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Omeprazole and stomach pain

My mother has had IBS for years and has used prilosec for quite a while.  A few months ago, she was put on Omeprazole and after 2 weeks of bad upper stomach pain, she stopped taking it.  The problems have resided a bit, but has had pain and nausea every since.  After many tests, all coming out normal, she still has not found an answer.  The doctors don't have a clue what is wrong, but she believes the omeprazole caused some sort of infection and will be going on antibiotics this week to see if it will help.

Has anyone else had pain and stomach issues as a result of being on Omeprazole?  Any advice?
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Avatar universal
Just so all interested know, OMEPRAZOLE causes osteopenia and osteoporosis when taken over 4-8 weeks.  I was prescribed it for 15 YEARS!  BE WARE!  Most MDs don't know this or don't care.
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Avatar universal
I would suggest you to take combination od domeperidome + omeprazole with some good probiotics . For more info whatsapp +919958146385.
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Avatar universal
Just to clarify it was the generic version of Prilosec.
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Avatar universal
I just went through the same thing! I was given antibiotics and omeprazole for h pylori. After 5 days my upper stomach was killing me. The worst pain ever! The doctor said stop taking the antibiotics.  I also stopped the Prilosec. After numerous tests saying nothing was wrong after a week the pain went away.  The dr put me back on omeprazole and now 5 days later the pain is back!
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Avatar universal
I too took Omeprazole for awhile last summer and have had digestive issues that I can't resolve since -- proton pump messed up I think. Anyway, I am now using both probiotics and digestive enzymes with quite a lot of success. As to the IBS, which I have pretty much gotten under control (check research regarding FODMAP), think about ppi and IBS. A ppi, like omeprazole, reduces stomach acid that is needed to for the second phase of digestion (first is saliva in the mouth) in the stomach. Thus the food dumps into the small intestine not digested properly. This is where IBS issues start (sharp pains due to bacteria having a hayday on food that isn't digested properly and resulting in trapped gas -- ouch!). Bottom-line, omeprazole is bad stuff, find alternatives!
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Avatar universal
Argie - I am so sorry to hear of your plight, but I thoroughly understand what you are going thru.  I am going to post a bunch of weblinks below that I believe will help you greatly in your quest for healing.

I have my own set of medical issues that start with the MTHFR genetic disorder which - in the very short story version - makes your methylation pathways not function properly.  This leads to a mal-absorption of vitamins and minerals as well as a boat-load of other medical conditions, including autoimmune disease.

I've spent the last year researching this and my additional complications.  What you have described above is VERY typical of THOUSANDS of people that I have talked with and that post on these support sites.  I have Hashimoto's autoimmune disorder which causes thyroid dysfunction.  Once you have one AI, you tend to get more as the inflammation in your body increases.  No amount of chemical medicines are going to cure you.  This is an issue that starts in your gut....and more precisely is considered "leaky gut" which is thought to be caused by sensitivity to gluten and its cross-reactive foods.

I don't have nearly enough space and time in this post to explain to you all I have discovered over this past year, so I am going to direct you to some of the most informative websites I have found to be helpful and give you a basic protocol that I am doing.

NOTE: I am NOT a medical professional, however all the MD's that I have seen over the years have failed me miserably and following conventional advice is what has led me to my problems.  I finally found help by seeking out alternative providers such as functional medicine practitioners and naturopaths.  I've had to be my own advocate to get the help I needed.  Don't let them convince you otherwise.

