Prevacid Not Working - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

donsabi · 02-24-2005, 05:38 AM

I have been diagnosed with GERD and Prevacid was prescribed. Two months later and my symptoms have worsen. Now I get heartburn severe enough to wake me several times even with my upper body elevated. As bad as the heartburn is it dissipates as soon as I sit up or stand. The lack of sleep is causing other problems though out the day. My voice has become course and I seem to always have mucus in my throat which I can never seem to clear completely.
Any suggestions or comments are appreciated. Thanks.

Tesss · 02-24-2005, 12:53 PM

Hi
I found that prevacid didn't really work for me. My doctor has now given me omeprazole (sorry don't know the american name for it) and it works better for me (unfortunately Ive had to stop taking it because Ive had a dizzy/balance illness and all stomach stuff makes it worse).
I take slippery elm capsules from the health food shop which seem to have mostly gotten rid of the horrible ball of mucus in the back of the throat and my sore throats have vastly reduced. I also take aloe vera which seems to help aswell - although Id recommend you get inner leaf gel juice and take it on an empty stomach.
I am sleeping better. Its really the pits isn't it.
Hope that helps. You can also try taking zantac regularly although it won't work as fast as ppis.
Best wishes
Tess

Tesss · 02-24-2005, 01:13 PM

Hi again.
Just thought of other things - you shouldn't eat late at night ie latest meal about 3 hours before going to bed. You should aviod tea, coffee, chocolate, high fat foods, alcohol, orange juice, tomatoes, peppermints - all of these either cause more acid or cause the valve at the top of the stomach to weaken and open, causing heartburn/GERD.
Theres loads of advice on the internet - just search on GERD.
Hope that all helps. Let me know if it helps or if anything else works for you.
Best wishes
Tess

donsabi · 02-25-2005, 06:06 PM

Tesss
Thanks for the advice. I tried the slippery elm and to my amazement my mucus has been greatly reduced. My voice has almost returned to normal. I am having a little trouble locating the aloe vera gel, I found the juice, but I will continue to search. Question; Did you take the zantac while you were taking prevacid?
BTW, I saw my MD a he told me to take the prevacid 2x daily and recommended having an endoscopy.
Once again, thank you.

Tesss · 02-26-2005, 06:17 AM

Hi Donsabi
Im so pleased the slippery elm helped you! I think its great and I wouldn't be without it!
I got the aloe vera juice online. I tried whole leaf juice and it caused me stomach aches, it has a strong laxative effect, inner leaf gel or juice made from pure inner leaf doesn't have that effect. Im not sure if I can post company names on here, if you are still having trouble let me know and I will get the name to you.

Zantac makes me dizzy since having vestibular neuronitis (balance/dizzyness virus) so I don't take it, but I have read of others taking zantac at the same time as ppis and its fine and hopefully will make a difference. I think you have to wait for 2 hours after taking the ppi before taking the zantac otherwise the zantac will basically dissolve the ppi. i think a lot of people take a ppi in the morning and then the zantac at night. Its worth a shot.
So are you going to have an endoscopy and when? It would be good to know what damage there is and if theres a reason for the GERD eg hernia?

Sorry this message is so long, but why don't you have a look at LPR, I think there are threads on it, because for LPR the normal dose of ppi doesn't work so they double up the dose. Maybe your symptoms fit that, although LPR doesn't tend to cause heartburn. I guess the endoscopy would diagnose that maybe? I don't know?

hope that is useful, and hope you start to improve soon
Best wishes

Tesss