I have only been on Nexium for about two weeks, but I feel there are days when I have more LPR symptoms than I ever had before.. I don't know if this is possible or if my LPR just has gotten that bad...
I also wonder how long you take a PPI before you know it isn't going to be the one that works and you need to switch? Thanks

From my experience,

-Started on 40mg Nexium / day for about 5-6 months.

-Then 40mg Nexium & 150 Zantac / day for 4-5 months.

-Then 80mg (2/day) Nexium & 150 Zantac / day for 3-4 months.

-Then 80mg (2/day) Nexium & 150 Zantac / day & carafate 4 times a day since November.

After this, we'll see.

New comers to GERD/LPR often overlook the fact that if there is damage to the tissues in question, the damage has most likely taken place over many many months, maybe even years. So taking Nexium(or whatever drug) is not going to fix the problem overnight. Healing is going to take a long time. In my case, I may have to be on meds for the rest of my life. Because of over-sensitivity to the tissues from being damaged? I don't know....

Hi Katscr,

I am in your same boat - I started on Prilosec OTC for 'suspected' acid, GERD, and hiatal hernia - and every since I took it (tried it for 20 days) - I have felt WORSE than I EVER did BEFORE I went on it:confused::confused:

I feel ALL my symptoms so much worse NOW and have so many new ones -- all since taking the Prilosec.

Now I have Prevacid that I am supposed to try instead and am scared it will only get worse - don't think that I could TAKE that.....

Vanessa

Nexium did nothing for me. Neither did Zantac or Protonix.

Seems to be a very stubborn thing to treat.

When I look back now, I realize I have cleared my throat for years... It wasn't painful, didn't hurt so I paid no attention.--thought it was sinuses. I actually happened to be at the ENT for another problem and cleared my throat.. He told me I had acid reflux and I told him he was crazy.. He looked up my nose and throat with some little camera thing and said your voicebox is red and irritated.. He prescribed NExium then and of course I didn't take it because it didn't bother me and I wasn't too sure he was correct.. Long story, he was right.. I should have treated my LPR at least three years ago but just started treating it... I'm sure I have longstanding damage to my esophagus.. I am sure this will take some time to
get better, but it's very strange that now on Nexium I have a lump in my throat, indigestion, I feel like acid is sitting right at the bottom of my throat waiting to shoot up, sore throat.. I only had throat clearning before--that was about it. I ate anything I wanted, drank anything I wanted. Now I truly feel like I have GERD/LPR.. This sucks

Wonder WHY these meds make us feel WORSE??? It is so strange to me?? Also I have COMPLETED modified my diet, I don't touch ANY of the bad foods and eat completely healthy -and I STILL feel like poo all the time???

What gives!!!!

Might as well have my chocolate and coffee again - if I have to feel bad anyway - they made me HAPPY!!!

I too have really cleaned up my diet--except I am still trying to drink coffee or tea in the morning but I think they have to go.. I drank one hot tea this morning and cleared my throat one thousand times... I now have a sore throat and feel like I am going to lose my voice!
And you're right, I ate and drank like a wild beast before and never really felt bad at all... I got on the Nexium and poof I can hardly eat or drink anything--I feel much worse than before!!
I am going to give up the coffee and tea and give the Nexium a few more weeks and see how I feel.
I am going to miss my morning coffee:( It makes me happy too

Yeah, coffee for me is/was the hardest thing to not drink. I still drink some, but no where near as much as I used to. Also, looking back, my symptoms did seem to get worse before things kind of got better. There are several symptoms that I have now that I didn't before I started meds. Still no where near 100% but just take it one day at a time.

A lot of people feel bad when they lay down, but I feel worse when I'm up. Recently I read that men do tend to feel worse when up, but women feel worse when laying down. /shrug

Just glad we have a place we can commiserate. :)

-Noggin

I started Nexium one month ago, after trying to fix my LPR with diet and natural products, none of which worked.
And I am still on a very bland diet, and finally feeling better:)
The Nexium is helping me:) along with no coffee no tea, etc etc.
Trying not to eat before going to sleep, all that stuff too!
But my throat is not as raw and sore, and the taste of acid has gone away. Choking is getting better too!
This is the third round I have had with Nexium ,in the last 5 years.
I have tried to get off and stay off- not possible:( for me.
Some days are better than others, but over all better:)

I'm glad you're feeling better!:angel:

I too have really cleaned up my diet--except I am still trying to drink coffee or tea in the morning but I think they have to go.. I drank one hot tea this morning and cleared my throat one thousand times... I now have a sore throat and feel like I am going to lose my voice!
And you're right, I ate and drank like a wild beast before and never really felt bad at all... I got on the Nexium and poof I can hardly eat or drink anything--I feel much worse than before!!
I am going to give up the coffee and tea and give the Nexium a few more weeks and see how I feel.
I am going to miss my morning coffee:( It makes me happy too

try decaf...Caffeine flares up GERD!!!!!

