Has Zantac helped you?

unruhe · 03-05-2007, 11:59 AM

I have reflux following 6 rounds of antibiotics for bronchitis, sinus infections and walking pneumonia. In some of the cases, I believe the antibiotics were prescribed for the cough, which was actually caused by the reflux.

They want me to take Zantac, but I'm hesitant. Has it helped long term? Can you actually get off of the stuff? I don't want to be on it for years because it screwed up my stomach acid production..

wpshooter · 03-05-2007, 05:28 PM

It sort of depends on how bad your reflux is as to how much any of these given medicines will help you. I am currently taking both Nexium during day and 300mg of Zantac at night and the reflux still bothers me some. It just depends on how long I can go withOUT stretching out to sleep, read that as sleep setting up. From what I understand this depends upon how bad the opening to the top of your stomach (I believe it it Splincster) is. In my case it appears, that is is fairly bad but I talked to someone recently who according to their symptoms, was even worst than mine. I am really dreading it but I am considering having surgery to fix mine. The person I referred to said that the surgery had helped her greatly and that she does not have to take any medicine anymore.

Good luck.

unruhe · 03-05-2007, 05:38 PM

Hi wpshooter,

I went through all the odd postions with the barium while getting the upper gi and nothing. only at the end, while lying on my back, drinking gulps of water and doing a stomach crunch did i reflux. (who wouldn't under those conditions? i mean seriously...)

the only reflux symptoms are cough and heart palps here and there. (EKG was normal). both are much better after starting refrigerated probiotic and acidophilus. my theory is, the stupid antibiotics screwed up my stomach.

AND...get this...albuterol, advair, and asthma inhalants can "relax" your LES, which keeps the acid in the stomach. ain't that grand? the docs have been pushing the albuterol and advair for the cough, and here it's contributing to the reflux. i swear, i am not taking any more drugs.

so thanks for your response, but i don't really trust any of the docs or the drug companies who say it will "help." i'm not taking the zantac. they can laugh at me all they want. screw them.

as with everything else, there is a balance. drugs help one thing, but screw up another.

wpshooter · 03-05-2007, 06:01 PM

Yes, I have been wondering a while about this. Because for about 5 to 6 years, up until about 2 years ago I was taking prescribed Neurontin for pain that I have been having from a botched hernia operation 21 years ago. And sometimes, I have a snicking feeling that this might have been what started my reflux problem. I am still having to (and apparently will until I leave this earth) take pain medicine on almost a daily basis for the pain but NOT the Neurontin.

Thanks.

unruhe · 03-05-2007, 06:07 PM

I am sorry if I sounded bitter in the post. It's been going on a few months now, but I realize that is nothing compared to some others and yourself included, who have dealt with this for 21 years.

I'm not necessarily blaming it on the docs. Most practice what they are taught. And it seems like they are taught to just prescribe a drug. If that causes problems, then they write another script for a drug, etc...etc...

The drug companies don't help either when they don't fully research side effects (propulsid, anyone?).

I am just disgusted with the whole system, frankly.

If you have a gut feeling (pardon the expression) that your reflux is tied to a botched hernia operation, pursue that line of thinking. Nobody knows your body better than you do. Good luck with that!