Lansoprazole experiences

[maeve84]

Hello! I’m just wondering how good people have found lansoprazole for acid reflux? My GP recently switched me from omeprazole after I saw her about a persistent tickly throat. The throat symptoms have not improved after 2 weeks of lansoprazole and additionally I’ve had 3 attacks of heartburn which I have very rarely suffered with before. I’ve also been having back and chest discomfort which comes and goes, this could be anxiety because I’ve got myself utterly convinced that I have cancer of the esophagus.

I've had both, as well as esomeprazole. I find Lansoprazole works best for me but gives the worst side effects- pain in my stomach and back, which comes on towards the end of the course and disappears when I stop taking it. I don't find esomeprazole works very well at all for me.
As for the endoscopy, I've had a few without sedation (my choice), just numbed and it wasn't too bad at all, much better than I imagined. My DH had one under sedation and doesn't remember anything.

@Moveyourbleedingarsejust looked up the policy documents and I don’t think I’ll be able to use the private as we are on a 2 year moritorium where by they will check medical history of any claims for the 1st two years of cover. And obviously I have acid reflux on my medical record - how annoying. Every other company he’s worked for has always had medical history disregarded

Interesting to read everyone’s experiences. I feel this is going to be a long wait for my appointment

It feels like the lansoprazole has caused the heartburn. I didn’t have that symptom before starting it. At least not very often. And now for the last 2 days I’ve had heartburn more often than I haven’t had it.

OP same as me. I never had 'active reflux' until I took a PPI. They have caused significantly more issues than they caused. I literally never had acid coming into my chest until I took a PPI

My GP did tell me to use gaviscon advance instead as I couldn't tolerate the cramps and nausea that PPIs gave me.
Is that an option OP?

Longterm ppi’s gave me kidney stones and osteoporosis. Be very cautious with them.
Obviously sometimes the use is unavoidable but weigh up risk vs benefit.

Yes I could do that. I have terrible memories of it from pregnancy but I’m sure I could get over it if it means not feeling like this anymore. I’m scared to eat at all in case it causes a flare up.

I’m so annoyed about the insurance. Can only hope the nhs appointment isn’t as slow as suggested. I wonder if it’s worth calling and asking to be put on a cancellation list at all…

@maeve84 have you tried calling them to ask rather than relying on the T&C?

I haven’t, it’s on my list to do today. I suspect they say they need my medical history from the GP and won’t be able to tell me for sure until that’s been to their underwriters

@maeve84 thats very unusual. My insurer just says yes or no and does a referral!
Does your insurer have a GP? They can do a referral too.

I've been on PPIs for almost 6 years, firstly Omeprazole which I took for around 5 years then Lansoprazole when the Omeprazole stopped being effective.

Like others, I started off not having to use it all the time and then it became everyday with an increasing dose as it stopped being so effective.

I've had two endoscopies under sedation and honestly they aren't anything to be concerned about. On the second one last year I don't even recall the tube being put into my mouth!

Following this second one I was referred to a surgeon for further investigation (because I have private healthcare - the GP was even more useless than usual!). He recommended https://www.iqoro.com/ and some further tests but actually I really feel like the iqoro is working and have been using it religiously (well, mostly) for a few months and have been able to reduce the use of the PPIs with a plan to hopefully stop completely in another month or so.

I've also removed things like citrus from my diet but not all alcohol and caffeine (because life still needs to have some good stuff in it!). Don't get me wrong, I still have some reflux but it's manageable with Gaviscon rather than the PPIs GPs like to hand out like sweets.

The iqoro is available on NHS prescription but because mine was suggested privately (thanks useless GP), I had to pay £150 but I actually think it's been worth every penny. Definitely recommend taking a look at the website and then asking your GP if they'll prescribe one. I don't understand why this isn't their first suggestion rather than just shoving drugs and their associated side effects at patients.

@Moveyourbleedingarsei used to work in insurance and am only going from how moratoriums worked when I was there… maybe it’s worth a try just to see what happens… if I have have both an NHS referral and a private one going at the same time?

