My gastro doc is telling me that I have to wait 21 days after I stop taking Protonix before trying to get pregnant. Do these drugs really stay in your system for that long??

I think it can stay in your system that long, but is he/she sure you have to wait? I've read posts on this board that you can take PPIs DURING pregnancy. This is also an issue for me since I'd like to have a baby soon but have horrible GERD.

I think it can stay in your system that long, but is he/she sure you have to wait? I've read posts on this board that you can take PPIs DURING pregnancy. This is also an issue for me since I'd like to have a baby soon but have horrible GERD.

The gastro doctor said that "the literature" says to wait 21 days to avoid the risk of birth defects. But my OB/GYN said that I didn't have to wait that long and that you can take them during pregnancy (although I think he said not in the 1st trimester). So I'm totally confused and scared that one of these doctors doesn't know what the heck he's talking about.

I've decided not to take them until after I have a baby - or stop trying : ) - and if the GERD gets really bad I'll have to decide what to do - maybe take them in 2nd trimester? I'll have to do more research, I guess.

I just had no idea that the drugs would stay in your system that long. That seems really toxic to me.