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How to handle Acid Rebound

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Posted 2/9/2016 10:26 PM (GMT -8)
Hello. This is my first post here. I've been on Dexilant 60mg PLUS Zantac 300 mg for 9 months for gastritis and gerd. I weaned off the Dexilant slowly over 3 months and took my last one 5 days ago (but have remained on 300 mg Zantac). I'm having horrible acid rebound now. Do you think I should take more Zantac -- like maybe 450mg or even 600mg a day -- to cover the acid rebound? I'm afraid the 300 mg I've been taking for months has lost it's effectiveness and I need some more to replace the PPI I just discontinued. PS -- I'm sleeping with a wedge, eating bland foods every 3 hours, not eating 3 hours before bed, taking DGL and other supplements and doing all the other recommended actions. Thanks so much.
Posted 2/11/2016 4:38 PM (GMT -8)
Hello. Acid rebound is normal when weaning off PPIs. Many people have to back up and wean off slower when pain from acid rebound is too great. The article link below discusses how to wean off PPIs. The areas that might be of most help are the "Weaning Process" and "The 5R Program for Lifestyle Modification" The 5Rs are remove, replace, repopulate, repair and rebalance.

Remove heartburn triggers. You seem to be doing some of the things like eating bland, eating more frequently and not eating before meals. The wedge should be helping too.
Replace missing vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
Repopulate healthy intestinal bacteria with probiotics and prebiotics.
Repair the mucous membrane of your gastrointestinal tract with mucilage like aloe vera and your DGL.
Rebalance the body through stress management and exercise.

Hope the article and your doctor can help you past this. It's no fun. I've been there.

http://howtotreatheartburn.com/how-to-wean-off-ppis-and-why/
Posted 2/11/2016 9:15 PM (GMT -8)
Thank you so much! I talked to my naturopath and am going to go back to my previous lowest dose of the PPI and wean a bit slower from there.
Posted 2/14/2016 5:24 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Livejoy:)

How come u have gastritis so long? I had a really bad case which near killed me I lost so much weight n had that h pylori infection which was so nasty it was coming into my neck n mouth with acid I felt like I'd swine flu....anyhow I eventually got rid of gastritis which I didn't know how much of a miracle it was until I got it back....I was also suffering low potassium n low iron so was just in bits....still combatting those deficiencies...not fun!

Until I got antibiotics for h pylori which went months undiagnosed(stupid doctors) n stupid me for letting them say it was just gastritis!!! But the very last flagyl totally tore up my tummy again...I got so weak from not being able able to eat again ...I couldn't believe it n u know my instinct warned me not to take that last one!!! Need to start trusting that like seriously so here I am into 7th month of illness so was just wondering why yours going on so long?? Have u lost weight?
Posted 2/14/2016 9:27 AM (GMT -8)
Hi Melig. I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. I've lost way too much weight too. I think my gastritis may be gone but I'm having a tough time getting off the PPI now because of rebound acid secretion. I tapered slowly but I guess it wasn't slow enough. I rue the day I ever took a PPI. I hope you feel better soon.
Posted 2/14/2016 10:31 AM (GMT -8)
I got lucky and none worked for me so I only took nexium here and there. I did get rebound tho when I did a 2 week stint on it. Since I haven't taken anything in 2 weeks and as long as I don't eat something stupid "fried sushi" the other night. Just 3'pieces or "chicken pesto flatbread" I seem to have very little problems. Good luck it will get better!
Posted 2/15/2016 5:23 AM (GMT -8)
Good Morning,
I have been on PPIs for approximately 10 yrs following a bowel resection for diverticulitis. After seeing all the info on the horrible side effects of these,and having been diagnosed with at least half of the conditions related to side effects, tried to stop taking them on my own. After 4 days, I had to resume; thought I was going to die from rebound acid. Currently on Nexium everyday. Can't lessen the dose except by skipping days.
Any suggestions?
Posted 2/15/2016 1:48 PM (GMT -8)
Hi mngranny. what I am doing is counting the beads in my dexilant pill and then dividing it into two empty capsules and stay there for a week or two (of feeling stable), then into 3 capsules, then 4, etc. It's tedious but it's the only way I can wean. I tried skipping days but this works better for me. I'm going down by 2mg doses. Check with your Dr of course first. I hope to be off the PPI this way. I did read though that rebound happens some times even with small reductions. I hope this approach at least minimizes the rebound for me. I started at 60 mg Dexilant and did that every other day for a month. I tried going every two days, then every three days, but by day four I was hurting. So that's why I'm doing this approach. Right now I'm at 15 mg. After feeling good for a week, I will try 12 mg. I hope this helps you.
Posted 2/16/2016 4:16 AM (GMT -8)
Hello mngranny. LiveJoy's way of dividing dividing up the capsules works well. You will need to talk with your doctor on how to best divide up the Nexium. The Nexium I had was time delayed and super tiny beads. The article I posted previously goes over the weaning off process. (http://howtotreatheartburn.com/how-to-wean-off-ppis-and-why/)

