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AR15.COM
1/15/2011 4:46:28 AM EDT
I take Nexium for acid reflux. Has anyone ever taken digestive enzymes caplets as a natural alternative to Nexium. Apparently you should only take Nexium for 4-6 weeks and I have been on it for 2 years. I recently switched doctors and this was brought to my attention.
1/15/2011 4:47:49 AM EDT
[#1]
I think my RX is Omeprazol. I take it once every 2-3 days. No issues.
1/15/2011 4:49:20 AM EDT
[#2]
I don't take anything anymore, but, gosh over 10 years ago I had stomach issues...   It took the big guns  of Aciphex to calm my gullet down.  

I got used to the heartburn... that shit sometimes was enough to kill a horse.  I occasionally get some, but some Tums helps a bunch.   Never looked into any natural alternatives.
1/15/2011 5:06:33 AM EDT
[#3]
Quoted:
I don't take anything anymore, but, gosh over 10 years ago I had stomach issues...   It took the big guns  of Aciphex to calm my gullet down.  

I got used to the heartburn... that shit sometimes was enough to kill a horse.  I occasionally get some, but some Tums helps a bunch.   Never looked into any natural alternatives.


How often do you take the Aciphex? I noticed it says like the Nexium that is is usually only given for 4-8 weeks.

http://www.drugs.com/Aciphex.html
(scroll down to how should I take aciphex)
1/15/2011 5:12:29 AM EDT
[#4]
tag
1/15/2011 5:15:09 AM EDT
[#5]
I've been on Nexium for 5 years. No issues, and I can eat the hubcap off a '55 Buick without heartburn.
1/15/2011 5:16:44 AM EDT
[#6]
I've been taking prilosec for three years. My doctor said it was fine.
There is no way I couldn't take it...the burn in my throat is unbearable without it.
It would be great to find a natural remedy.
1/15/2011 5:22:11 AM EDT
[#7]
I have acute hemorrhagic ulcers I use Aloe Vera Gel, the liquid is ok not as effective as the gel. 1 table spoon in the am and 1 about 1/2 hr b4 bed.
Slippery elm (powder) 1/2 tsp mixed with warm water after a meal does wonders. Something to drop after breakfast or a good lunch is charcoal caplets.
All the prescription and otc stuff has too many side effects and are not meant to be taken as a long term solution for AR.
I would suggest experimenting with a reduction in your wheat / gluten. Oddly enough the amount of gluten can play a major part in AR and or other ulcer  related issues with the digestive tract
1/15/2011 5:22:23 AM EDT
[#8]
Quoted:
I've been taking prilosec for three years. My doctor said it was fine.
There is no way I couldn't take it...the burn in my throat is unbearable without it.
It would be great to find a natural remedy.


THIS^^^

I've been on Prilosec for several years... after having near-fatal reflux during my sleep. It still happens occasionally if I eat too late before going to bed. If I don't take Prilosec, the acid reflux is like battery acid coming up my throat. If it happens when I'm asleep, I can wake up choking (drowning).

The Doc started me on Aciphex...  then after health insurance ran out... I went to an OTC remedy.
All it takes is one Prilosec daily at dinner time and I can eat just about anything. I still can't eat too late at night... or it will bite me in the ass again.

Waking from a dead sleep with your air supply completely cutoff... is some scary shit.  I now have a pretty good idea what it is like to drown.
1/15/2011 5:23:24 AM EDT
[#9]
Quoted:
I've been on Nexium for 5 years. No issues, and I can eat the hubcap off a '55 Buick without heartburn.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2036565_take-nexium.html
( scroll down to #2 under insturctions )
1/15/2011 5:24:26 AM EDT
[#10]
Cut out the carbs for 4 hours before bed time.

Prilosec worked for me when I had it bad.

Eat 2 Tums before bed.



I get it from time to time, but it seems to go away for a few years at a time.

The only real time I ever have it is when I eat bread, chips, cookies, crackers, etc... before bed.
1/15/2011 5:26:25 AM EDT
[#11]
Acid reflux for YEARS!!!!
I ignored the heart burn, eating up to two rolls of rolaids daily. tums were useless.
got to the point MILK gave me reflux and was living on white bread, danish, milk and banana's


stupid

Finally, I saw a Doc, had me get an endo' that afternoon and I found out I have Barrettes esophagus. a pre cancerous condition caused by
constant irritation of stomach acid surging up the eshphagus

Nexium, now on my 7th year, last endo 2 years ago, they had to go look for the Barrettes a second time as he didnt notice any the first time in and
his nurse asked for the report on its condition..5 years on Nexium and NO SIGN of a Precancerous condition but for some limited scar tissue.

New Insurance this month and having to fight for the coverage of something I feel is helping me avoid stomach cancer as it is not on the formulary list.pinhead
1/15/2011 5:27:35 AM EDT
[#12]
I'm like you guys. The Nexium works great for me. I have been on it for 2 years with no problems. I switch doctors and new doctor has me worried telling me I should of only been on it for 8 weeks. Who knows? So I started doing some research for myself online.

edit: New doc also want's me to have a esophagoscopy.
1/15/2011 5:29:18 AM EDT
[#13]
How many with AR have asthma-like symptoms?  I started wheezing after dinner about 15 years ago and went through all the inhalers and asthma treatments before I found a doctor for my acid reflux problem who said the same nerve "lines" that are in your esophagus also serve your bronchial tubes.  When they get irritated by AR, they start to close down your bronchial tubes.

Interesting.

TC

P.S.––Prilosec user but looking for natural relief.
1/15/2011 5:33:50 AM EDT
[#14]
Quoted:
How many with AR have asthma-like symptoms?  I started wheezing after dinner about 15 years ago and went through all the inhalers and asthma treatments before I found a doctor for my acid reflux problem who said the same nerve "lines" that are in your esophagus also serve your bronchial tubes.  When they get irritated by AR, they start to close down your bronchial tubes.

