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Acid reflux and having to come off my PPI

9 replies

cheezncrackers · 22/03/2025 18:21

I've suffered with acid reflux for about five years. It came on suddenly and I kept feeling like I was going to vomit, so I went to the GP. He tested me for H.Pylori (neg) and then put me on 30mg lansoprazole. It worked a dream initially and maybe due to the pandemic, or possibly just because no one checked, but I was left on this drug until now and never questioned it (two other members of my family are also on it long-term, so I assumed it was safe).

Recently though there have been quite a few articles in the press about how you shouldn't be left on this drug long-term, so I went to see (another) GP to discuss it and she said I need to wean myself off it. She said I can do it gradually, but the real problem is that I'm getting days of really bad acid indigestion again now, even while I'm on the drug, and I've read that when you stop taking it the proton pumps in your stomach go into overdrive and create even more acid than usual. This really worries me as it's already pretty bad and I'm starting a new job soon, but I accept I need to do it.

So if you weaned yourself off a PPI, how did you go about it and what strategies did you employ? I've been googling dietary changes and am resigned to having to give up many of the things I love to eat and drink, including caffeinated tea and coffee, white wine, anything fizzy, tomatoes and citrus fruits.

OP posts:
Foxgloverr · 22/03/2025 18:36

You can try taking famotidine. It's an H2 histamine blocker so works differently. It's less strong than PPIs so can bridge coming off them.

Foxgloverr · 22/03/2025 18:37

The other option is taking Gaviscon Advance. There are no health concerns about being on this long term.

cheezncrackers · 22/03/2025 18:43

Thanks @Foxgloverr . I already take Gaviscon Advance and even on lansoprazole I'm getting through a large bottle a week. I might ask my GP if I can take a bridging medication. I was on ranitidine for two months before my H. Pylori test and that helped a bit, it was certainly better than not being on anything.

OP posts:
Mustardfan · 23/03/2025 11:00

There’s a really good book called the Acid Watcher Diet by Dr. Johnathon Aviv, he describes a diet (and other lifestyle changes) to follow. I believe it stopped my acid reflux.

glitterturd · 23/03/2025 23:46

Ranitidine was withdrawn a few years ago.

Ladyymuck · 24/03/2025 07:00

I also get very bad acid reflux. I did get prescribed lansoprazole but am not great taking meds so ended up just watching what I eat, getting to know what causes my acid reflux and avoiding these foods. If I do eat something that causes acid reflux I’ll take nexium for a day or 2. Way back I also got tested for H pylori too but can’t remember if it was positive or negative.

Theunamedcat · 24/03/2025 07:03

The rebound effect! Joyous isn't it ds has been on omaprazole for three years we can't even cut down his dosage because of this and stress put him right back in hospital the last time

DarkersideoftheMoon · 24/03/2025 07:12

Have you tilted your bed? I find that helps a lot.we use blocks from Argos (meant to lift the height of chairs for people struggling with mobility. Soon got used to it - doesn’t even feel like the bed is titled anymore.
Are you careful not to eat 3 hours before you go to bed? Even on PPI, I need to be strict with this.

I’m on the same dosage but will be on PPIs for life as m, along with hiatus hernia and reflex, I also had painful, bleeding patches of stomach ulcers not caused by H pylori and even on the PPI, the underlying gastritis is bad. I know there are a risk of side effects but I would likely be dead from perforated stomach ulcer without it.

TiredArse · 24/03/2025 07:22

cheezncrackers · 22/03/2025 18:43

Thanks @Foxgloverr . I already take Gaviscon Advance and even on lansoprazole I'm getting through a large bottle a week. I might ask my GP if I can take a bridging medication. I was on ranitidine for two months before my H. Pylori test and that helped a bit, it was certainly better than not being on anything.

Did you have a gap of no meds before the test? Meds can affect the results and give a false negative.

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