Alternatives to Omeprazole
Discussion
Hi,
I had a course of Omeprazole about 18 months ago to control really bad acid reflux, the medicine worked well and things settled. I stopped taking it and things have been good for the last 16 months until a recent flare up so I've got another prescription and I'm 5 days in. I now remember why I stopped taking them the last time around - terrible dreams and splitting headaches - which in some ways are worse than the reflux.
Looking online it seems that drugs like Omeprazole are the most commonly prescribed for this condition, just wonder if anyone has any natural coping strategies for reflux?
TIA
I had a course of Omeprazole about 18 months ago to control really bad acid reflux, the medicine worked well and things settled. I stopped taking it and things have been good for the last 16 months until a recent flare up so I've got another prescription and I'm 5 days in. I now remember why I stopped taking them the last time around - terrible dreams and splitting headaches - which in some ways are worse than the reflux.
Looking online it seems that drugs like Omeprazole are the most commonly prescribed for this condition, just wonder if anyone has any natural coping strategies for reflux?
TIA
Lansoprazole is another common protein pump inhibitor.
You could try taking a spoonful of Gaviscon before you go to bed. That sometimes works for me.
Also, try sleeping with your head and top half a bit higher.
You may have a hiatus hernia, so could be worth getting it checked (mind you, there's not much they can do unless it's really serious).
Also, avoid spicy food and limit alcohol until things settle down.
You could try taking a spoonful of Gaviscon before you go to bed. That sometimes works for me.
Also, try sleeping with your head and top half a bit higher.
You may have a hiatus hernia, so could be worth getting it checked (mind you, there's not much they can do unless it's really serious).
Also, avoid spicy food and limit alcohol until things settle down.
Omeprazole is known to have a number of unpleasant side effects. It reduce my kidney function from 72% to 15% & I spent 5 days in hospital. Only recovered to 42%.
The kidney consultant told me he hates that medication & I was the 3rd patient in 6 months he had seen in that hospital with the same problem.
The kidney consultant told me he hates that medication & I was the 3rd patient in 6 months he had seen in that hospital with the same problem.
mcelliott said:
As mentioned gaviscone can be very effective, apple cider vinegar and liquorice work very well, and reducing stress of coarse!
A small amount of liquorice in the late evening helped me as did reducing alcohol intake from 12-15 units (mainly at the weekends) a week to 2-3.Gaviscon is great and there is a generic non brand version in lots of pharmacies which is the same just cheaper.
As others have said lanzaprazole is good too. I had h pylori so may be worth asking for that test. Once I'd had the antibiotics to get rid of that I very rarely require omeprazole.
As others have said lanzaprazole is good too. I had h pylori so may be worth asking for that test. Once I'd had the antibiotics to get rid of that I very rarely require omeprazole.
Thanks everyone - this has been really helpful.
Another terrible night's sleep last night so I need to do something.
Will pick up some gaviscon and take a daily dose of that instead to see if sleep improves and the headache goes away - hopefully stomach behaves itself.
If that fails I'll be back to the GP.
It's terrible getting old :-)
Another terrible night's sleep last night so I need to do something.
Will pick up some gaviscon and take a daily dose of that instead to see if sleep improves and the headache goes away - hopefully stomach behaves itself.
If that fails I'll be back to the GP.
It's terrible getting old :-)
I was given Omeprazole, had stop half way through as it made my anger something else.
Initially a change in my diet helped sometimes (cut out shop bought bread & derivatives, fresh apples) but rantinidine (sp) worked really well.
Dropped some weight, and even though I have put the weight back on I don't have the heart burn.
Now I just need to get rid of the weight again for my knees & everything else!
Initially a change in my diet helped sometimes (cut out shop bought bread & derivatives, fresh apples) but rantinidine (sp) worked really well.
Dropped some weight, and even though I have put the weight back on I don't have the heart burn.
Now I just need to get rid of the weight again for my knees & everything else!
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