Omeprazole

[mrsmobbs]

Hi have been taking omeprazole for over 3 years now, cannot cope without it due to excess bile in my stomach, lately been having really uncomfortable stomach pains in left hand side and my poo habits have changed, so really worried, but doctor said omeprazole can have this affect so I either have to live with it or come off medication which trust me I have tried. Anyone else with this problem or is it just me

Thanks

Can you ask your Dr to change to a different drug?

I have been on all the ones for stomach bile and this is the only one that works, apparently I have a leaky something or other and had to have a camera down my throat and it showed all the bile just lying there, not pleasant. I wish there was something else because it worries me being on these tablets for the rest of my life.

That's a shame. I guess you need to decide what symptoms you are prepared to live with, either the original symptoms or the side effects of the medication

Hopefully someone else will come along with a better answer than mine

Has your doctor checked the stomach pains and changed poo habits, or is he/she just assuming its the omeprazole?

I wouldn't want them assuming, personally...

That aside, if it does turn out to be the omeprazole, it sounds like a difficult compromise. Are the effects harmful in the long term, or just 'uncomfortable'? I am also on omeprazole (used to take Zantac at night, for hiatus hernia=hearburn, but wasn't working so well anymore).

Going to see GP again tomorrow as he said to go back if symptons still there, so am pressing ahead for more reassurance that it is nothing else.

Omeprazole are safe long term according to my doc, but some sites say that there are adverse effects, like most pills I suppose. But the heartburn is so bad I would rather have the odd pain elsewhere, what a compromise! but a necessary one for me anyway.

I have just read today that long term use can cause lack of magnesium which in turn causes aches and pains, so am off to get a supplement to see if that helps, will keep you posted.

Have you tried all the other -prazoles? There are several e.g esomeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole or has the GP had you trying different drug classes?

Hi have tried esomeprazole and lansopazole but not last one, do you know what the difference is with the pantoprazole? as I just thought there were 3 but willing to try anything that stops the side effects. Thanks

They are all different formulations - Ask your GP to make sure you have tried them all, and give them chance to work at the healing dose initially (a higher dose for a short amount of time) and then you should be dropped to a lower maintenance dose if possible. They are all proton pump inhibitors if you want to search online. Baby brain means I know which website I should suggest but can't remember for the life of me what it's called! I'll repost when I do! Sorry!