Anybody take/taken omeprazole for acid reflux?

[permaquandry]

If yes, how long does it take to work and what were your symptoms of acid reflux?

Thanks v much.

[Ghostsdonttalk]

Yes it should work quite quickly as in 3-4 hrs. My reflux is mainly bitter tasting stuff (stomach acid) coming back up you throat when you burp.

If you have had reflux for sometime the acid may have burnt your osephagus and it will take longer to feel that its working as you need to heal.

[MrsPinotGrigio]

I take this every day. It took a few days to work when I first started taking it but it made a massive difference when it did start to work. My symptoms were mainly an acid taste & heartburn although I did vomit sometimes if it as really bad. Hope you feel better soon.

[dottyhenson]

I am taking this occasionally at the minute. I don't really have acid reflux as such, but irritated my stomach lining a few years ago through dieting/ excessive use of pain killers for a bad back & stress of being back at work full time with 3 small children! It was very painful at the time, occasionally if I'm stressed ( recent promotion) & not eating enough I experience a weird pain in my upper stomach- omeprazole is the only thing that works.

[FunkyBoldRibena]

A couple of hours. Has changed my life!

[giraffesCantMakeResolutions]

took ranitadine until I gave up wheat - no reflux since!

[watfordmummy]

Took it fantastic drug, but was allergic to it, think horrendous rash all over body hope it works for you xx

[permaquandry]

Thanks for the replies. I've had a headache everyday since I started taking them, I'm giving them a break and starting again to see how I am.

I actually think it's something g in my diet that needs to change, are there any major reflux causes?

[DrankSangriaInThePark]

Have you been tested for helicobacter?

I had that, and hence the omeprazole with the antibiotics. Interestingly, I had to have 2 courses of antibiotics because the first lot didn't work, chatting to the GP he said he was very much against what he saw as the automatic (and in his opinion, over) prescribing of omeprazole and other acid inhibitors because stomachs do need acid to chomp-chomp at the food, and so you can find yourself in a vicious circle of sore stomach because of anti-acid drugs.

During my second course of antibiotics and subsequently (because I continued to get acid for a few months) I took peppermint oil capsules daily and Gastrocote tablets from over the counter (far more efficient than any Gaviscon-heavily marketed stuff, and as cheap as chips in comparison, a big tub costs about £8)

[magimedi]

I had acid reflux & took omeprazole for a while and wanted to see if it was something in my diet.

I stopped having a cup of tea (on an empty stomach) first thing in the morning & the reflux went. I tried a cuppa again after a few weeks & back it came. It was hard not to have that early morning but I am now totally used to it & don't miss it at all.

I have a coffee after my breakfast, strong cafetiere & one tea about 4 pm & that's all. (Lots of water drunk, though).

[Reincarnatedpig]

Omeprazole takes at least a day to work. I think it stops the absorption of iron so should only be taken for a month or so. If your symptoms don't import I would ask to go to the gastro clinic at the hospital.

My symptoms were severe pain in upper stomach, nausea, burping and occasional vomiting. I only eat small meals now which controls it. I was offered an operation to help hiatus hernia but don't want it at the moment.

[giraffesCantBoogie]

See if you notice it bad after any specific food. I started to notice it with white bread - then avoided it. Then it became ALL bread and anything with wheat.

[giraffesCantBoogie]

Maybe keep a food diary.

[Orangeanddemons]

Ranitidine gave me terrible headaches, although I didn't get them omeprazole

[WildThong]

reincarnated it stops absorption of iron?! I've been taking it for years and I'm having problems with my hair thinning (Was previously v thick thatch so really noticable). Anyone know what helps iron to be absorbed to counteract this?

[Reincarnatedpig]

Wildthong, is it prescribed by the GP or hospital? I would go and get the underlying problem investigated. There are loads of advances in treatment and that is not necessarily the best one. Eg new surgical techniques for hiatus hernia if that's the problem. DH is prescribed iron tablets for anaemic caused by diabetes medications.

[WildThong]

Repeat prescription from the GP reincarnated

Honestly without it the acid and pain is unbearable and I don't sleep well either.

[mrsblakey]

Hubby now takes this + it's transformed him!!

[nowwearefour]

Ranitidine gave me terrible diarrhea and I need something else!'

[mawbroon]

DS1 was prescribed this for reflux when he was 5yo. On the first consultation, the paed said that he might be on it for life. It helped a bit, but not completely.

Then I read on here about the link with tongue tie and reflux. We got his tongue tie revised and the reflux disappeared overnight and he stopped taking the meds.

I get very annoyed that docs push meds as the only answer.

[AngryFeet]

I took it for a while. My GP said long term use is linked to increased risk of stomach cancer though so I took a look at my diet instead. For me giving up alcohol and smoking stopped it. For DH giving up citrus stopped it.

[Reincarnatedpig]

I weaned myself off it by eating very small meals and avoiding processed food. Honestly I think in the long term it's best to avoid meds. I have hiatus hernia so the problem is still there but at least it is under control now.

[Mitsi10]

Yes I was put on them for a month about a year ago as stomach was producing to much acid which I found out was due to taking aspirin was getting acid reflux heartburn and indigestion a lot now fine and staying away from aspirin from now on

[Mignonette]

Long term use of the higher does of Omeporazole can cause cancerous changes.

We do need that stomach acid.

I was on it because like Dotty I had appalling pain caused by Diclofenac and developed an ulcer. I still have it and after a period of remission i am in pain again. I feel full all the time, have a bolus sensation in my throat and pain in my arm. The pain in my epigastrum is like a rat gnawing its way out.

I am scared I will develop gastric cancer which my Father died from 18 months ago. He had indigestion and pain for decades and didn't insist upon a referral. He wasn't the type of man to listen to us to talk about it and he suffered the consequences.

I find eliminating yeast helps. If I eat toast for breakfast, the next day I awake in pain. I had to do this when pregnant also- bread triggered heartburn.

[WildThong]

is a dosage of 20mg per day high?

[Reincarnatedpig]

I don't think it's high but my GP would not prescribe in the long term because she thought I should find the underlying cause. To be honest I found the hospital doctor very helpful with her general advice and options. I think excess acid is a symptom of some other problem. So unless it is a side effect of another med for example, I would get it checked out. My grandmother died from a stomach tumour; and my great grandfather from bowel cancer.