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Long term use of Omeprazole

Posted , 86 users are following.

loveprague
loveprague

Hello,

I am a long term user of this medicine and wanted to share my experience of this medicine and my condition which was diagnosed some 15 years ago.

I was diagnosed with IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome), I have for many years suffered with diahorea stomach bloating and general pain and discomfort in my stomach. I have had several endoscopys and various other tests including an ultrasound and at first they discovered nothing unusual and put it all down to IBS. I had several treatments for Helicopacter Pylori and I am still not sure if it ever cleared up. I recently had an operation to remove my gallbladder and gallstones after the acid reflux was very troublesome. I have now since had another endoscopy which has showed I have a hiateul hernia. I have been on Omeprazole for over four years after having acid reflux type symptoms along with my IBS. I wanted to ask about being on this medicine long-term and the possible other organs in my body that could be damaged. I still have very bad indigestion and stomach aches and wondered if these tablets actually work for me anymore

8 likes, 123 replies

123 Replies

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  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi,

    I have only been on Omeprazole for about 3 months but I have found it an absolute life saver. I combine it with Domperidone or \"Motilium\" and the combination is bloomin brilliant for my IBS! I tested negative for H.pylori and so the docs and I are pretty sure it's as simple as IBS and no stomach ulcers or ugly cancers etc (I'm only 25!). My IBS got progressively worse from the age of about 18 until I HAD to go to the docs and demand they give me something as I was off work I was that ill.

    I've found that making sure my \"trigger foods\" are under strict suveillance, my stress levels are reasonable and remembering my meds works wonders.

    Good luck with your meds and from my experience Omeprazole is the best thing that could have happened to me!

    • carrie_07795
      carrie_07795 Guest

      Posted

      If you have the IBS nasty talk to your doc about being referred to your hospital's nutritionalist as this can only be done by GP referral. Ask to be referred for the FODMAP diet.  This has been devised by Guy's and St Thomas' hospital. I found after 1 week my IBS almost disappeared.  After 10 weeks I am now slowly reintroducing FODMAPs and finding out which foods really set it off. Their success is 80% of relief of symptoms.  It has changed my life for the better.
    • marilyn29538
      marilyn29538 Guest

      Posted

      After weaning myself off of omeprasole with the blessing of my gastro, he wanted me to try to get off of the other anti-acid I was taking, ranitidine. That was more difficult. I was still having terrible heartburn. I had been on these types of drugs for 20 years which scared me and my gastro. I was eating Tums. I also had this extended, hard stomach with gas,etc. I couldn't get a doctor to tell me why. My daughter started an on-line search re my tummy. She found info on FODMAPS and the diet. It seems to make sense for my condition. I stopped eating FODMAPS for 5 weeks. My stomach flattened out and was soft, not hard. I was so much better. I then added back only gluten. After a week of gluten, I was back where I started. Deleted gluten again and the hard tummy, pain and heartburn have almost disappeared. I have also found that I can't eat any beans or raw apples. Starting to now see what other FODMAPS I can add back to my diet. This diet is worth the trouble. It is more popular in Australia. Try it. What do you have to lose?

    • chris72072
      chris72072 MarilynH

      Posted

      Hi marilyn i would like the information on PPis and how i can get off them if you could reply that would be great thank you
    • anna71424
      anna71424 marilyn29538

      Posted

      I’m so scared having read the premature death that Omeprazole can do I have been on them off and on for 2 and a half years I was stupid because I used them but still ate spicy food and drank wine now they have found h. Plyori through an endoscopy and I’ve had to be on 40mg Omeprazole again just finished 6 weeks still feel absolutely s**t like I’m going to die and the anxiety has gone through the roof been to the doctors like so many times and they say well done people are on 80mg I don’t care these are really bad drugs and I have heart palpitations dizziness nausea and blurred vision please other people do not take this drug 
    • anna71424
      anna71424 chris72072

      Posted

      To get off ppis you must just take one every other day then gradually reduce them if symptoms persist then take ranitidine 2 times a day then just 1 a day back it up with gaviscon double action or advance then slowly come off then just take gaviscon advance at night to use as a raft over the acid then take gaviscon double action when needed this is when you feel able to come off Zantac I’m just going cold turkey and I feel s**t and nausea but I have to because I have to be tested for eradication for h.plyori so I need to just be on gaviscon for 2 weeks I’m burping a lot 
  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    Hi HG84

    Found this site earlier today which lists some bad signs for long term use....

