Nexium healed me but when I stopped it GERD started again.

[Ato]

Hi, I'm living with GERD for more than 6 years. I've done Endoscopy but no serious problem found on my stomach. My Doctor prescribed me Nexium 40mg a day for 2 months. I felt happy because the GERD is gone even the Acids, I didn't feel at all. After few weeks after stopping taking Nexium, the GERD started again and sometimes, heartburn and acids are attacking me again.

Now, my question is, Is it ok to become dependent on Nexium? Like everyday, I must take 1 capsule? Nexium healed me, but i have to take everyday, I don't know when to stop. Is there any side effects if everyday im taking it? I'd rather to become dependent than experiencing GERD for the rest of my life. Thanks.
    

[GhostOf1901]

The problem with PPI's -- any PPI, whether Nexium, Aciphex, Prilosec, or Prevacid (which I'm currently on, 30mg/2xday for GERD) -- is that once you go off of it, the stomach goes into overdrive with creating acid. Unfortunately, the rule of thumb there is that it'll do that for about as long as you were taking it. (If you were taking it for a month, then it'll happen for a month after.)

After you get off the medication, you should SERIOUSLY consider supplementing your diet with probiotics and enzymes. Try also taking DGL before every meal and some form of papaya (fruit or concentrate, though best is fruit). You may also wan to try out the "Natural EsophaGuard with ROH10" by a company called "Life Extension" (I think that's the name. Try typing all the terms into a search engine and see what comes up). Finally, try to notice whether there's any association with food you're eating. While you might not be intolerant, per se, too much of one type of food (like in my case, grains) may trigger symptoms.

Good luck.

[emmim44]

Nexium didnt helped my GERD plus it poisened me at this age-27.... I have lots of joint pains. I have reported this to some TV channels ... lets see. I have a sample letter that I mailed out to Astra Zeneca as well. if you need it, let me know

[AHigherVibration]

I was wondering if you've had a blood test for h. pylori.  My doctor rubber-stamped me with GERD.  The blood test for h. pylori came back neg. but I still had the symptoms ie. painfull stomach and small intestine, and acid reflux.  Now I am on antiboitics and feel much better.  Could be you have the same thing.  I don't think anyone should suffer with gerd.  I believe it is a symptom because acid reflux is caused by the stomach not being able to move the food and acid along the digestive track.  Good luck.

[Robbie76]

I have the same concerns.  I've been taking nexiium every day for several years because nothing else worked.  I recently had a colonoscopy and my gastroenterologist asked me if I really needed it every day.  He said there have been reports of hip/joint issues and recommended I try to take it every other day.  It seems to work alright but sometimes I get a bout of chest pressure and when I take a nexiium, it goes away after a few hours.  So I don't know what the answer is, my family doc says I can take it the rest of my life if need be but my gut feeling is long term medication use has to cause some effects.