Hi All,
This past week, my GERD has been acting up terribly. I have been just miserable. I am going to call the doctor today and see if I should increase my 30 mg. Prevacid to twice a day instead of just one. I am curious as to if anyone has had to increase their GERD meds and found relief and what is the highest doses people are on? I was getting panicky with the pain and halved my Naprosyn too. But of course, my joints hurt more. There is no winning!
Thanks for any responses.
Liz D.
Sorry you feel so rough, Liz.
I don't have excessive problems with GERD, and my single dose of Losec works well for me, but have had occasion to pop a couple of OTC calcium based antacids to help it out. You may also find that supplementing your reduced Naprosyn with some Tylenol type pain meds helps the joints without undue stomach reaction (but also without anti-inflammatory effect).
Twice a day dosing with 30 mg of Prevacid is possible but shouldn't be done on your own, but it's worth a call to the doc. Another option is a different PPI (proton pump inhibitor), sometimes when one drug in a classification isn't doing the job, another similar one will.
Liz,
I really want to know what you find out on this.
My son (22 years old) has terrible GERD and sometimes he says the Prilosec doesn't help him at all. I never know what advice to offer besides the obvious...to see the doc about it...which he doesn't do. He just waits it out.
Janna
Liz,
I've struggled terribly with GERD since coming down with Sjogrens. I take Prilosec but if eating anything questionable add a Pepcid later in the day. This is on the advice of the doctor. I, RARELY, had heartburn before Sjogrens. Maybe twice a year. The Naproxen is definitely not helping the issue. I work for a general surgeon and have seen many patients scoped and with ulcers due to another doctor prescribing too many anti-inflammatories.
Hope you get relief soon.
Anna
my ex had GERD, and since i changed my diet mine sseems to be under control.
make sure the head of your bed is higher propped up by a few books or block of wood this helps alot!
What as a nurse i found the best drug for it was is nexium, one tablet and instant releif, those on losec didnt find as much releif , it one fo the newer ones, and i know from reading posts here many who use it swear by it, might just be the one your on just sint working for you now, hope it sorts soon, horrible is GERD
T x
Just got a call back from my rheumatologist. She says 30 mg. of Prevacid is a high enough dose and that I should see a gastraenterologist. I hate the thought of going through an endoscopy!! I might go try some of the calcium based antacids first along with the Prevacid, then call tomorrow if I am still miserable.
Liz D.
Liz , am so sorry that you are feeling so miserable.. do you drink plenty of water?
It's good in helping digestion, along with your meds..
Re an Endoscopy, if your very nervous of having one, ask for the sedative and you will be fine...
I have had 4 and all been good...
hope you get relief soon, Dolly
Yes, I drink so much water I feel like I could float away!! I also never take my Naprosyn on an empty stomach. I suppose I shouldn't be so scared to have an endoscopy. I know tons of people have had them and said it is okay. But I know I would need tons of sedatives!!
You guys are all so great!! Thanks so much for helping me. I can always rely on this group!!
Liz D.
Hi :)
When my GERD got bad and I was scoped and it showed up esophagitis, I was taken off Naproxen and told I couldn't have it again. I take Tramadol and Paracetamol instead.
Two or three times I've had to double the dose of Omeprazole I take (always under doctor's instructions) After a month on the double dose the single dose is OK again - till the next time.
Take care - Scottie :)
Just an update -- I called my PCP to see about a gastroenterologist and she is going to try me on Prilosec and Tums 3x's a day first. Then if I don't feel better in a month, she'll send me to the GI guy. (Doesn't it figure I just submitted a mail order prescription for Prevacid yesterday and it is already being sent!! Oh well.)
Liz D.
Well Liz, that's a good start.. Hope the new meds work well for you..
Let us know, but if you do end up needing the Endo, then go for it! even if nothing was found, it does relieve one to know that>>
Good Luck, Dollyx
Hi All,
Thought I would update you on my acid reflux problem.