Hello LiveJoy. You might check with your naturopath. Other acid blockers/reducers might help if the acid rebound is tough at any point. I used and H2 blocker and antacid. I still have to use the occasional antacid.
Posted 2/16/2016 5:26 AM (GMT -8)
Hi LiveJoy and Mr Gerd

I went right out and bought some Zantac 75 mg yesterday and only took this and a couple of antacids for the whole day. Much better doing it this way. Seriously, I usually have a very high tolerance for discomfort but what I felt after 4 days off NExium with no Zantac, was the most terrible stomach pain and indigestion I have ever had. Today so far, have taken nothing and have had breakfast with no indigestion so far (fingers crossed) LOL
Thanks for the info from all that I have read here, sure has helped me.
Posted 2/19/2016 6:37 AM (GMT -8)
Mngranny, that sounds great! Is it still working for you? I had to occasionally take Zantac when I weaned off. I can now get by with antacids when needed. I'd do even better if I could stick to a stricter diet. It's hard to avoid some foods that cause me issue.
Posted 2/19/2016 11:43 PM (GMT -8)
Hi,
I been diagnosed with GERD since June 2015. It's tough to wean off medications (PPI). It's not easy but with my experience the sooner you wean off the better. The acid rebound is tough. Doing the strict diet helps. Having a food journal helps eliminate those food sensitivities. After taking PPI for 6 weeks this had caused me more damage than good. I wean from PPI to Zantac then to Tums. Been almost 7 months off meds and got healed from those discomfort. I also pray hard and God had helped me go thru all the tough times. Anxiety gone. Now eating almost all the food I use to eat. But I learn not to eat greasy and spicy food. Eating plain rice and fish during the acid rebound helped me a lot to get better soon. Eating correctly and having food supplements helped me to recover quicker. Please take into consideration that sometimes what's causing the discomfort is not having acid in your stomach rather than thinking its hiper acid. Try to drink lemon water 30 mins before a meal, if that feels good, you might not have enough acid to digest your food. PPI can cause low acid.

All the best to all of you. God bless.
Posted 2/29/2016 8:27 AM (GMT -8)
I am in a tough situation because I'm already on 300 mg Zantac along with the Dexilant and my Dr said he doesn't want me to take more Zantac to help me taper. Has anyone had that issue? Also, what did you eat during the taper? I'm surviving on rice, oatmeal, potatoes, bananas and a little fish and chicken. Does that sound like the right approach food wise?
Posted 2/29/2016 4:04 PM (GMT -8)
I had been on PPis since the 1980's and decide about 3 weeks ago to stop using them. What I did was to mix 1 oz apple cider Vinegar with 8oz of water and add 1 teaspoon of Fiber Therapy. I was drinking this 3 times a day. I also raised the front section of my bed. The vinegar help to neutralize the acid and the fiber/laxative helped to flush your system. The vingar is raw unfiltered with mother.
Posted 2/29/2016 9:21 PM (GMT -8)
Hi Livejoy,

I was not able to eat oatmeal during my acid rebound time. Any fiber was tough on my stomach. I can eat half of the bananas or else this gives me bad feeling. Sometimes potatoes was ok but sometimes not. Was not able to drink too much water for a month or so. I was able to drink ACV occasionally but better when mix with my food. I was doing ok with Yakult after each meal and Probiotics at night time. We are all different, that's why i have my food journal. I was chewing my food properly, smaller portion and I ate every three hours. No meat at all. Chicken was tough for me. I had wild fish or salmon and bitter melon with white rice. I stopped the brown rice as it was tough to digest for me. Just be strong and you will make it without PPI ever again.

Hi Captaindd, that's a great move ACV, water and fiber laxative. Fiber was just tough on me during acid rebound. I was unable to eat that much. The probiotics helped me better and having a reclining bed helped me too. My sleeping hours from 2 hours to 5 then 7 hrs. All the best.

Now after after almost 7 months off PPI, gaining back my weight a little bit and can eat most food. I just try not to have too much meat and greasy foods.

God bless.
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