Pepcid v. Zantac - Which has proven most helpful?

[SjoGirl]

Yes, it is all amazing. Even more so is the fact that I don't have to take something every day. So far I using something every other day.

This is after about 11-12 years of suffering. I am going to credit Imuran for potentially having put my immune issues into remission. The credit for that also goes to my former rheumatologist who prescribed that drug after Plaquenil and Mexotrathate did real numbers on me.

Now my biggest issue is my osteoarthritis. That said even that is not as bad most days (of course it's summer, when the cold weather comes that will change).

So grateful!

[irish]

I find that almond milk is great on my cereal and doesn't both my stomach. I started using this cause of the high calcium and low calories, etc and found that I really like it. I drink the low calorie, unsweetened, vanilla flavored and it is really so nutritious. Irish

[SjoGirl]

Hi all, Yes it is amazing. I'm also realizing that there are still limits and a need to take Pepcid regularly. This weekend my sour stomach returned and I can feel the acid coming back a bit. Hopefully an ounce of prevention will result in a pound of cure.

[irish]

I have taken a lot of different meds for my reflux. The Pepcid was one I took for a long time and it just didn't seem to work all that well. I finally bought the Zantac or Rantidine and tried that and it works so much better for me. WE are all different and have to find what works. Irish

[jazzlover]

Zantac is now being removed from the market .. the latest I've heard.

I never could take that one. I do well on Pepcid.

[irish]

hey are testing all these drug ingredients and before you know it we will lose a whole bunch of drugs. Zantac was found to have a tiny bit of cancer causing something or other in it. I heard a college lecture for the public about 30 years ago and he basically said that everything we eat and all the pills we take have something that will cause something or other. Relax he said cause the testing is done and we can't get rid of all the items that cause cancer.

Case in point: he said that apricots or peaches ( I forget which right now) had a pit that carried cyanide. The soft flesh of the fruit is right next to the pit.....I am waiting for the scientists to take that off the market. This professor said that nature makes a lot of products that in large amounts are dangerous but in smaller amounts are not. We have to use our head.

Sometimes I think that we get so carried away trying to keep things safe that we sort of shoot ourselves in the foot. Stop and think about the drugs taken off for a tiny amount of cancer causing product that many say is safe. Does their saying its dangerous help some other drug company. Just some thoughts. Irish

[SjoGirl]

I saw the reports about Zantac and thought the same. All you have to do is listen to a drug commercial's list of side effects to know that many can hurt or even kill you. I am taking Pepcid and it's working. I just hope they don't take all these drugs off the market, some of use need regular help.

[bdnews2]

I have a hiatal hernia that has been repaired.  I also have a lap band and each time I needed surgery on the lap band (its been moved or reattached twice) he had to undo the hernia and redo it.  I took omeprazole for years then all of a sudden I started with my throat swelling when I took it so I stopped.  Gave my system time to get it out and started on ranitidine.  Now they are recalling it because of a cancer threat.  So I guess I will have to stop that too.  I guess my next move will be Pepcid.

[SjoGirl]

bdnews I am sorry to hear of your troubles. Here's hoping you have better days ahead.

[Robi5]

I just started Pepcid yesterday.  My family doctor recomended I take Zantac, but my local store didn’t carry it, so I decided to try Pepcid.

Do you take it at a different time than HydroxyCloroquine?  I read somewhere that it may bind with it and make it less effective, but I couldn?t find much else.

I have had terrible heartburn and reflux for the past few years, and this year is particularily bad.  I was on PPIs for two months in June from a Gastro Specialist, but right now I have to rely on my family doctor.  She had me try these over the counter first before she prescribes me a PPI.

I feel fine since taking Pepcid yesterday.  I hope there isn’t other bad side effects, but so far I feel none.  In Canada we can still get Zantac (Walmart), but I hear its been banned in the US. 

[bluegardenia]

Zantac is no more available in all Europe so I had to go to Pepcid but its not the same, for me is less effective so I have to take  PPi again even in a very low dosage because of its shortage of saliva

[meirish]

My own experience has taught me to never take any other meds with my hydroxychloroquin. I have problems with the hydroxy so I make sure to take it alone with food and several hours either side of any other meds. I have found that taking it around 4PM works the best for me.

I am sitting up and can eat crackers or half a peanut butter sandwich to help cushion my stomach. A couple of years ago my reflux and heartburn got so bad and it took me a few days to figure out that it got much worse when I took my hydroxy. Sooo, I took myself off until my stomach improved and it took me about 8 months before I felt good enough to start taking it again.

Out of curiosity, are there any other meds that people take for reflux? I have been on the omeprazole for so long that I don't know what is out there anymore. Thanks. meirish

[Robi5]

Thank you to Bluegardenia and Meirish, that is very helpful reply.

I’m think I made the right decision getting Pepcid instead of Zantac then.  But yes, I had to take two the day before yesterday for it to really work.  I think PPI would be better but my family doctor always likes to take things slow (which can be a good thing too).

I’m starting to think Irish, that my increased reflux and discomfort could be caused by the hydroxychloroquine as well with what you said.  I take 1.5 pills a day, so I have to cut one pill in half.  Maybe that is not the best idea.   Yesterday I didn’t take any pepcid as I felt better, and wanted to see if I could make it through the whole day without, which I did.

I have found that if I have some pure aloe vera juice every day (1/4th cup) that it keeps the acid down pretty good.  But I don’t know if that is safe to do long term, so now I only have it occasionally, which brought the reflux back in full force.

I’ll also take your advice and have the HCQ apart from other stuff, and separate by a few hours.  I depend on it so I need it to be fully effective.