First, I strongly suggest you start on an AutoImmune Protocol diet (AIP).  This is basically a Paleo real food diet with additional restrictions.  NO processed foods and you eliminate ALL the foods that usually cause difficulties for people for 1 to 6 months, as needed. (There is a specific list of do's and don'ts)  Then slowly add them back in to see how your body responds.  I can tell you now that because you have autoimmune issues, you will likely need to go gluten free for life and possibly dairy and grain free as well.  These sites will help you get started on how to do it:

This is a blog by one of the leading bloggers in the paleo/real food community:
http://www.thepaleomom.com/autoimmunity/the-autoimmune-protocol

This is a GREAT facebook support group and they can help walk you thru all your questions and they have facts pages and recipes.
https://www.************/groups/EPDiet411/

In addition, you can pick up this cookbook that will help with AIP friendly recipes.  I got my copy from Costco, but I know Barnes and Noble carries it as well.
http://balancedbites.com/practicalpaleo

There is a huge real food online society out there that are encouraging people to get back to basics and to protect our food system from genetic manipulations and chemical contaminations.  The Weston A. Price Foundation is a key source of information and funds campaigns supporting a clean food system.  Most of the bloggers are linked into the Village Green Network (www.villagegreennetwork.com) where there are links to resourcing and purchasing clean food products. Below are some of my favorite and most educational blog resources.  Most do in-depth research before posting and I consider them to be very helpful and reliable.

www.mommypotamus.com
www.thecoconutmama.com
www.thankyourbody.com

If you are looking for a bottom line, I would have to say that it all starts in your gut...you will need to heal it and in turn your inflammation will heal and your AI issues will begin to recede.  Most importantly, you will be able to eat again without fear and pain.

When I went Gluten Free (GF) my SEVERE gas issues and my migraines went away.  When I started supplementing with things my body couldn't otherwise process, my energy started coming back and my depression lifted.  Eating this way means you get to add in GOOD fats that will heal your digestive system (http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/get-your-fats-straight-my-journey-to-get-it-right/).  These include LOTS of coconut oil as well as animal fats (including real butter) from grass-fed/pastured animals and avoiding nearly all vegetable fats and ALL SOY products (and basically ALL processed foods have soy in them).  

The whole soy story by Dr. Kaayla Daniel
(http://www.westonaprice.org/thumbs-up-reviews/the-whole-soy-story-by-kaayla-daniel?qh=YToyOntpOjA7czozOiJzb3kiO2k6MTtzOjU6InNveSdzIjt9)

Also, they encourage then incorporation of fermented foods, such as high quality or homemade milk kefir, water kefir, raw Kombucha Tea and fermented veggies.  All these have different types of beneficial gut bacteria and can make a big difference for a lot of people.  My 11 year old son and I brew our own Kombucha in a big glass jar on our kitchen counter and try different flavors.  You don't need all the gadgets most sites try to sell you...just a culture and a glass jar.  It's fun, gently fizzy, detoxes your liver and is a great replacement for soda pop.  (http://www.kombuchakamp.com/)

I hope you try the AIP and find these resources helpful....I think you will be pleased with the results.  If you do try it, please stop by here and let me know how you are doing...I would love to find out if you were better.  My mother refuses to try this despite her 30 years of stomach issues that continue to get worse.  She is 70 and doesn't want to give up her morning cookies.  :-)

I still have a really long journey ahead of me but I am slowly getting better day by day.  I pray the same for you and hope to hear back from you with positive news!  God bless :-)

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1 Comments
I know it’s been along time since you wrote the above post. But it’s some of the best information I have read on this website or anywhere else. I was so excited to read all the information you supplied. I hope you are doing well and I’m going to get back online and look up some of those bloggers. Thank you
Avatar universal
I sure could use some advice.  Being at my wits end with these problems and now being on Medicare, the docs don't do much for me.
I'm 74 yrs old, male, retired, very active.  About 10 pounds overweight, other wise fine. Back problems are degenerative and rheumatoid(I think that's it)
Problem: stomach problems.  Had ulcers since teenager. Almost died with bleeding ulcers when I was 39.  Against my better judgement and lots of NOs, the doctors talked me into having half my stomach removed.  Then the real problems started.  
Now, any artificial sweetener at all gives me migraines.  I've tested and proven it.
Caffeine hurts my esophagus and I have acid reflux/gerd.
With duodenum being removed I have to avoid sugar.  Eat only items that have 0g to 5g of sugar.  No coffee, no soft drinks at all, no tea, even the decaffeinated ones(cause cramping/burning).
I naturally have loose BMs. So a change is hard to notice.  
I've developed ulcers again even though I've watched my diet closely.  Eat balanced meals, no black pepper or spices.  Not sure why it happens.  But after a few weeks of being very careful, I heal up.
I used Omeprazole for months(off & on for years) and then developed stomach problems.  Stopped medicine and problems disappeared.  Started Omeprazole again and the problems came back. I had tried the others, like Prilosec, and they caused me even more problems, and right away too.

