Antacid tablet without sugar or artificial sweeteners?

[freebird5825]

Yes, went to an ENT 15 years ago, about a persistent cough, he did a scope look at my throat, via my nasal passages. He suspected acid reflux, and prescribed Prevacid (as a prescription back then). The Prevacid worked wonders. No more coughing, no more acid. Then I went off it and the cough didn't come back for a while. But it did come back, and the acid, eventually. I don't want Barret's esophagus or any of that stuff, of course. I talked to my GP about the cough at my last physical. If I can't control the acid naturally, I may go on something like Omeprazole semi-permanently.

Excellent.

There are all sorts of lists (online) of foods to avoid if subject to excess stomach acid. Most of the lists are consistent.
Also, timing your eating of possible triggering foods while you are upright is a good way to minimize the acid reflux symptoms.
I continue to eat pizza, drink coffee and eat tomatoes and citrus fruits, but never in the evening before laying prone. I also eat easy to digest food for dinner as a preventative measure.
I also saw a reference (online) to elevating your mattress using blocks of wood under the portion where your head is.
Timing and gravity are your best allies to minimize the symptoms.

 

[MikeD]

Can one be on Prilosec indefinitely?

I hope so! I have been on Prilosec since about 1992, I think. I have diabetes related gastro-paresis, so I have a heck of a case of reflux.

Mike D.

 

[redduck]

Mike D.
Thanks, I guess "since 1992" is as indefinitely as I need.

I asked my Doctor about taking it for a long time and he reassured me that there is little if any downside to taking omeprazole (Prilosec is the name brand and costs more). He said that on the other hand, not taking it when you have long term heart burn or GERD can be very bad - people often develop Barrett's esophagus which can lead to esophageal cancer. Nasty.

You should ask your doctor about it.

Also, it's pretty cheap. Costco sells 42 20 mg tablets for $16 and it's often on sale for even less. That's 38¢ per day.

Thanks, mpeirce...

I did ask my doctor about it. But, since I've been reading this message board, I no longer trust my doctor(s), so instead I ask for and get my medical advice here. Anyhow, you confirmed what the doc told me, so I guess we're all good. I have been taking omeprazole as opposed the name brand Prilosec (In my initial post, I was not ambitious enough to find the correct spelling of "omeprazole" so I went with "Prilosec" instead). And, I do buy omeprazole at Costco. The med seems practically free, which amazes me because the Kirkland box is as attractive as the Prilosec box.

 

[Dreaming of Freedom]

My doctor does not want to keep me on Prilosec permanently because of possible longterm damage to my bones. Has anyone else heard of this? I have very frequent, often severe indigestion and frequently heartburn too. I do have minor GERD. I am only 38 and borderline normal/overweight. I just finished up 3 months of prescription strength Prilosec, and the indigestion is back just 2 days of being off the meds. I try to avoid most of the indigestion triggers: citrus, tomatoes, alcohol, carbonated beverages, caffeine, greasy foods, and so on. I will occasionally have a slice of tomato & a decaf latte, though not together. I also have had three other bad flare ups that lasted a couple months when I was younger & thinner. I am very depressed that my doctors and I cannot figure out how to control my terrible indigestion. Any tests I should insist my PCP run on me? Should I see a specialist?

 

[redduck]

One test that I know of (and took) was an "h pylori" test. Very simple, you drink some not bad testing stuff and then blow into a tube. Your get your results in 10-15 minutes. They are looking for a bacteria that may be causing GERD and/or ulcer-like symptoms.

I do see a specialist, a GI doc. For a second opinion I confer with mpeirce.

My doc said that a woman taking Prilosec over a long period of time may eventually suffer from osteoporosis.

 

[mpeirce]

I do see a specialist, a GI doc. For a second opinion I confer with mpeirce.

Note to self: add malpractice rider to umbrella policy.

 

[isepiq]

Omeprazole/Prilosec Problem

Had to stop using Omeprazole/Prilosec because it started giving me an intolerable skin rash that started having unbearable itching and it started to spread (Right arm and right foot oddly enough). It also had a substitute sweetener in it, all of which I have very bad side effects from. Pepcid Complete now has a substitute sweetener in it and also Tums. Arrrggghhhh... I can tolerate the small amounts of real sugar but not the fake sugars. I am having a terrible time with all of this.... sigh...

 

[pacergal]

ranitidine, cimetidine are alternatives to omeprazole. I prefer those.
Also use peppermint oil capsules from a natural foods store.
What has helped the most is no food or drink except water after 7pm, and avoid foods that I have found exacerbate it for me (tomato products, spicy foods, no coffee after 12pm)

 

[John Galt III]

Original Poster here. Update: I have taken myself off of the lansoprazole because I was afraid of not absorbing enough calcium in the low acid environment that lanso creates in the stomach. A minimum amount of acid is needed to absorb calcium into the blood. Told my doc about it. He's OK with it. Been 'natural' for about the last 2 years. I just make sure I don't eat or drink anything except water after 6 PM, and I can sleep without acid surging up, from about 8 or 9 PM on. However, certain trigger foods like raw onions or tomato sauce can ruin that plan. I have to consume them no later than about 3 PM to be safe for sleeping. I still get the occasional minor tickle, cough or irritation from acid in my throat during the day, and I take about an average of 3 calcium antacid pills per day for that. Good luck to all.

 

[mpeirce]

Had to stop using Omeprazole/Prilosec because it started giving me an intolerable skin rash that started having unbearable itching and it started to spread (Right arm and right foot oddly enough). It also had a substitute sweetener in it, all of which I have very bad side effects from.

At least looking at the generic Kirkland Omeprazole there aren't any sugar substitutes in there.

There are a few “inactive ingredients” including:

carnauba wax - tablet coating and binder
ferric oxide red & ferric oxide yellow - gives it the orange-ish color
hypromellose - "commonly employed cellulose ether used in the fabrication of hydrophilic matrices” for “time release”
acetate succinate - the enteric coating, protects the stomach
lactose monohydrate - milk sugar
monoethanolamine - surfactant
propylene glycol - anti caking agent
sodium lauryl sulfate - excipient
sodium starch glycolate - dissolution excipient, in a liquid causes the tablet to dissolve, generally made from potatoes or corn
sodium stearate - emulsifier, basically soap
sodium stearate fumarate - another stabilizer
talc - primarily as a glidant to improve powder flow in tablet compression
titanium dioxide - tablet coating
triethyl citrate - ester of citric acid and is commonly used as a plasticizer in pharmaceutical coatings

There you go, a trace of milk sugar, no fake sugar. And a bunch of stuff that goes into most “tablets”

https://www.costco.com/kirkland-signature-omeprazole-20-mg.,-42-tablets.product.11273073.html

 

[Bongleur]

One test that I know of (and took) was an "h pylori" test. Very simple, you drink some not bad testing stuff and then blow into a tube. Your get your results in 10-15 minutes. They are looking for a bacteria that may be causing GERD and/or ulcer-like symptoms.

Since when does H.Pylorii cause GERD? AFAIK it is the bacteria responsible for most types of ulcers; doe some ulcers cause excess acid production?

DO NOT take peppermint or any mint with GERD.
It is a smooth muscle relaxant. Great for a spastic tummy ache, but it will relax the lower esophageal sphincter as well, making your GERD _worse_.

Calcium carbonate is a terrible supplement for your bones because it has lousy bioavailability. Waste of money. And for acid, it turns into, what, some sort of calcium sulfer compound? How bioavailable is the Ca in sulfurous form?