Question for anyone with acid reflux (GERD)

[chrissyk]

Has anyone w/chronic acid reflux/GERD ever had their medication stop working out of the blue? I've been on a particular PPI with no problems for 2.5 years. Suddenly it's not working at all anymore I have a call in to my primary care Dr., but it looks like I'm going to have to be seen to get a change of perscription. Is it common to have to periodically change medications to control chronic reflux? I'd rather not increase my doseage if at all possible, since I'm relatively young and I don't want to have to keep upping the amount of reflux medication I'm taking every couple of years.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Well what I can say is that only Prevacid works for me...Why....don't know.

As far as "suddenly not working"....Are you following the "Reflux Rules"?
No caffeine, no carbonated beverages, no coffee, not eating late before bed, etc...

I hate reflux....I am having a very hard time with changing my diet. I don't wanna.....
I need to give up coffee....

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Usually one dose is enough but sometimes people have to take two, from what my Dr. told me. I metabolize meds pretty fast. Things wear off pretty quick when I have a surgery or something like that. Could be related. I was prescribed a pill in the morning and evening and that worked better.

 

[auntimaryann]

I was diagnosed with GERD a year and a half ago and have been on three or four different meds and it seems that after a few months, the meds stop working - I am currently taking zegerid 40 mg twice a day and after three months it's now not working as well. Maybe stress with the holidays has something to do with it, but I don't know what meds will be prescribed now, since I think I've taken all that's available. I have a appt with dr the end of January. I've been trying to watch my diet; any suggestions on what doesn't bother it?

 

[chrissyk]

I wish that I could identify dietary triggers, but they just don't seem to matter for me. When my medication was working, I could eat anything and not have any problems. Now I can avoid all of the supposed "trigger" foods and still have reflux. I had very good luck with this particular medication for 2.5 years. I wish I knew why it just stopped working. I'm hopeful that my Dr. can find another medication that will work as well, but now I'm going to worry that that one will eventually stop working too.

 

[LucyStorm]

More stress around the holidays? Higher fat foods? Did you put on weight? Any of those could cause the meds to seem to not work.

Best thing I ever did for my GERD was lose 35 pounds. Unfortunately, I put 25 of them back on.....

 

[auntimaryann]

I would be interested in what you dr. suggests, whether he changes the medication or increases the dosage. BTW - what medication are you taking. It seems now almost anything I eat bothers me and sometimes I even think that water does?

I was thinking of getting a second opinion on my condition. Don't know if there is anything else that can be prescribed or done other than medication.

Thanks for your reply.

 

[Beca]

Nexium stopped working for my mom, so she turned to natural products. She tried MANY, but nothing worked. Finally she brought a product called Refluxamine off the internet...she said it has worked better than Nexium ever did. It's pretty expensive, but you might give it a try.

 

[Christine]

Yes, I think it is common. I have been on Prilosec for years and I think, honestly, it's not working for me anymore. I've just been trying to ignore it because I don't want to go through a medication change. My GI doc always prescribes the next higher dose.

I don't know if the medication stops working or if the GERD just keeps progressing. Also, realize, that when you are on the PPI for awhile you stomach gets used to not having any acid. So when you start getting *some* acid, it will bother you more.

 

[chrissyk]

Yes, I think it is common. I have been on Prilosec for years and I think, honestly, it's not working for me anymore. I've just been trying to ignore it because I don't want to go through a medication change. My GI doc always prescribes the next higher dose.

I don't know if the medication stops working or if the GERD just keeps progressing. Also, realize, that when you are on the PPI for awhile you stomach gets used to not having any acid. So when you start getting *some* acid, it will bother you more.

I really think that my acid level is back up to where it was (or close to it). I apologize if this is TMI, but my main reflux symptom is diarrhea caused by the excess acid. My Dr. explained to me why this happens, but I can't remember exactly. Anyways, that symptom has come back with a vengeance, which makes me think that my acid level is actually back up to where it was before the medication started working

 

[chrissyk]

More stress around the holidays? Higher fat foods? Did you put on weight? Any of those could cause the meds to seem to not work.

Best thing I ever did for my GERD was lose 35 pounds. Unfortunately, I put 25 of them back on.....

I think I have gained a few holiday pounds lately, but I'm still w/in the average weight range for my height. Even when I was 20 pounds less, I still had bad reflux. I've had it for as long as I can remember, even when I was a skinny little 3rd grader. I can remember sitting there in my classroom before lunch with a horrible burning in my throat every day My Dr. said it's some sort of congenital problem (runs in my family ), and that it can only be controlled with medication. I am still hoping that he's wrong about that, because I really don't like being on medication for anything.

The medication is Protonix for the poster who asked.

 

[SillyMe]

I have read that this is common. If you want the name of the forum, PM me.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I can remember sitting there in my classroom before lunch with a horrible burning in my throat every day My Dr. said it's some sort of congenital problem (runs in my family ), and that it can only be controlled with medication. I am still hoping that he's wrong about that, because I really don't like being on medication for anything.

The medication is Protonix for the poster who asked.

Have you done the scope down the throat test or a colonoscopy?
Sounds like you have not....go get both and get your stuff confirmed. It really helps just knowing what is going on inside your body, trust me.

 

[chrissyk]

Have you done the scope down the throat test or a colonoscopy?
Sounds like you have not....go get both and get your stuff confirmed. It really helps just knowing what is going on inside your body, trust me.

Yes, I've done the colonoscopy, barium enema, and flex. sigmoidoscopy. I've never done the upper GI, though, because my gastroenterologist stated that the effectiveness of the Protonix would be diagnostic. It was very effective very quickly and all upper and lower GI symptoms ceased, so I was diagnosed with reflux that way if that makes sense.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Yes, I've done the colonoscopy, barium enema, and flex. sigmoidoscopy. I've never done the upper GI, though, because my gastroenterologist stated that the effectiveness of the Protonix would be diagnostic. It was very effective very quickly and all upper and lower GI symptoms ceased, so I was diagnosed with reflux that way if that makes sense.

Wow! Sounds like a blast.
I had the endoscopy & colonoscopy at the same time. She confirmed my reflux...kind of obvious, and also I had a precancerous polyp removed....SURPRISE! I am only 41.