I feel terrible coming off Omeprazole

Have you been using omeprazole for quite some time? Then you must be found coming off of it quite difficult. This article will discuss “Why I feel terrible coming off omeprazole.”

Most people assume that these over-the-counter heartburn medicines are absolutely safe to use. Why would FDA allow them to be available without a prescription otherwise? The main problem is that the proton pump inhibitors like omeprazole can have many severe withdrawal symptoms.

Before discussing omeprazole’s side effects, let’s learn a little about it.

Why it’s challenging to get off of Omeprazole?

Omeprazole is a commonly used drug for gastroesophageal reflux and peptic ulcer diseases. There are chronic diseases that require long-term treatment with the drugs. People used these medicines for a few weeks to months.

During treatment, when the gastric mucosa improves, that provides enough protection from the acids. In that case, there is no proper reason to continue taking medicine. However, getting off from the omeprazole is not that easy for everyone.

Omeprazole withdrawal symptoms

Here is the few possible withdrawal symptoms list:

1. Heartburn

According to the research, heartburn is among the most common withdrawal symptom of omeprazole. Heartburn is a specific form of indigestion commonly called the burning sensation in the chest or near the heart. Around 45% of people experience heartburn after the withdrawal of the medicine.

2. Dyspepsia

Dyspepsia, also known as indigestion, is the second most frequently reported symptom. It emerges from the discontinuation of the omeprazole. The discontinuation of the drug will suddenly cause difficulty in food digestion.

According to the research, 30% of the people who discontinue it after using it for four weeks experience this symptom.

3. Acid reflux

According to the research, acid reflux is omeprazole’s third most common withdrawal symptom. After the withdrawal, the excessive secretion of the drug takes place, resulting in the flow of stomach acid back into the esophagus.

4. Appetite loss

Many users reported a decrease in their appetites after discontinuing the omeprazole. There are many possible reasons for appetite loss, but rebound acid hyper-secretion of the rebound acid is probably the most common one.

5. Constipation

After coming off omeprazole, many people experience constipation. Constipation, while the withdrawal, is due to decreased gastric motility and prolonged food movement through the gastric motility. It can also result from the disturbance in the amount of stomach acids.

6. Anxiety

Even if you don’t have any history of anxiety, omeprazole withdrawal can result in the symptoms like panic attacks, nervousness, and anxiety.

How to come off Omeprazole?

I feel terrible coming off Omeprazole. If you are among these people, I have some expert recommendations on discontinuing the medicine to minimize its side effects.

Note: Consult your physician before discontinuing a drug.

1. Slowly decrease the dosage.

Instead of a sudden pause in the drug, reduce it gradually. The gradual decrease is known as the weaning off, as it will avoid the side effects. For example, consider you are taking 10mg of omeprazole two times a day. You can start to cut it off by taking it once a day. After that, you can further reduce it to taking once every other day. You can continuously reduce it to two weeks.

2. Change in dietary habits

To reduce acid secretion, you can adopt healthy dietary changes. Otherwise, you will be stuck asking yourself, “ I feel terrible coming off omeprazole.”  By decreasing the carbonated soda, you can reduce the intake of carbonic acid as the acid increases stomach acidity. By avoiding this, you can reduce the stomach acidity.

Caffeinated products are the big culprits in acid production. By limiting your caffeine intake, you can get many health benefits as well. Don’t immediately lie down after your meal, as it will benefit digestion.

3. Lifestyle changes

Before going off omeprazole, you must make several lifestyle changes. Let’s discuss some changes to improve your lifestyle. Give up on smoking, as smoking can increase acid production in the stomach.

Keep your head slightly above the body while sleeping. It will prevent the backing up of the acid back to the throat and esophagus. You can use an additional pillow if necessary. Decrease the alcohol intake to a minimum point.

Drink plenty of water to dilute the stomach acids. After having a meal wait for an hour before doing any exercise.

FAQ’s

How long do the omeprazole symptoms last?

After discontinuing omeprazole, patients can have reflux symptoms for two weeks. Fortunately, there are many practical ways to calm these symptoms till your hyperacidity issues resolve.

Is it hard to get off omeprazole?

Coming off these medicines is challenging, as many people can have symptoms for 12 to 14 days of discontinuity. So be patient and know that you can feel worse for two weeks until your body starts readopting to the changes.

Can omeprazole damage the nerve?

Omeprazole doesn’t cause any permanent damage to the nerves, though it does cause the nerve inflammation. The symptoms of nerve inflammation include numbness and tingling sensation.

Conclusion

Getting off of the omeprazole is a difficult task. If you feel why I feel terrible coming off omeprazole, this detailed article will give you our answer.

Do consult your doctor before discontinuing any medication. By slowly reducing the amount of your dosage, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and making positive dietary changes, you can get rid of the omeprazole without having any complications or side effects.

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