Prilosec and ppi's

[Tivia]

So many of us gave GERD it just seems to walk hand and hand with AI's..heck maybe it is a form of AI who knows. But my question of the day is what do you take and does it dry you out more? I take Prilosec and I can honestly say when I was on 80mg a day it seemed like my eyes were the worst. I am down to 20mg a day eyes are great mouth is dryer but that may be the sjs advancing. I have read that the PPI's can cause dry mouth and eyes. I am thinking of going to 20mg every other day then taper as much as I can to see if anything improves.

[iraisin]

I am on Pantopryzole (prescription). I am dry anyway so don't really know if it makes it worse or not. Just know that I have to choose between bad and worse, so I chose bad.

Another really good one, if your insurance covers it, is Dexilant. I would like to be on that one, but my insurance won't pay for it.

If I don't turn off the acid it eats holes in my belly and intestines as my mucus lining is in very poor shape.

Good luck.

[Lesley_x]

I'm on omeprazole 20mg per day, increasing to 40mg if symptomatic. Have never noticed it to be drying at all.

[Ark mom]

I do very well on dexilant.  I tried taking OTC omeprazole in the morning and OTC ranitidine at night, per my gastroenterologist instructions, but every time I go up on my prednisone for a flare, the reflux gets bad again.  So, during those times I switch to dexilant.  When I take that, I am asymptomatic taking it every other day.  None of the drugs seem to affect my dryness at all.

[ohiolady]

I have literally tried all the PPI's and Dexilant is the most effective and the least drying.  I noticed worsening of my dryness with all the others.

Anna

[MaryBee7]

I'm a GERDy too.  And guess what?  One of my Beagle Sisters now has it and is on Doggie Gerd Pills.   

[susanep]

I'm on omeprazole 20mg per day. I use to take Nexium.

susanep

[CMNK12]

nexium is the best.... get samples because it is soooo expensive. It will cure a belly issue. CK

[Tivia]

I thought about trying nexium, but I get afraid it wont work well for my terrible gerd, it dont help I have to take 4 creon at every meal because my pancreas is working to digest and absorb nutrients and fats. So keeping my acid low is also making it hard to digest

[Christine435]

Just diagnosed with severe GERD and esophageal motility disorder. Prilosec did nothing for me (even at 80mg/day), Protonix helped a little and Nexium seems to be helping the most now as well as other measures i.e. raising head of bed on blocks,etc.

MaryBee- My dog was newly diagnosed with GERD last month, same month as me, and is on Zantac. True story. LOL.

[Violet4]

I was on Prilosec for a while.  Then I got even more sick.  Through trial and error and reading, I decided to try the opposite approach.  I had nothing to lose and I was cautious at first.  I took a supplement to increase my stomach acid.  BINGO!  Everything was backing up and causing problems because I couldn't digest my food.  I had to take several pills at each meal to start with and now I hardly ever take it.  My system works pretty smoothly now, very little gas and no pain.  I stick to a gluten free diet and stay away from things that are really hard to digest (peanuts, cabbage, etc.).  I also take a pancreatic enzyme supplement occasionally.  I still take papaya enzyme at almost every meal and I really like that one.  Oh, and aloe vera juice really helped heal my system too.  I have gastritis too and that can be pretty awful.

[gurs]

I would be very cautious about taking so much of the PPI's...my Gi doc kept wanting me to take higher doses, and bingo, when I did, it didnt help and I notice my one-a-day did the same thing? Alot of us have motility issues, and this stuff really wont help much. Yes, you need some stomach acid to break down the food as well??? Plus, the fact they contribute these to bone loss.

Prilosec did nothing for me...Prevacid seems to work the best, and I have to pay out of pocket because insurance wont cover...I buy
the name brand over-the-counter 15Mg and take 1 a day. I was reading about the generics and most contain alot of fillers I dont like..
Like artifical sweetners that can upset your tummy even more..be careful. I also stay away from dairy and chocolate, and potato chips (if I can) because this really aggravates the acid. Also, not eating at least 3 hours before bedtime is a must. Im also finding alot of my medications, like my bio-estrogen really makes my acid bad...hard to win at this?

I know several people who also tried Nexium with huge stomach issues afterwards and could not tolerate it.

I also take tons of digestive enzymes...Source Naturals makes a good digestive enzyme.

Gursie

[MaryBee7]

This is my topic for the month...or is it two...        I am so sick, y'all, with this....do you know the feeling of the belly being almost too sore to walk...?    I am so glad it is only 4 days till my GI appointment.  So I've been on ranatidine...sp?  and obviously it doesn't help the GERD much and doesn't touch anything else below that.  I've been eating TUMS for about a month on top of a probiotic pearl and greek yogurt.  Will ask doc about some of what you've mentioned for GERD as mine is definitely getting worse.

[slccom]

Prilosec did nothing for me...Prevacid seems to work the best, and I have to pay out of pocket because insurance wont cover...I buy
the name brand over-the-counter 15Mg and take 1 a day. I was reading about the generics and most contain alot of fillers I dont like..


Gursie

Have your doctor tell the insurance company that you've tried what they cover and ask them to cover Prevacid.
It might work.
Sharon

[gurs]

I tried that Sharon...they will cover it....at a much higher price than what I pay for name brand-over the counter??? crazy isnt it?

thanks for the suggestion...

Gursie