Nexium & Gerd

  • Thread starter Thread starter leashalou03
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leashalou03

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So I was diagnosed by an ER doc as having GERD. He put me on Zantac which seemed to help some but I did not want to stay on that pill after reading some of the possible side affects. I brought it up to a doctor at a clinic that I wanted to try something else. He ended up giving me a bunch of samples of Nexium. Well today was day 7 of taking them once a day. So far I haven't seem much improvement just little things here and there. How long does it take for it to fully kick in and start working? It seemed like the Zantac kicked in a lot sooner.

My big problem has never been the actual heartburn. I only get that once in awhile. It's all the other symptoms and some I'm contributing to the acid reflux that are bothersome for me. Can I take Maalox or something as well at least till I think the Nexium has fully kicked in?
 
Nexium takes 8-12 weeks to have its full effect, but you should notice some improvement after 2-4 weeks.

By the way, I'm not sure what you read about Zantac, but it is extremely safe (so safe that it's now available without a prescription), has fewer side effects than Nexium, and can be taken on an "as needed" basis (Nexium must be taken every day to work).

I'm not sure what "other symptoms" you're dealing with (or what side effects of Zantac worried you), but if Zantac was working it may be a better choice for you.
 
I agree. With very rare exceptions, Zantac is safer than Nexium in the long run. While it might take a few weeks for full relief if there are erosions that need to heal, your acid should be blocked within 4 days at the most. If you've given the Nexium a full week and it's still not working as well as the Zantac, you should probably go back to Zantac.
 
I read somewhere that Zantac can affect the heart because you have h2 receptors in the heart as well not just the stomach. I wish I could remeraber exactly what it said.
 
Also the basics of my other symptoms are chest tightness, upset stomach, stomach pains, feeling of a lump in my throat and some mornings I wake up with a sore throat which only lasts a few minutes.
 
Hi from a fellow SCL area resident.

My Gastroenterologist had me try PPI's for a minimum of one month before moving on to try others. He recommended supplementing with Gaviscon when I needed.

It sounRAB like you have some symptoms of LPR (Laryngopharyngeal Reflux Disease). You might want to do some research on that. LPR symptoms don't typically include heartburn, but throat and breathing symptoms are more typical. There is good information that people on this board have shared. I've found that it typically takes taking the PPI's twice per day if that is the case.

You might want to see a Gastroenterologist if you don't have success after being on Nexium for an extended period. With your stomach issues, you might want to ensure there isn't anything else going on.

Some people prefer seeing an ENT for LPR as well.
 
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