PPI's? Sorry, not sure what that is.

I don't take the ppls but I worry about dementia. My mother had it

Proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs). I have been taking Omeprazole (OTC; brand names: Gasec, Losec, Prilosec, Zegerid, ocid, Lomac, Omepral, Zolppi, Omez, Omepep, UlcerGard, GastroGard, Altosec). I have been taking prescription strength for a few years and am little worried about it. I am trying to get off it. But I am more worried about the other serious side effects like destroying your kidneys and bone fractures.

My gastrointerologist took both of us off all ppi, because of serious negative effects. He said he was trying to get all his patients off of them. Originally they were to be prescribed for short term use never long term. But that got disregarded along the way. I was one of the original test group for prilosec and Prevacid, got paid a minimal amount. Both worked wonderfully. I had high grade erosions in my esophagus. I was put on them for the prescribed short term. But as soon as I was off it was terrible pain and suffering. So we got in the routine of switching between the two but staying on all the time. I was wanting to wean my self off. My doctor instructed me to start cutting my doses and to take apple cider vinegar every morning and evening and if I had any reflux take more ACV. We both started that process and today we are both off the meds still take the ACV, with the mother in it, and are doing well. If we eat something very spicy late we know that we could have reflux so we take extra vinegar and the occasional antacid chew never ppi.

Iwas so thankful for the opinions of my gastrointerologist and his leading us to where we are today. He said people are getting worse instead of betting using ppi constantly.

Iwould suggest looking into the use of ACV. I have regular colonscopies and endoscopy to make sure all is well.

Raven, I have been taking all of these since 2007! My old gastro retired and his replacement just seems to be increasing meds. I never did have symthoms of reflux or GERD...mine was "silent" and by the time I had my first scope, it was full blown Barrett's, which is pre-cancerous. How often do you have endoscopes? My former said every year...this new one thinks 3 years is often enough. Maybe time to find a new one! What kind of vinegar do you use? Vinegar is on my "no" list, but might give it a try anyway.

I have a hiatal hernia and get horrible heartburn if I don't use a PPI. It's so bad it burns into my nose and ears! Guess I'll have to take my chances.

Interested in the apple cider vinegar, maybe I could drop to 1 PPI a day, maybe lose the morning pill. How much vinegar do you take?

Get the apple cider vinegar that says with the mother in it, it looks cloudy, Braggs and heinz make it. I take 1 tablespoon in a about half a cup of water or you can have it in oj or something else. I do it usually 3 times a day

I also have a hiatal hernia too. I have been released to have scopes every 5 years now. I went yearly for a long time, then to 3 yrs, now to 5.

I have been taking ppi since before they came on the market because I was in the original study and continued on them. So I was on them from the beginning. Long time!

Never hurts to get a new opinion. This gastro doc is new to us since we moved here we really like him. My 3 other doctors use him as their gastro doc. Highly rated.

Heinz apple cider vinegar

Thanks for explaining about "the mother". You lost me there. ;) I have indigestion sometimes and I take a couple of Tums. I figured that wouldn't be bad...they are calcium carbonate. Those wouldn't be as bad as taking the others, I wouldn't think.

Right Marilyn, the tums and those types of antacids are not ppi.

For anyone who has Barrett's Esophagus there is treatment for it which removes the pre-cancerous cells. My husband's gastroenterologist performed radiofrequency ablation on him several years ago, and the Barrett's is gone. Not all gastros are trained to do it, as it is a relatively new treatment. Google radiofrequency ablation and Barrett's esophagus and you'll be able to find out more about it.

Yes, I am concerned. I have a hiatal hernia and silent reflux (LPR). I never have any symptoms, but do still have reflux. Every 5 years I have an endoscopy so Barrett's can be caught early if it were to occur. I just had my most recent one last month and the doctor told me to make sure to take my omeprazole. It's so hard to take when I keep seeing negative information in the news, or read that someone else's gastroenterologist has advised discontinuing them. Who's/what's right?? So, I'm going to do the best I can with my diet to avoid trigger foods, take Bragg's apple cider vinegar and not take my omeprazole.

phoggie,

Please don't trust your doctor just because he or she says it's what they recommend. If you have even the slightest feeling that something isn't right, or you're not completely ok with the recommendations of your doctor you need to either change doctors or at the very least, get a second opinion. That nagging feeling is a huge red flag and you should listen to your gut.

In regards to the stomach medications, if you are concerned and maybe you should be, there are others available, I would consult with the 2nd opinion or new specialist and see about having something else prescribed. But before you even go to the appointment, have a chat with your pharmacist. Find out about what alternatives are available, make a list and ask about them when you're in the appt.

edited to add that I've often used Apple Cider Vinegar for my pets but never heard it was good for digestive problems in people. Sounds like it's worth a try! Thanks!

I have been on Tums for years and switched to Pepcid AC a few months ago. It has been a godsend. I just need one 20 mg pill a day and an occasional Tum if I eat a spicy dinner. I haven't asked my doctor about using it long term but I haven't seen anything to say you can't. It's not a PPI.

I take Betaine Hydrochloride...I don't have enough acid...but my husband takes Prilosec so I am concerned.