    ****

    (ad the 3 w's in front as otherwise i can't post it)

    Like with anything on the internet though i wouldn't take whats said their as gospel....

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  • Guest
    Guest

    Posted

    I am 52 and I have been on Omeprazole 20mg for about 18 years now.

    I started when it was only available as Losec. It completetly changed my life for the better.

    Pretty early on I found that taking the 20mg every other day worked best for me unless I feel I have a particularly acidic reaction to some food in which case I just take an extra one.

    I can say hand on heart that I have been lucky enough to experienced absolutely no side effects. However, I know that I would not now be able to give the drug up. After so many years my body is so used to the regular drug that if I was to miss, say, three days I would get an uncomfortable reaction - But I am quite happy to stay on it for the rest of my life and have no worries.

    I felt I should post this because you always get lots of negative reation posted on the internet making people frightened and I wanted to provide a positive side.

    • bowl
      bowl Guest

      Posted

      I WAS ON LOSEC NOW BEEN PUT ON OMEPRAZOLE NOW SEEM TO BE GETTING LOTS OF HEART BURN AND STOMACH UPSET AS ANY BODY ELSE HAD ANY PROBLEMS WHEN SWITCHED FROM LOSEC BECAUSE OF PRICE
    • tammy_28405
      tammy_28405 Guest

      Posted

      So it hasn't done anything harmful to u like nausea, constipation? Etc Just wondering I've been on now for a few months the 20mg ones! Is it actual harmless? I've spoke with the pharmacist and they said it's ok! So u take one a day? If u need more do u take another one?
    • burny
      burny Guest

      Posted

      same situation, although I'm not sure that I should be on it this long, what's down the road with its continued use and I'm 20 years your elder
    • annick1965
      annick1965 Guest

      Posted

      I am thinking of taking them only ehen needed. Reason being I have put on weight around the bra area and this is strange because I have never accumulated fat there and I do hit eat much.

      Could the long and daily use of the medicine cause gain weight ?

    • paul11548
      paul11548 Guest

      Posted

      I felt I should post this because you always get lots of negative reation posted on the internet making people frightened and I wanted to provide a positive side.

      You are a hero, sir (or madam).

       

    • brian_63314
      brian_63314 Guest

      Posted

      I also have been taking this omeprazole for nearly 20years and have had no ill effects whatsoever.
    • MarilynH
      MarilynH brian_63314

      Posted

      Brian, did you research the negative side effects of long-term use? You need to do that.  Dementia is just one ....
    • Quandryite
      Quandryite Guest

      Posted

      Your comment is appreciated, and wise.  It makes sense that your body now "expects" this drug.  Whether it should or not, is, as you suggest, irrelevant.

    • Quandryite
      Quandryite MarilynH

      Posted

      WHY does he "need" to do that.  You know, stress is a major cause of most all ill health.  Why do you feel the need to add to it.  Every drug, every food, we put in our bodies has effects.  Actually, I think I'll report your comment.  Yes.  Indeed.

    • lin46179
      lin46179 Guest

      Posted

       Nice to hear something positive. Lin
    • kathleen46257
      kathleen46257 Guest

      Posted

      Glad to hear from someone who has been taking omeprazole as long as I have been. I have read up on omeprazole and found out why I've lost 40 lbs. Looked up long range effects and found that omeprazole can shrink the stomach. I'm thankful though that I have no horrible effects. I have Burning Mouth syndrome and have lost much of my taste and smell. I can live with these problems but I'm thinking of going from 1 every other day to every 3days. Not sure yet sure since I do have Barretts Esophagus

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