I have diverticulitis and get headaches when I eat things like peanuts, etc.
Am allergic to penicillin(hospitalized for reaction), some anti-biotics and some anti-inflammatory drugs.  Develop aches, rashes, etc.  
Eg: Aleve makes my lips break out in blisters.  Ibuprofen hurts my stomach bad.  
I'm reasonably healthy in most other ways, very active and keep very busy.  Have a standard routine.
Am a type A personality.  Mind going all the time.  Was married to a hypochondriac for 20 years and hate to "sound like her".  So I keep quiet.  
Plan to live to 90+.
Any "real honest to goodness help" is appreciated.  Otherwise, I go from day to day with bouts of feeling bad and then I'm fine. Lots of gas and belching.  
Stomach surgery was in 1979.  Two years later they stopped the surgery.  Bummer.  Actually, I really do feel that the surgery has caused me more problems than it "was supposed to fix".  
Thanks.  
Argie
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620923 tn?1452915648


I had an issue with some meds not long ago and the pharmacist is the one that told me it could be the compound ...the generics r diff....the active ingredients r the same but the compounds is where they differ....so, that was most likely my issue as well.....

Good luck with ur mom's health issues...post updates when u can : )

                "selma"
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Avatar universal
Thank you, Selma - That is what I have been thinking too.  I am afraid my mom doesn't want to deal with a gluten issue, but the more I have studied it since my own diagnosis, the more I am feeling like this may have been her problem all along.

I did not even think about the compounds which holds the omeprezole together.  I know that most people think that generic is just the same as the name brand, but obviously they are not since I know she took Prylosec for a long time without these kinds of problems.  and I know that many people must take actual Synthroid instead of the generic in order to be good on their thyroid.  So maybe it is an ingredient other than the medicine itself.

I appreciate your feedback.
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620923 tn?1452915648

  Hi ur mom may have a gluten issue, and it could have been that the generic meds used a compound that she was allergic to and was not in the other meds, and that is y she did not have an issue with the other ones.....

I would also suggest u ask her Dr about trying a probiotic...it helps balance out the ph in the system...to begin with there is some bloating and  runs, but that is getting rid of unwanted bacteria etc.....

Diverticulitis is a painful condition, I had a few family members that had this and there r many foods that do need to be avoided. Have ur mom checked for allergies ask her pharmacists about the compounds in the Omeprezole  as it is the same med, but again what holds it all together may be a bit diff and something in that  does not agree with her.

  I pray u and ur mom get the answers so she is feeling better soon : )

        "selma"
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Avatar universal
Ummm.....that is not quite what I said.  My mother would never get something off the "black market" as you put it.  Her doctor is perscribing the anti-biotics.

Her friend told her what happened to her and then my mom asked her doctor about it after going through rounds and rounds of testing and no results.  The doctor decided the antibiotics were worth a try.   My mom does not take anti-biotics willy nilly....we fully understand how detrimental they are in the long term to our overall health and ability to ward off future infections.

However, when you have weeks and weeks up pain in your upper stomach area to the point that you can't go grocery shopping or to church and test after test after test shows there is nothing wrong, then you start to be willing to try anything, especially if it is recommended by someone who has had similiar issues.

I am online now to find out if anyone else has had similar experiences because the doctors are running out of ideas.

