Lansoprazole

[Patsy33]

Hi Sqad, after having bad reaction to Ranatidine (because Omeprazole didn't work anymore) I'm now on Lansoprazole, of which I took my first one this morning. Doctor told me to take one at night too. That's, 2×30mg a day. So far so good. I've been taking them for about 5 years now. I do worry though about my bones. Would you recommend I take vitamin D?

[GenuineclAss]

Hi QoM, honest, I'm not following you!
I used to be on Omeprazole, but it gave me a horribly distended stomach, so they put me on Lansoprazole. 30mg in the morning, but nothing else.
By 4pm, I used to get those vile gnawing sensations in my stomach, so they split the dose into 2 X 15mg doses. This worked much better for me. I'm also on Ranitidine, and take 150mg twice a day. It works well for me, though.
Since I was virtually housebound for 6 years, my doctor put me on a high dose of Vit D. I've no idea if it's done anything, but recent reports have been glowing. Also, I have very fair skin, so can't really get enough Vit D from the sun.

[Sqad]

Patsy.....I would have thought it unlikely that Lansoprazole would cause a Vitamin D deficiency, but if you are worried and to put you mind at rest, a simple blood test would give you the answer. if your blood vit D levels are normal, then soldier on, but if they do show a deficiency then taking vit d would be beneficial.

[Patsy33]

Thank you Sqad. Next time I'm at Doctors, I'll ask for a blood test. It's just that staying on ppi s for a long time can cause osteoporosis and more likely to cause bone fractures. (So I keep reading/ being told)

[Sqad]

Patsy..I know! I know! itseems to be the medical topic of the moment.
My opinion? for what it is worth, I don't think that there is any consistent or reliable evidence to indicate that Vit D's absorption is affected by PDI's.

[Patsy33]

Ok, feel a bit easier now but will still ask Dr for blood test..

[yogi-bear]

Hi Patsy,

I would Just like to send you my best wishes, you're always there for me, in my recuperation, and I think...you're a real good 'un.....Take care, my lovely :-) x

[rockyracoon]

Hi Patsy. I've been on PPIs for 3 years now and have had enough. The absorption of calcium is thought to be minimised by taking the drug. The dose keeps going up, I mean, where does it stop. For a middle aged woman it's a real concern, and the thought of staying on them for the rest of my life is not favourable. I'm currently looking into getting a hernia repair so that I can come off the bloomin things.

[Patsy33]

I share your concerns rockyracoon. It seems I can't do without them and that worries me re -the absorption of calcium. I have a sliding hiatal hernia which doesn't help. Also, I think antidepressants tablets I'm on caused acid in stomach, it's definitely worse since I started taking them couple of years ago. I'll probably opt for surgery eventually. Hope yours go well and you no longer need poi's. Keep us posted.x

[Patsy33]

Thank you Yogi! That's very kind of you. Hope you are almost back to yourself now?x

[margobo]

I have been on Omeprazole for a few years and was fine on it. Last year I had two broken bones - never had any before. Then the pharmacist attached to GPs phones me and said it would be best to stop taking Omeprazole as it interferes with absorbsion of minerals. He said to take Gaviscon for a while and my stomach would settle down. I am trying with this but am suffering with indigestion all the time. Dont know what to do for the best.

[Sqad]

margobo.........you certainly need PPIs by the sounds of things and my advice would be to continue with them but making sure that your calcium intake was sufficient and also seek the advice of your GP re. your bone density.
It may well be that your fractures that you describe, are nothing to do with your PPI.s and may have a different cause.

[Patsy33]

Hi Sqad, just to say I feel a lot better on Lansoprazole, not a 100% but getting there. I must say my stomach has never appreciated me having a few glasses of white wine at weekend! Is there any alcoholic drink that might be a little kinder to my stomach? I only buy one bottle on a Friday and finish on Sunday night. ( My one little pleasure in life!)...

[margobo]

Thank you Squad I feel so much better on Omeprazole so will see my GP about it. I did have a bone density test a few months ago and that was OK for my age - 75 - and I do take a multivitamin.

[NoMercy]

What are you on Omeprazole for anyway?

As Sqad says get your vitamin D levels checked. They take about 6 weeks to come back at the moment though and most people are deplete at this time of the year.

[NoMercy]

If you are vitamin D deplete you may well be hypocalcaemic too since vitamin D facilitates the absorption of calcium from foods.

However you state that your bone mineral density was normal on your last Dexa (although values can be artificially elevated by degenerative change).

Get plenty of dietary calcium and exercise, minimise alcohol intake and don't smoke and you shouldn't need do anything more for now.