Interesting.

TC

P.S.––Prilosec user but looking for natural relief.


If I stop taking the Nexium in about a week I will start burping, hiccups and getting a acid taste coming back up my throat. I will also get shortness of breath.
1/15/2011 5:43:53 AM EDT
[#15]
The name of this drug always cracks me up: Aciphex = Ass Effects

That said I have been fighting this for 3 years. I take a Zantac in the morning after breakfast and after dinner and I am fine. I have been going w/o the after breakfast one for a couple months and been mostly fine. Mine I think is caused from stress with school and money. Going back to school in your 30's for a Double E is hard.
1/15/2011 5:47:10 AM EDT
[#16]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I've been on Nexium for 5 years. No issues, and I can eat the hubcap off a '55 Buick without heartburn.


http://www.ehow.com/how_2036565_take-nexium.html
( scroll down to #2 under insturctions )


Huh, I'll be damned. My doc is a gastoenterologist, a specialist, and gives me 3 month presciptions, refillable 3 times, for a total of a year. He has done this 4 years. Most people I know prescribed to Nexium, are on the purple pill for more than 2 months. I wonder what ehow (whom I ALWAYS trust more than specialists), knows that my doctor, who specializes in this field, does not. No offense, but ehow is one of the last places I look, for information on how to get anything done. Ymmv.
1/15/2011 5:59:15 AM EDT
[#17]
been on omeprazole from the grocery store for 7 or 8 years.  started off on the prescription stuff (protonix, nexium) but this is just as good.  went back to the doc recently for the full workup and he said being on the omeprazole that long was no problem.  be hard to do without it.
1/15/2011 5:59:18 AM EDT
[#18]
I can't speak for what doctors tell others, but let me fill you in on what mine have said...

My gastro and my primary have both told me taking Prilosec (Nexium) indefinitely will NOT cause harm. I've been on Prilosec for 3 years and as long as you're checked for Barrertts esophagus and follow up with your doc from time to time you'll be gtg.

There are a few side effects to it, so go to a gastro who can give you samples of 3-4 different meds and find the best one for you. Aciphex works best for me, but it's a pita going in for scrips so I just buy Prilosec OTC and deal with it. I don't think there's a side effect in the world that would be worse then the heartburn I get. Prilosec truly is a god send for me and a life changer.
1/15/2011 6:02:11 AM EDT
[#19]
Quoted:
snip... as long as you're checked for Barrertts esophagus and follow up with your doc from time to time you'll be gtg.


this is a good point.
1/15/2011 7:00:46 AM EDT
[#20]
I had acid reflux so bad I was taking prescription strength Priolsec. I discovered a natural product at a health store called Digest-All. You take one capsule before meals. I haven't had a case of acid reflux since I've been taking this product and I've been taking it now for almost a year. I also stopped taking the prescription Med's. It also relieves the bloating and gas problems I was having.
1/15/2011 7:33:33 AM EDT
[#21]
how's the endoscopy? my md. told me this week I should have this done.
1/15/2011 7:49:58 AM EDT
[#22]
Quoted:
Quoted:
I've been taking prilosec for three years. My doctor said it was fine.
There is no way I couldn't take it...the burn in my throat is unbearable without it.
It would be great to find a natural remedy.


THIS^^^

I've been on Prilosec for several years... after having near-fatal reflux during my sleep. It still happens occasionally if I eat too late before going to bed. If I don't take Prilosec, the acid reflux is like battery acid coming up my throat. If it happens when I'm asleep, I can wake up choking (drowning).

The Doc started me on Aciphex...  then after health insurance ran out... I went to an OTC remedy.
All it takes is one Prilosec daily at dinner time and I can eat just about anything. I still can't eat too late at night... or it will bite me in the ass again.

Waking from a dead sleep with your air supply completely cutoff... is some scary shit.  I now have a pretty good idea what it is like to drown.


No shit, I have had that happen so many times in the middle of the night.  Then it takes 2 hours to cough the puke out of your lungs enough to sleep.  Been on an AR since I was 16years old.  If I miss taking it by over three hours of the regular time, I am in trouble for at least 8 hours.  It is the biggest pain in the ass.  Last endo I had was with a new doctor and the bitch told me I was wasting her time after the scope.  Fuck her I am going back to the Mayo Clinic where they were smart enough to see the trend in my family and made every effort to keep barretts esphogus from happening to me.  Every male in my family has it, but me for now.

PNS
1/15/2011 7:55:06 AM EDT
[#23]
Not trying to be a killjoy, but have you guys tried adjusting your diet?  

I see people who take these drugs and then eat the worst food imaginable.
1/15/2011 8:07:07 AM EDT
[#24]
As a side note;
Has anyone considered how much worse TEOTWAWKI/SHTF would be if you had no acid inhibitors?
Seriously, I can't even bend over to work (carpentry) without pain.
1/15/2011 3:18:57 PM EDT
[#25]



Quoted:


Not trying to be a killjoy, but have you guys tried adjusting your diet?  



I see people who take these drugs and then eat the worst food imaginable.


I know mine has calmed down a lot in the last couple weeks after I started eating a high fiber cereal for breakfast, quit drinking MTN DEW (I still drink a little coffee), and cut way back on the beer.  I went from chewing a couple OTC acid reducers every day to maybe chewing one every 3 days.  Oh, I've also been eating a yogurt every day or two, which may or may not help.



But I'm curious about enzymes, probiotics, etc.  Adding a little of that could be enough to push me over the edge and be reflux free.