With proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in the news more lately, many people are concerned about either continuing to take the PPI they have been prescribed, or to start taking one if their doctor suggests it. I have taken three different PPIs over the years, and never had any adverse side effects from any of them. Others report the same. There are those, however, who either have suffered side effects from taking a PPI, or are afraid they will.
How about you? Do you take a proton pump inhibitor? Have you had any problems when taking the PPI? Let us know by taking the poll below. After you have taken the poll, perhaps you'd like to leave a comment about how you feel about proton pump inhibitors. Some people love them. Some people hate them. How about you? Tell us by clicking on the Comments link at the end of this post.
Not all PPIs are equal. I take Nexium but it is extremely expensive. I tried taking a generic but the symptoms came back. I had no choice but to return to the costly drug. It works!
I have been taking Protonix, without problem. Had my
last script filled 2 weeks ago- this med had jumped into the
most expensive drug tier! Pharmacist said that there are
so many OTC pills, very similar to Protonix, but cheaper that
Drs. will usually OK a patient to switch to the OTC meds.
I wonder how much alike the OTC & the prescribed drug
are?
I agree with Eleania, not all PPIs are equal. Years ago a doctor prescribed Prilosec. It worked ok, with no side effects. However, when Prilosec OTC came out, my insurance company refused to pay for the prescription. During this same time I had taken Prevacid, and it worked better than Prilosec, but it was given for the treatment of gastritis. After my insurance company refused to pay for the prescription form of Prilosec, I tried using Prilosec OTC. Supposedly it’s the same ingredient as prescription Prilosec, but it didn’t work as well for me.
Whenever I was in the hospital, I was given Protonix, even though I said I was taking Prilosec OTC. What a difference! And still no side effects It worked so much better. When I got out of the hospital, I asked about continuing to take Protonix but was told it was expensive and my insurance company probably wouldn’t want to pay for it. Recently, however, I asked my new doctor about Protonix, and she wrote out the script for it. And the really nice thing is that it was available in generic form (Pantoprazole). My insurance company has been allowing it too. Though, if a OTC version becomes available, I don’t know if that will continue.
I´m concerned about this side effects: colesterol. Did you make a blood test? I´m having bad levels of colesterol after taking PPI for a couple of years despite my good eating culture, 30 years, good shape,
I´ll try another blood test after avoiding taking PPI for a month at least y I´ll see…