There is no one out on holiday this week in Cyprus that I have to entertain so I have reduced my dose of Omeprazole back down to 10mg. Omeprazole is the Proton Pump Inhibitor drug which I take to prevent acid reflux.
I have been digging around a bit further about what problems this acid reflux medication can bring and found that it is so good at doing its job that it may actually be too good at it. The Proton Pump Inhibitor stops the production of stomach acid which is one of the main ingredients in giving us heartburn and the onset of GERD, but in actual fact stomach acid is a needed and necessary thing.
Not only does the stomach acid break down our food for digestion, but it also kills off bacteria and other nasties in the food we eat. By reducing the production of acid in the stomach we allow bacteria to flourish in the GI tract. This in turn could lead to pneumonia if the bacteria is aspirated.
The powerful and long lasting effect of Proton Pump Inhibitors makes them one of the best selling drugs in the world. But another problem this makes is that it also inhibits the absorption of essential nutrients including calcium and folic acid.
Calcium is needed by the body for healthy bones and teeth so it should be supplemented so that you get correct levels into your body.
Folic acid is another nutrient that needs to be supplemented. The folic acid is needed by the body to utilize vitamin B12. Proton Pump Inhibitors interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12 because it is usually taken in through food and passed through the stomach when digested by stomach acid. It is thought that by drinking cranberry juice with your meals it increases the absorption of vitamin B12. Taking a supplement of vitamin B12 daily of up to 50 mcg will probably protect you against depletion of the vitamin.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Monday, May 21, 2007
My Acid reflux medication
My computer has been crashing on me so it’s been in the shop for over a week therefore no posts in that time. Just got it back so here we go.
Here in Cyprus where I am living at the moment holiday season has just started. There are many friends and family come out from now until the end of summer and it takes a great toll on anyone who suffers from acid reflux disease like myself.
I try to combat this sudden influx of extra food and drink that I indulge in by taking double the dose of the proton pump inhibitor I am on, upping the dose from 10mg to 20 mg a day. This works very well for me and I seem to tolerate everything throw at me while on this dose. I still curse the doctor who diluted my dose down to 10mg in the first place sending me back into a life of hell with daily heartburn problems.
My only concern is that the doctor reduced my dose of Omeprazole to reduce side effects. I keep reading different stories on this so am a bit bemused as to what the side effects are?
The normal side effects can include Stomach pain, gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and headaches. I have not suffered any of these symptoms and anyway they are easier to cope with than the pain of acid reflux.
So what else can go wrong? Well I have read that you can have an allergic reaction and will need emergency medical help if you have hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat. I also have not had any of these problems in the 10 or so years I have been on this acid reflux medicine. So what else can go wrong?
I have read a bit more and some more things that can go wrong if you overdose include blurred vision, drowsiness, fast heartbeat, and the normal sweating, nausea, headache, dry mouth, headache etc.
The point I am trying to make is that I have suffered no reaction at all with my acid reflux medication and my GERD has been in check until the doctor reduced my dose, so I am still in the dark as to what long term problems may occur if I was to take the 20mg of Omeprazole. If anybody out there knows the answer please let me know.
Here in Cyprus where I am living at the moment holiday season has just started. There are many friends and family come out from now until the end of summer and it takes a great toll on anyone who suffers from acid reflux disease like myself.
I try to combat this sudden influx of extra food and drink that I indulge in by taking double the dose of the proton pump inhibitor I am on, upping the dose from 10mg to 20 mg a day. This works very well for me and I seem to tolerate everything throw at me while on this dose. I still curse the doctor who diluted my dose down to 10mg in the first place sending me back into a life of hell with daily heartburn problems.
My only concern is that the doctor reduced my dose of Omeprazole to reduce side effects. I keep reading different stories on this so am a bit bemused as to what the side effects are?
The normal side effects can include Stomach pain, gas, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and headaches. I have not suffered any of these symptoms and anyway they are easier to cope with than the pain of acid reflux.
So what else can go wrong? Well I have read that you can have an allergic reaction and will need emergency medical help if you have hives, difficulty breathing, and swelling of your face, lips, tongue or throat. I also have not had any of these problems in the 10 or so years I have been on this acid reflux medicine. So what else can go wrong?
I have read a bit more and some more things that can go wrong if you overdose include blurred vision, drowsiness, fast heartbeat, and the normal sweating, nausea, headache, dry mouth, headache etc.
The point I am trying to make is that I have suffered no reaction at all with my acid reflux medication and my GERD has been in check until the doctor reduced my dose, so I am still in the dark as to what long term problems may occur if I was to take the 20mg of Omeprazole. If anybody out there knows the answer please let me know.
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