Protonix, Tums

[sha]

Hi there,

Just wanted to ask if anyone's been on Protonix for a long time and if so, have they noticed any side effects besides headaches? (It also gets me a bit down)

I have LPR, my only symptom is a sour taste every morning and the resulting sore throat that has become more and more frequent. I've been on Protonix 40mg once a day, on and off, and have taken 60 pills spread over a few months. (because I was taking it for about 3 weeks at a time and it didn't seem to work. My doctor never told me that sometimes it takes a while for the ppi to take effect.) Also all the doctors I saw, and there've been a few, told me to take the pill in the morning. Finally, the pharmacist at the local drug store told me to try taking it later in the day because the acid hits when I lie down to sleep. That did the trick. My friend bought me a book on reflux that was so enlightening. It said that some ppis work from 15 to 24 hours. I thought they were all good for 24 hrs. So maybe that was the reason it didn't help when I took it in the morning. Also, FYI, it said that calcium carbonate (eg Tums), when it stops working to neutralize the acid, actually creates more acid! Just thought I'd share that fact with y'all.

Sha

[Milan]

Hi Sha,

I took protonix for a while and it didn't really help me much, but my LES was not functioning so nothing helped. I took Nexium for 3 + years and didn't really have side effects besides headaches. I think that you need to experiment and see which one works best for you and which one has least side effects on you. PPI don't work 24 hours, so maybe you can try taking one pill in the morning and one at night before going to sleep. I took one nexium in the am and one in the pm + I took acid at bedtime. Still didn't help me so I had FUNDO. But if they work for you, stay on it and you will be fine. Also, diet adjustments and elevated bed could help. Keep us posted on your progress.

Milan

[sha]

Thanks for your response Milan. I guess I need to qualify my post a bit. Actually, the Protonix is not 100% effective. I still have a bit of acid at night. It depends on my diet. I guess I was just wishful thinking the Protonix to be better than it really is. But at least I don't have as severe a sore throat. Elevating the bed has only helped a little. Adjusting my diet has been the hardest. I tried Nexium for a few weeks but it didn't work terribly well either. I really don't want surgery. Don't even want to take pills. Sha

[Milan]

Sha,

did you try acid blocker at bedtime? Maybe you can try something like Axid before going to sleep? Ask your doctor, I tried it and had no side effects from it. It didn't help much because I had non functioning LES, but it maybe working for you, it's worth a try if it gets rid of the pain. Keep us posted.

Milan

[sha]

Hi Milan,
No, I haven't tried an acid blocker. I basically want to use the least amount of drugs possible. But guess what? I finally, since I last posted, have found a way that works. I just take the Protonix about a half hour before my dinner and it is really changed my acid production. I guess I was taking it at the wrong times (in the morning, after dinner). I now want to know if I should switch to the less potent acid blocker. I guess I should talk to my doctor. It's hard because I just switched to an hmo and I didn't care for the 2 gastros that I saw there and my primary care provider who is an internist is only part-time and it's so hard to get a hold of her. But I will keep trying. Take care! Sah

[Milan]

Sha,

I feel it for you when you say you want to take as little as possible. I hate taking meds as well and I was taking two nexiums (40mg each) and Axid at bedtime. I would give acid blocker a shot and see if it helps. They aren't addictive or anything so if you don't like it or it doesn't work for you, you can simply stop using it. But if it works it will make all the difference for you. I also found out that eating noodles and bananas as my last mea helped with acid at night, but it may be just me. Good luck and keep us posted.

Luke (Milan)

[sha]

Hi Luke,
Well, I did try taking just 10 mg of famotidine before dinner but it did not do the trick. I was going to try taking an additional 10 mg in the morning but I looked back at my med log (I had kept one the first year of my condition) and I was on 40 mg and that didn't help. So anyways, I am back on the big guns- the Protonix. Gee willikers, are we destined to a life of pills? Egads! Glad the noodles and bananas work for you. One of my coworkers had said that his nutritionist had warned him about carbohydrates and acid production (I guess from the sugars in carbohydrates turning into acid). He said he cut down on the carbs and his reflux went away. So ever since I have only eaten limited carbs at dinner time. But gosh, no one else ever warned me against carbs. Sha