Had LPR diagnosed many years ago, consultant advised gaviscon advanced, omeprazole and some nasal spray which I can’t remember what it was. Only symptom I get on a regular basis is the cough( every day) Can’t say the medication made any difference, GP stopped prescribing it years ago. I do now take lansoprazole, due to taking naproxen, no problems with it, but it also does nothing for the cough

Thank you @Monkeysocks38, I will take a look at this. I said right at the start don’t we need to find out why I’ve suddenly got worse reflux and she said ‘only if it doesn’t respond to PPIs’

@maeve84 OK, I've never had an issue with Bupa and AXA, def recommend asking them.

I bought an iqoro but keep forgetting to use it, it's a £150 handbag decoration!

I've also started humming in the car as this can help tighten the same muscles.

I refuse point blank to change my diet. I was fine a year ago and I'm not removing citrus, alcohol, decaf coffee or dark chocolate.

If i have full caffeine coffee I know about it though. But oranges and tomatoes don't make a difference.

I've been on Lanzoprazole for about 6 years and in my last meds review queried this as I had read some of the scare stories about it. Previously had been on Ranitidine which was taken off the market and Omeprazole. We are now reducing it to the 15 instead of 30 to see how it goes. I know my limits - don't eat too much after 6pm, don't eat chocolate after 4pm and basically don't overeat! I've had 3 or 4 endoscopies on the NHS and I cannot praise their procedures highly enough. All staff wonderful, no memory of the procedure and excellent detailed reporting. I manage it by sleeping partially upright, watching food as I said previously and keeping peptobismol to hand in case for the night. I also keep some milk handy. I had my gall bladder out years ago which doesn't help with digestion and then I've had a bile duct stone which was agony and had to be removed. @maeve84 tell the doctor about your cancer fears. I find they respond quite well to these anxieties. I even asked for a repeat endoscopy to check on what they had seen before and they did do resulting in seeing a better result than previously where areas had healed over.

I keep my iqoro in the bathroom next to my toothbrush so I mostly remember to use it every morning and evening. It does suggest three times a day but as the surgeon pointed out, remembering to do it twice a day is better than forgetting to do it three times a day.

Quite right!

I have just done it now, going to make a concerted effort.

Do you feel lightheaded after holding your breath? I feel like I'm going to pass out each time. Its the breath holding rather than the pulling.

I do think there's something in it though, I have vaginal prolapses so high chance I've also got HH.

@maeve84 i had an endoscopy late last year for potential reflux problems. They sprayed my throat which tasted vile. Won't lie to you it was horrible. They gave me the anaesthetic and next thing I knew I was in recovery having a cuppa. Felt very tired the next day but no after effects.

It tastes like banana 😂

@sequinpanties no idea what mine tasted of 🤣🤣🤣 just very bitter 😔

Well done! 🎉

I don't get lightheaded but I am only holding my breath for 10 seconds (3 times with a short rest in between).

I do have a HH although only small. Apparently this won't fix the actual HH but it will strengthen the esophagus enough that it can push down the contents that would otherwise move up into the diaphragm from the hernia.

@Monkeysocks38 yes I get lightheaded holding my breath for 10secs!

Thanks for the praise 😊🙌

Some hospitals now use a much thinner camera. A nurse referred to it as a spaghetti endoscope. It goes via your nose and down your throat. That might not seem better but having had both, I found the spaghetti type way better. I would definitely ask if they have that any hospitals in your area and ask to be referred for that.

But hopefully you will get your problem resolved without needing and endoscopy at all.

@Moveyourbleedingarseive started the ball rolling with vitality. They’ve said they need a self declaration completing in which the GP must include any related history. I’m doubtful they’ll take the claim on, but we’ll see.
I can hum in the car! I should get one of those devices, I cant afford to buy one though so I’ll have to ask my GP. Assume they’re quite pricey for the nhs too though so she may be reluctant…
I really don’t want to cut all those things out my diet either, like you I was fine with them until the last few weeks!

@sequinpantiesthank you for the reassurance about the endoscopy. I had ranitidine when pregnant I think, what happened to it?!
I don’t see to have identified any triggers yet which is frustrating, if I did then at least I’d be prepared!

@shellyleppardthank you. I’ve been sedated before for another (far more invasive procedure) and it was similar to your experience. I really don’t know why this worries me so much.

@Lurkingandlearningthanks for this, would be amazing if I got this but I’m going to just have to go with my most local hospital for childcare reasons… so let’s just hope they have it!