Hey all,

I'm asking this question for my mom.

She was prescribed Nexium by her ENT. He thinks her irritated throat and irritated vocal chords may be due to GERD.

Anyway, she started taking the Nexium 3 days ago, once a day.

Today, she was having severe reflux. She claimed that she started to feel discomfort two days ago.

Prior to taking Nexium, she never noticed herself having cases of reflux. However, after starting the meds, it is very noticeable.

My question is, is it possible for Nexium to cause the reflux when its job is to stop it?

Thanks!

Yes it is possible. I have tried just about all the medicines for gerd and they all have made me feel worse after just a couple of days.

Laurie

Prilosec OTC neutralized the acid but did nothing for my reflux. Most PPI'S I have been on did the same , and I 've been on them all . Mostly PPI's made me feel not well ,all the time , flu like symptoms, I just did not feel well or normal. I have noticed that when I eat apples , oh by the way I'm off PPI'S I have less heart burn. And I think it helps my digestion.

Can Nexium completely stop the reflux? I've done some reading. As we know, it is supposed to inhibit gastric acid secretion by blocking the final step of acid production. It does that wonderfully and without any doubt. Nowhere did it say that it will actually CURE the acid reflux. I wonder if it is possible. Perhaps any potential healing depends on the severity of the condition at the time the treatment begins and whether or not there are other GERD related issues present. Does anyone know for sure?

PPIs do NOT "stop reflux(ing)". They only reduce acid IN the refluxate. You will still reflux; but it should just be less acidic.

PPIs are not "cures" (even in the maintenance sense). They only help reduce symptoms. There is no real cure known to solve the basic problem as yet: unreliably opening sphincter.

As far as is it possible to feel poorly, I don't know. I haven't even heard much discussion on this. I guess you could. It might even be that the acid is so reduced that you feel effects of the other aspects of refluxate; some of us have bile going up all the time, which also eventually irritates things.

Ol' Line Rebel,

thank you for your explanation. I did not think anything could make our reflux go away. Luckily, the meds can make it more bearable. I think Nexium has helped me with more than just lowering the gastric acid production. It's expensive but worth it.

Another question: what are the known long-term effects of Nexium and other PPIs? Has proper long-term testing ever been done? Or is this one of the drugs whose potential harmful effects, if taken over a long period of time, are unknown?

Another question: what are the known long-term effects of Nexium and other PPIs? Has proper long-term testing ever been done? Or is this one of the drugs whose potential harmful effects, if taken over a long period of time, are unknown?

One of the possible long term side effects of PPIs are malabsorbtion of some minerals. A number of nutrients require acid for proper absorbtion, so supplements may be in order if you are to use the PPIs long term.

Thank you for your reply, Red.

I am considering staying on the PPIs indefinitely, providing my specialist is in agreement with me on this. That is the reason I wanted to know about any possible harmful effects of Nexium. The cost of this therapy is one consideraton, its long-term effects the other.

flowergirl

Hi, I'm new in here just looking around. :) I found this on Nexium I have taken them for years and don't suffer from reflux anymore. I do have a problem with taking Nurofen when I get a lot of pain weather it's a migraine or tummy pain, with Nexium taking Nurofen makes me vomit :( does anyone else have this problem ?

I've been taking Nexium for several years now and it has stopped the reflux :) The main problem I have with taking Nexium, if I try to take Nurofen for really bad pain or migraines I get very sick :( Does anyone else have this problem ?

Sorry just ignore this post as I double posted by mistake and can't delete.

Thanks for sharing that, Dawn. :) I have stomach discomfort and nausea anyway, so that's not something that would deter me from taking Nexium long-term. Good to know others have taken it for long periods of time with few or no harmful effects.