Rebound effect

Found this article on the rebound effect (in regards to PPIs). I?ve heard of this before. Our body becomes reliant on the PPI, and when we try to abruptly stop we can get raging GERD. I wonder how many people have VSG related GERD vs the rebound effect. Something to consider. One thing is for sure, this isn?t a med that should be abruptly stopped.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/23311977/

Thanks for posting it. I was put on it before surgery because some of the meds I was taking for auto-immune are notoriously hard on the stomach. I'm off those meds, but they're having me continue the PPI, and I've been wondering if I could try getting off of it. I'll bring it up with my rheumy next time I see her.

I was taking them for awhile for a period of heartburn I was having. It took me months to get off. I literally did 7 pills per week, then 6 pills, then 5 pills until I got to 1 pill. Then I would take them if I knew I was going to eat heavy, and then then as needed, which eventually became never. That with my diet changes cured my heartburn (and i say heartburn because I never had an official dx of GERD.) This was before VSG of course, so things may be different, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Before I started losing weight, I was taking about two Prilosec tablets a week. Once I started my pre-op program, I didn't need them at all. After sleeve surgery, the doc put me on a daily dose as a precautionary measure, but told me after a few months to start "weaning myself off". He was specific about not stopping it all at once.

I am down to about two a week again, and stretching it out a little further as I go. It all depends on how much Mrs. Renfro's ghost pepper sauce or similar stuff I eat in a given week. But yeah, the important thing I got from him was to gradually stop it. Every now and then a couple of Tums will do the trick and let me extend for another day before the next Prilosec.

That's great! And yes that's how you have to do it. It's very strategic..lol. Glad you have been able to somewhat overcome the PPI/GERD.

I wish I had known this a couple of months ago. I had awful heartburn when my doctor told me to stop taking protonics. At my visit last week, he gave me another prescription and said I could take it on an as needed basis, unless I need it more than 3 days per week - then I should take it daily for a while. After reading this, I think I'll stick to tums. The heartburn is mild now.

You could also try an H2 blocker like Pepcid, maybe?

Yes I have those on standby too! Thanks!

I figured this would help someone. It's definitely a tricky med to come off on. Hopefully with this knowledge you stand a chance now!!

I investigate everything my doctor tells me anymore. When my doc first introduced me to Prilosec, I was assured, "You can take this every day for the rest of your life with no worries". I found that a little hard to believe. Here we are years down the road, finding out this stuff isn't all that good for us on a long term basis. What a surprise.