how do you wean yourself from ppi medication?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Richard395
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I have had to stop them a few times. You need to expect significant acid rebound for a few days.
Greg
 


I've been on Prilosec for years now. (around 5 years) and I feel so well now that I do want to try to get off of them. I used to take 2 a day, and went down to one quite a long time ago,..and no problem. What is that "rebound effect" like?... Is it extremely bad? :confused: I'm quite afraid to stop altogether. And can weaning down slowly help bypass having a rebound effect? How long does RE last, usually?

Thanks--
Deda
 
hi no one has answered this, and im not to sure but i have read posts where it was easy to cut down slower so not to get the dreaded rebound effect, like maybe if you are on two PPI a day cut down to one per day and replace the other with zantac, and then judge when to replace the one ppi with zantac and then cut these out to tums or something and then nothing good luck nessie
 
I've just stopped several times with no bad effects but try one every other day for a week then skip 2 days, 3 days, and so on.

Char
 
It took me about a year to get off the Protonix little by little very slowly otherwise I had some pains. I had to cut from 2 times a day to one time a day, then skip days etc., I don't think I got a rebound effect because I did this so slowly. Unfortunately, I had to start back on it 2 nights ago and I'm not happy about this. Good luck with this.
 
Thanks for your note. I've been taking half a pill each day for a couple of weeks and so far, so good. First few days I had a little "burn," but that's about it. I think I'll try going every other day next week and see how it goes. Sorry to hear you had t go back on Protonix. Hope you're able to get off it again.
 
I don't know any of your personal experiences as to why you started the PPIs like prilosec and protonix, but my pathology report was read to me over the phone by my Gastro doctor's nurse yesterday, and I have Barrett's Esophagus. This is a pre-cancerous condition of the esophagus, whereby cancer can be prevented by getting better or full control of my acid reflux.

I developed ulcers around 8 years ago of the small intestines. I also had erosions in my esophagus and stomach. I was immediately started on the PPIs, which cured the ulcer, and I assumed the erosions.

Abuse of NSAIRAB is what caused my ulcer. I really abused them for years. Whenever I have tried to stop the PPI's, due to side affects like blocking B-absorption and poor digestion, I would have terrible abdominal pain just like the original ulcer caused. This, I think, is called "Peptic Ulcer Disease". You feel like you have an ulcer but you don't.

I have not had ANY pain from acid-reflux over the years, yet I have had a lot of damage done to my esophagus from stomach acid.

My best to all of you guys and gals :)

Huck
 
Huckfinn,
I took NSAIRAB daily for over 10 years for chronic pain. I don't feel I abused them but needed some pain management. Unfortunately, none of the doctors warned me about the side effects of causing ulcers and stomach problems.

That's interesting that you didn't have any pain but you have damage. I had tons of pain and my last endoscopy didn't show any problems. Our bodies all handle this differently.

I've learned my lesson now, I can't take NSAIRAB even on a very limited basis without being on a PPI. Even then I may not be able to. I guess I was lucky when I got off the Protonix last time, my ulcer was healed and I had no pain.
 
There are many things you could try for cutting down PPI. Here is what I have experieced.

1. Protein Diet
If you go on south beach diet or atkins diet, you will have no heartburn as long as you are on the diet. I have tried this 1 yr ago, and when I went off PPI coldturkey with no heartburn for 4 months . However, when I started taking medications for skin yeast infection, it caused GERD again. Stay away from stomach damaging Pills!

Although the protein diet was very successful, the diet changed my life style so much to the point that i was always hungry and I had to prepare food whenever I went out. I don't know if people have patience and energy to do this. Side effect is you will lose alot of weight. I was skinny to begin with my body fat level went down to 9%. I felt weak...

When I was back on PPI I decided not to go on Protein diet again (it costs alot to go on that diet as well).

2. PPI step down + Cabbage Juice

I have been on Nexium PPI for 10 months.
- Started with 80mg then stepped down to 40mg.
- 3 months ago, I stepped down to 20mg everyday.

1 week ago, I went on 20mg every other day. on 7th day, I had abdominal pain, so I am making cabbage juice 3 cups a day, and it's been helping alot. When I have stomah ulcer like pain and drink it i can almost get instant relief.

It seems that when I cut down, I also get ulcer like symptoms and not heartburn. I know that when ulcer like symptoms stay for a long duration (a week), it eventually leaRAB to heartburn then GERD. it was always that case for me. damaged stomach can't digest, and undigested stuff always reflux. :(

Next week, when I feel ready, I am going to do Skip 2 days and take PPI on 3rd day. and Zantac on demand. If that doesn't work out... I will go on zantac everyday.

Let me know how it works out for you guys.
 
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