Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Get Off Those Prescription Acid-Reducing Drugs

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articl...Drugs-ASAP.aspx

OK. So, it's our friend Mercola again - but, he's always with his nose to the ground searching out info on meds... He's picked up on this one, re PPIs (the same as I posted about a few weeks ago). PPIs aint good for you. *Why You Should Get Off Prescription Acid-Reducing Drugs ASAP!*
(snip...) "“If rebound acid hypersecretion induces acid-related symptoms, this might lead to PPI dependency. Our results justify the speculation that PPI dependency could be one of the explanations for the rapidly and continuously increasing use of PPIs.”

"Acid-Reducing Drugs are the Opposite of What Most People With Acid Reflux Need" (more...)

Read the full article and then check out the comments in the Forum. Enlightening.

Hey, Molly:

For those interested in fighting off the flu, it is best to keep stomach acid high (low pH); people taking antacids contract the flu at twice the rate of the normal population. The acid is there for several reasons but it might also be an effective virus disassembler.

Regards,
John

very interesting statistic, John!

I know it's been stated here often about drinking RAW apple cider vinegar or kombucha tea to help get your body pH balanced & your gut acidified properly, not to mention the added probiotics that go with them naturally.

I remember reading that historically, most of these common types of problems did not exist/were not an epidemic problem in our past because they had healthier guts back then. The main reason people got sick was improper hygiene (rats). Otherwise they were pretty healthy, immune-wise.

John - Facinating piece of info. Will cite you... Thanks.

What about the nsaid caused acid problems? I didn't have an acid problem until I started taking Celebrex. It hurts so bad I nearly vomit if I don't take 150 mg of ranitidine (zantac) as fast as I can when it flares.

Is this just another case of AS darned if you do, darned if you don't? What a frustrating disease.

Hi Donette - Never had this prob with Celebrex and have been on Celebrex since 2001/2? Had GERD way before I even had heard of Celebrex. But, everyone is different and what affects one need not necessarily affect the other.

What I find I can't take nowadays is wine. A couple of glasses and I'm feeling nausea and reflux'ish. FIRST time ever for me. Sigh. (Big bore - though keeps shopping bills down!! 'smile'.)

Also find that ANY bread after say 6p.m. and I'm in a state of feeling 'nauseaus'. Yep. Tedious & frustrating in the extreme.

I started having GERD problems even before this (spondy) hit. So what am I suppose to take then? Also, I'm on pred and I'm suppose to be on something that protects the stomach. If not my PPI then what?

thanks
Jewelz

i started with really bad gastritis when i was 30. it wasn't from any medication, stress, food, etc. its a genetic thing. everyone on my mother's side of the family had ulcers in the past, before there were drug solutions. while watching my diet (avoiding certain foods i know i can't eat like acidic food and underripe fruit and dairy, and eating certain things that seem to be especially good for it like ginger and mint), never letting my stomach become too empty so frequent meals, staying away from caffeine are all helpful, all that alone is not enough. before i started the prilosec, my stomach was scary bad. maybe i produce so much acid that the drug is making my stomach just normal, i don't know. but i need the drug. i tried some of the milder medications and none of them worked. don't know if the drug is producing rebound acid, guess we'll never know at this point. all i know is that i need it as part of what i do. my relatives in the past did not have access to these drugs and two died from stomach complications - an aunt died when she was 40 from a bleeding ulcer and a great grandfather died from stomach cancer. i've been on prilosec for 16 years and have never had an ulcer, just gastritis that flares up now and then at which point i up the ginger and mint (i don't have GERD so can use mint) and if it gets really bad, i have no choice but to take mylanta at night before bed or my stomach starts to eat itself as it empties through the night. i guess its a matter of weighing the pros and cons and finding what works for each of us. i honestly don't know what i would do without the prilosec, maybe end up like my aunt or great grandfather?

but i do appreciate knowing what the prilosec might be doing to me.
if i felt i had another choice, i might consider it.

jewelz - you will need to discuss this with your doctor. But, you do not need to go the PPI route.

I take Gavascon, which works fine for me. I also take enzymes and plain yogurt. Now there is stuff named Maalox which is a gut protector but, it is buffered with Aluminium so I refuse to take it. (It sits staring on my no-no shelf!)

There are all kinds of things you CAN take instead of those PPIs. Kefir is good, and you can make up your own. Another thought, yes, check out Mercola.com he'll have some suggestions.

Go well -

Molly C (France)

Sue I guess I'm like you I started taking prilosec long before it was "otc" and still take it. It helps me bigtime. I tried stopping and then the heartburn comes back and here comes the prilosec. Well lets see what happens and hope for the best.