with me, not getting full coverage on a PPI. You've been on them as long as me, it's been 13 years! I did not know until fairly recently that I should not be on PPIs long term! I even got gastritis while being on them...what does that mean?!? It means that something is up with these drugs. Out digestion is impaired. It's not right at all. I'm definitely opting for surgery assuming that I'm a candidate because this is taking over my life and I can't live like this anymore. Constant burning in my throat! Same thing for you too? I don't know what to do:( Gaviscon helps somewhat, but usually nothing really takes it away, only the edge of off of it. I eat tums all day. Chewing gum does seems to help distract me from it. I'm at a loss too Gastricman:(

Gastricman, thank's for sending me to your link. I'm in the same boat. I didn't know that Dexilant was the last resort medicine.
It worked well for me for the most part, but there were times when I'd wake up in the morning and feel like everything I'd eaten the night before was just sitting in my stomach and all the way up to my throat.
After all, how do our bodies even digest the food we eat with all these meds that neutralize the acid? We have acid in our gut for a reason. I think starting on any PPI was a bad idea for me. I've been on them around 13 plus years.
I tried to go off PPI's last summer through a Naturopathic Doc, and had total rebound acid.
It was miserable. I'm sure all the acid that came back did even more damage than I already had. My throat was literally burnt from the acid.
I am off the Dexilant for now due to financial reasons. Even with a discount coupon and my health insurance, the cost is too much. I'm taking 40 mg of Prilosec, and sometimes an extra dose at night, and with that, woke up with heartburn.

Even though I'm scared of having the Nissen, I've resolved that it's the right thing to do. It's not natural to have to take a pill just to fuel your body.