After following drs. orders and taking 2 omeprazole (20 mg.) a day, plus the Tums when necessary, I finally got it under control after a month. Was feeling great. Then because I wanted to save money (cheapo that I am), I decided to try the Prevacid again (since I just spent $50 on it before the dr. switched me.) Well, within three days, I was miserable again! Went right back to the regimen my dr. suggested and I am feeling great again. I actually feel better than I have in years and I don't know if the acid reflux was causing more problems than I thought or it is springtime and it is a coincidence.
Anyway, now I am stuck with about 120 30 mg. Prevacid pills I'll never use!!! Murphy's Law :)
Liz D.
I was just switched to Kapidex and am having better luck with it than the Prilosec.
Anna
Liz,
I was on Prevacid in the beginning of my GERD problems but never could get any where with it. The problem kept getting worse, so my GI changed me to Nexium and I haven't had any problems since.
It might be that the Prevacid doesn't agree with your body chemistry.
Good luck with the new med, I hope it helps you real quick.
Hugs, Pooh
I'm having Gerd problems again too.I was on Nexium and yes decided to save money by taking OTC Omeprasole.It wasn't working acid keeps coming back up.I see the Dr. sat. and can't wait to go back to Nexium.The other brands never worked for me.If I had a stomach flu he added Protonex and that would work.
Ruby
Ihad endoscope two weeks ago,, no big deal,, your knocked out for about 15 minutes,, then your done,, mine showed up Barretts esophoghitis,, what ever the heck that is, to tired tolook up stuff anymore,, next dat went back to work,, nice think about bring knoecked out,, the rest of the day you forget about the pain your in constantly,, that seems to be the norm here,, call a doctor,, they want to call in a pain pill,, I could get these people tooder me heroin if I tried hard enough,, SIGH
Hi Liz:
I've had an endoscopy as well, which showed irritation. No one had connected my terrible nausea to reflux before that. I commenced with the burning feeling later. Still have the nausea, too.
i take one or two of generic Prilosec a day, and Pepcid AC before my evening meal. Taking some Gaviscon after your meal, and especially before going to bed, can help make a barrier to keep acid from backing up. It's best not to eat anything several hours before bedtime if you can do it.
Chamomile tea is supposed to relieve heartburn to some degree.
Navydad, you will probably have to aggressively treat the reflux. My friend has Barrett's, and must take 4 Prilosec a day to keep things under control.
Sheila
I've been reading this post with interest. At the moment - and for the past 3 weeks, I've been having pain in the back of my right shoulder. Sometimes in the past, the pain has gone right across my back. I know it's acid, and I had a breath test a few years ago, which was negative for the bacteria.
In the past I have taken Lanzaprazole, which has helped the acid symptoms, however, I find that it dries my mouth up terribly, to the extent that I have trouble keeping my dentures in >:( Most days I now take Gaviscon, or those powedery chalky tablets., but they don't work like the lanzaprazole, so the pain comes back.
I'm considering a call to the GP tomorrow, but wondered, does anyone else have the same problem with Lanzaprazole?
Thanks
Kathyx
Kathyx,
Yes, I have a lot of problems with acid reflux since the Sjogrens diagnosis. I, too, noticed a terrible drying out of my mouth with Prevacid. Interestingly, I was put on Kapidex about 5 weeks ago, and it has the same chemical properties as Prevacid but it has not dried my mouth anymore than usual. Ummm, don't know why????? Do you have access to trying different meds? Prilosec did not dry my mouth like Prevacid and it comes in a generic so you may want to try.
Anna
Hi Kathyx,
I am about at my wit's end. I am the person who originally started this thread. I was on Prilosec for two months and on June 10th I wrote how great I was feeling. Well, that lasted for only 9 days. On June 19th, the pain started up again. I was away for the weekend thinking it was just because I was eating out, but it is now the 29th and my stomach is still on fire!
