Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) Medication Side Effects

L-Dog

L-Dog

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Hey Guys

So I have small hernia in my stomach that causes heart burn. Doctor said operational is option but not necessary and prescribed topzole for my heart burn (This was a good 5 years ago). I recent went for a general check up and the new doctor warned me about side effects and that PPI medication gives a higher chance of Alzheimers. Game plan is to slowly move of Topzole and the drink Gaviscon daily (doctor says its safer although not as effective) Curious if anyone else is on PPI's and what their doctor said ?

Thanks
 
L-Dog said:
Hey Guys

So I have small hernia in my stomach that causes heart burn. Doctor said operational is option but not necessary and prescribed topzole for my heart burn (This was a good 5 years ago). I recent went for a general check up and the new doctor warned me about side effects and that PPI medication gives a higher chance of Alzheimers. Game plan is to slowly move of Topzole and the drink Gaviscon daily (doctor says its safer although not as effective) Curious if anyone else is on PPI's and what their doctor said ?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Used to be, but not for that long.

My GP (the one I saw only after I had the op to fix it) suffered from heartburn from childhood. He said he wouldn't get the op. He has been on every kind of PPI and found one that worked for him.
The surgeon that did my op said that PP isn't good for you long term. Obviously it does affect nutrient absorption as it reduces the acidity of the stomach acids.
This was after I had gastritis and went back to him thinking I injured myself and got the hernia again.

He didn't say anything about gaviscon that I remember.

I got the op and I'm glad I did. Maybe I could have gone without it if I fixed my gastritis, since it was that together with hernia that caused my heartburn.
Talking to a surgeon about what can go wrong when the op is a fkup.... scary stuff as well.

If you go for the op, go to one of the surgeons who specialises in the procedure.
 
L-Dog said:
Hey Guys

So I have small hernia in my stomach that causes heart burn. Doctor said operational is option but not necessary and prescribed topzole for my heart burn (This was a good 5 years ago). I recent went for a general check up and the new doctor warned me about side effects and that PPI medication gives a higher chance of Alzheimers. Game plan is to slowly move of Topzole and the drink Gaviscon daily (doctor says its safer although not as effective) Curious if anyone else is on PPI's and what their doctor said ?

Thanks
Click to expand...
Gaviscon has its own side effects. Have you tried changing your sleep position?
 
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I take half a 40mg Trustan daily, works for me but everyone also says its so bad for you. I stop taking it from time to time but then my issues come back.
 
Been on PPI (40mg nexiam a day) for 18 years, I would have cancer without it so I'm not stopping any time soon. Go for gastroscopies every few years to check all is ok, and do blood tests once a year to check kidney function etc. All good for me.
 
I also have a small hernia and gastritis. Surgeon and Doctors recommended I take meds rather than surgery as surgery doesn't have a high success rate and terrible side effects. They only really recommend surgery if the hernia is huge.

Trustan 20mg seems to do the trick for me (been on it for maybe 6 months). At the last consult I specifically asked the GP about side affects and he said only really super long term and its inconclusive. He did recommend I try to cut back to every 2nd day so there must be something to it.

The problem is that Trustan works quite well and now I am not eating and drinking well (for a person with GERD) and living my best life. If I am to cut back on Trustan I am going to need to put in the effort.

On another note the gastritis started days after taking the j&j covid vaccine. Another forumite also mentioned this. #justsaying.
 
Brawler said:
as surgery doesn't have a high success rate and terrible side effects. They only really recommend surgery if the hernia is huge.
Click to expand...

I'm not going to contradict your GP, but my side effects are pretty much non-existent. I'm not supposed to puke (although the surgeon doesn't seem overly concerned about it), and I shouldn't lift heavy things. The time I though I damaged my wrap was when I lifted a trailer that was too heavy for me to lift alone. I really strained to lift it. Got a checkup afterwards and everything is fine.

If the surgeon that does the op specializes in this specific op, then I suppose the success rate is a lot higher. The guy I went to pretty much does this and gastric bypasses, and I doubt he would get as many referrals if he screwed a large percentage of them up.
The worst case for a screw-up does sound life altering though...
 
Spoke to another doctor acquittance, there are basically 4 risk factors for the average joe:

1. Magnesium is low (drink slowmag)
2. Osteoporosis (Mainly effects women)
3. Clostridium difficile infection - You get bad diarrhoea and if unchecked you can die, not really a big risk if you use common sense and go to the doctor if things go wrong
4. Dementia - Biggest risk especially if it runs in your family although research is not 100% conclusive

In summary only no..4 is a real risk and advice was to move slowly of PPI and replace it with Gaviscon which is safer and then reevaluate in 3 months, pretty much the same as the GP told me.
 
I had terrible heartburn and gastritis for years due to bad tap water in India. What cured me eventually was a low-dose of opiates and relaxants like codiene/meprobamate/tramadol daily. Just don't turn into a junkie and start increasing your dose. It slowed/clamed down my stomach a lot.

Not sayin' it will work for you, but worth a shot. At the very least it will take your mind off your probs.
 
Was on ppi for 10 years with no side effects. Went for the operation about 5 years ago but that comes with its own positives and negatives.
 
Hernia for about 10yrs. Tried everything under the sun except for surgery theres just too many things that can go wrong so I wont do it.

Used lansoprozole lansoloc otc 15mg for 7yrs now, its the only one that works well for me. I take 2 -3 per week to lower acid whenever i feel the heartburn. Its better not to take them everyday as you want some sort of acid in your stomach.

Long term effects that Ive noticed: Lower concentration span which is probably related to B12 absorption.
Fatigue
I have a history of ulcers but its probably genetic and not related to the meds as Ive had scopes and tests.

Most important: Change your diet and find the trigger foods to avoid them.
Quit alcohol and nicotine
Eat smaller more frequent meals
dont eat late
dont wear tight pants or cramp stomach
Sleep on left side
dont lift heavy your hernia will expand and force surgery upon you.

The condition can be managed.
 
zubheir said:
Most important: Change your diet and find the trigger foods to avoid them.
Quit alcohol and nicotine
Eat smaller more frequent meals
dont eat late
dont wear tight pants or cramp stomach
Sleep on left side
dont lift heavy your hernia will expand and force surgery upon you.

The condition can be managed.
Click to expand...

After struggling for many years and thinking I'm having a heart attack every few days because of the symptoms, I was diagnosed with a gastric inlet patch. I'm using Pantocid 40mg every day and it works incredibly well. I blame it for my diksakilitis. :P

Can't agree more on the things @zubheir listed. Especially the don't wear tight pants or cramp stomach tip, makes a world of difference!

Good luck!
 
L-Dog said:
... replace it with Gaviscon which is safer and then reevaluate in 3 months...
Click to expand...

I've tried all of them, and Gaviscon is by far the most useless. Literally every other brand sold in SA works better, but Gelacid is the best/most commonly found.

What also sucks is that we used to have an even better generic version that was sold for R23 or so, but then it disappeared off the shelves and 6 or months later all the branded ones started costing R60-90.
 
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