And quite honestly, medical professionals are people too....they are not all knowing gods.  It took years and years for them to figure out my health issues and I've had many mis-diagnosis which have caused even more problems.  I am finally with a naturopath who has put it all together and I am feeling better for the first time in 20 years....so please don't promote medical professionals as if they are the end of all knowledge.  It's like saying the FDA has our best interest at the heart of all their regulating decisions.....and we all know what a crock that is.
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2 Comments
Agree with you 100%  The so called top notch doctors in the country did more damage to my 12 year-old son than you would believe.  And, missed some really big things, that are common knowledge (a milk allergy, must do DXA scans if you are on Prevacid/high-dose steriods for years, etc., that side-effects from drugs were causing acute situations - optic nerve swelling, diarrhea)  ETC.  They are definitely not who you want to put all your faith in.
Hello Blondeleopard52 and welcome to MedHelp forums. We appreciate your comments and hope you come back to tell us more of the situation. An update on your son would be very helpful to others. We are sorry if you had a negative experience with the health care your child received in the past. That must be really frustrating.  
63984 tn?1385437939
Certainly it is your mom's decision, it sounds like she is going outside conventional medicine and getting antibiotics on the black market regardless of what her doctors are telling her.  Ingesting antibiotics without good reason is the beginning of a disaster.  I do hope she reconsiders.  Medical advice from a friend is very dangerous.  

My suggestion is to listen to health professionals, not friends, not people online.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your responses.

I was concerned about the infection issue as well....doesn't make sense to me.  BUT one of her friends had the same issue (supposedly) with omeprazole, and it was resolved after taking the anti-biotics.

Mom has had IBS for 20+ years and developed Diverticulosis / -itus about 10 years ago.  About 4 years ago, she had a "lead pipe" section of her colon removed and she still has many problems.  Garlic and onions in particular give her fits.

So she has been on Prylosec and Prevecid (or however it is spelled) and different meds for years trying to find relief.  The bout with Omeprezole intensified her pain quite a bit and that is why she stopped taking it.  She only took it for about 2 weeks.  Stopping actually gave her SOME relief, but she continues to be in pain in her upper stomach.

Personally, I think she has Gluten issues, and while she has cut back since my own Gluten-issue diagnosis, she has not completely stopped and as long as she is still having SOME gluten, problems will continue.  But I am not a doc....

So meanwhile, I guess we are wondering if omeprezole is one of those wonder-drugs that years down the road will turn out to be dangerous and we are looking for others who have had similar problems and what they have tried and what the results were.

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63984 tn?1385437939
I agree with Selma.  By itself, prylosec (Omeprazole) wouldn't cause an infection, and taking antibiotics would be salt to the wound.  That being said, if a doctor prescribed it, it might be an infection from another source.  Do the blood tests show an infection?  Blood tests are very specific regarding infection.  I'd advise your mother to be very careful, make sure the blood tests show infection in the system.  
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620923 tn?1452915648

  HI....Omeprazole is Prilosec...it is the same thing...just a generic name, but the same med.

  If ur mom feels worse, it could be 1 of a few things....she possibly did not need the meds as she may have a condition called hypochlorhydria which is too little stomach acid....the symptoms r very similar as when u have too much acid.

One other issue could be the fact she just stopped taking the meds...she should really step off of them slowly to avoid rebound effect...that happens bcuz the meds like Prilosec are Proton pump inhibitors- they stop acids from being produced....when u stop the meds the pumps go back on full force and u have too much acid all at once.....

  Antibiotics r not a good thing for this either..as they kill all bacteria...the good  with the bad and we need the good to help digest food...the more antibiotics we take the more there is a chance of our digestive track being unbalanced.

  Ask about probiotics.....there is testing to see if there is in fact an infection, but it will cause her to feel poorly.....especially since she already has an issue.

   Good luck

PS- Is this a GI dr that is treating her?

    "selma"
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