I called my doctor on the 24th of June when I got home and found out she is on vaca until July 6. The on-call doctor put me on Protonix now twice a day for two weeks. Then if it has not calmed down, call my doctor who will be back by then and schedule an endoscopy. I know it has only been 5 days on the Protonix, but I am not getting any better. I am at the point of tears. Totally frustrated and am just wondering if I should be more patient. I am beginning to think I have the h.pylori bacteria and need antibiotics. I don't know what else to do since my doctor will not be back until next Monday.
I have even stopped all my NSAIDs which is not helping my joint pain at all. Any suggestions?
Liz D.
Liz,
When reflux get flared up, it can be very difficult to treat. I know this personally. I've tried Nexium, Prilosec, Prevacid, Protonix and now Kapidex. Protonix did nothing for me and gave me a terrible headache. Don't give up and definitely get the endoscopy.
Anna
Thanks Anna. I can't give up. Woke up a tiny bit better this morning, but don't plan on eating much for fear of starting it up again. I am having a cup of ginger tea right now. Supposed to be good for stomach. The endoscope is looking like it is going to be a must have!
Kathyx, did you have think you may have gallbladder problems? I have read in all my reflux research that if the pain goes into the back, it could be your gallbladder. Hope you can get help, too. Also, Prevacid never dried me out. It worked great for five years. All of a sudden, it just stopped working!!
Liz D.
Hi Liz
I'm sorry to hear you are still struggling. I really don't know what to suggest to help you, but the scope sounds like the way to go. Hang in there. I'm be sending you positive vibes.
Today I saw the GP, who examined me thoroughly and asked lots of quetions (he's new to the practice). I was surprised when he concluded that the pain behind my shoulder is muscular-skeletal - I shouldn't have been, as I have arthritis just about everywhere and a few years ago I actually cracked a rib, so it could well be arthritis. I'm going to stick with the Celebrex and up the paracetamol. If it's no better in a month, he will order an xray.
We also came to the conclusion that the pain where my right shoulder fastens to my arm is rotator cuff damage from my incident with the car and the skip ::) so that should get better soon.
Anyway, I will see how things go, and getback tohim if I need to.
Kathyx
I have had GERD off and on for many years and now know it was from the sjogrens and not my asthma like my doc told me.
Anyway, I was on just about all the meds at one time or another. I ended up on high dose of Prevacid for several years and always seemed to be fighting with a gut ache by the end of the day. Finally a new doc changed me to omeprazole(Prilosec) 20 mgm am and 20 at bedtime. It was some better but I decided to do the 40 at bedtime (which is still a therapeutic dose as per pharmacist and my nurses drug handbook plus I let my doc know a few weeks later) and I have much better relief.
Also, I have had 2 endoscopies of esophagus plus 2 dilatations of esophagus and it really is not a very big deal. They just put you to sleep with light IV anesthesia and it doesn't take long at al between admit and discharge. I had a very pink esophagus the last time. Doc had put me on Protonix and I got the worst gut ache from that plus felt like it was decreasing the peristalsis in my esophagus, stomach and colon. I quit the drug after a week and I improved rapidly.
It really is important to keep track of the GERD because of the possibility of getting the precancerous cells in the esophagus from the constant irritation from the gastric juice. When I have the break though GERD I just take a couple teaspoons of liguid antacid and it really helps. Good luck Irish ;D
I take Kapidex and it has helped so much more than any of the other meds I tried. If I do have break thru GERD, I take a 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda in 4ounces of water. Have any of you tried using the baking soda?
Anna
Thanks, Irish, for your input!! And Anna, I have tried the baking soda before. It certainly makes you belch which makes you feel better for a few seconds, but then the pain just builds up again. I have found that happening to me no matter what I take.
I have been on a very soft diet now for a couple of days, plus taking the meds, and I am praying it is starting to calm down. I am trying to eat slow and chew a lot. I have also been drinking some ginger herb tea. That has been excellent. My husband and I are going away for the weekend so here is hoping I can keep the acid to a minimum.
All your responses have been so helpful!!! Thank you.
Liz D.