double post oops

On 40 mg Nexium about 3 months (on prevacid prior for about 6 weeks) and left with sensitivity/tenderness (not actually sore) in throat and nasal membrane which is uncomfortable but not intolerable. I also get an occasional "warmth" in my chest area which is not quite a burn. This tenderness can last 8-9 hours after just pancakes and soy milk and other times it won't appear even after a 4 course dinner at a restaurant. I haven't a clue what triggers flare-ups, since I've always eaten quite healthy and have exercised consistently for a number of decades. I have no medical problems and do not take any medication beside Nexium. I never smoked, drank alcohol or coffee. So much for a healthy lifestyle! I have a rough time not eating 2-3 hourse I go to bed since I usually eat about 6-7 small meals a day rather than 3 big ones.

Nexium has improved my situation from an almost unbearable lump in the throat feeling lasting up to 3-4 days 24/7 with letup. I'm wondering what the endoscopy findings were that you all had. Do the endoscopy findings have a correlation to how NEXIUM will effect your recovery? My endoscopy was completely clear and yet I was very uncomfortable. GI said since I was on Prevacid/Nexium for about 6 weeks prior to the endoscopy my esophagus might have cleared up already! I really doubt that. I guess the NEXIUM is working very slowly.

My second problem is that I'm taking about 5 vitamin/herbal supplements to counteract any absorption problems from the Nexium. I have to change around the supplements because some have left me with actual heartburn (never had heartburn before, just that sensitivity/tenderness).

No problems with these supplements:

NSI #1 Probiotic 15 Strains - 35 Billion CFUs with NutraFlora FOS
NSI Mega Digestive Enzymes 10X
Vitamin B-12 sublingual lozenges


Supplements that caused light heartburn:
Centrum (had to stop)
Citrucal (had to stop)

Supplements that are still unconfirmed:
Milk thistle Herbal Supplement: (not sure but think its okay)
Flaxseed oil (not sure)

I'm still searching for a calcium supplement that will not cause me stomach discomfort. I've already ordered a powdered multi-vitamin All One Nutritech Multiple Vitamin & Mineral Original Formula - to take instead of Centrum.

Also looking for an omega 3 supplement that won't irritate my stomach. I have read that a powder mutli vitamin MIGHT cause less stomach upset but I have to give this a trial run. Its not just the discomfort of Acid Reflux but trying to prevent any possible damage that might occur later on. Maybe with this regiment of supplements + Nexium I might expect a consistent improvement. My GI doesn't really have any answers for me. Its all trial and error.

Do you guys have nausea with your assortment of symptoms as well? I am still trying to figure out whether it is reflux/hernia related or stomach/medicine related. It sure is unpleasant to have though.

Nausea has never been a symptom for me in ten years. However, vitamins make me totally nauseous if I dont eat anything beforehand. My guess is it is something else and not a symptom. Question...does anyone take meds for anxiety/depression and notice their gerd gets better? Im trying to remember if my symptoms were better on lexapro, but it was so freaking long ago...and Id rather not go back on lexapro unless I remembered feeling better. hmmmm just a thought.

Nausea has never been a symptom for me in ten years. However, vitamins make me totally nauseous if I dont eat anything beforehand. My guess is it is something else and not a symptom. Question...does anyone take meds for anxiety/depression and notice their gerd gets better? Im trying to remember if my symptoms were better on lexapro, but it was so freaking long ago...and Id rather not go back on lexapro unless I remembered feeling better. hmmmm just a thought.

I have 1/2 of a .5 m tablet of xanax which I take when a flare-up hits in certain social/sports situations. I've used the 'emergency anxiety reliever' about 6 times in the past 4 months. It has given me 'relief' that wasn't total but definitely assuaged my situation enough to carry through the discourse at the time. I'm not depressed so I balk at taking anti depressants when the xanax works quickly and I use it very sparingly. Nausea has never been associated with gerd but rather with the added supplements I take because of absorption problems. My gerd is almost 95% in my throat/nasal region and a flare-up can last most of the day. Its very exasperating that I might be in the middle of a workout or in the movie theater feeling just great when the gerd hits. Its tough on my family who are used to me being an outdoorsy, try anything type. Now I'm reluctant to make long distance plans.

call me stupid for not knowing or researching the basics of this drug but I just read on the Nexium site that closed clinical studies have not been done past 6 months. So does this mean they don't really no the effects of this drug for someone taking it longer than that?? I must be reading wrong because aren't there people here who have been taking it for years? I don't even know how long it has been on the market. All I know is that it seems to work well for me.