What the television ads don't tell you

I've been taking Nexium and I'm worried about the complication from this medicine.

My doctor has had me on Nexium for the past 4 years. I feel sick every morning until about an hour after I take my pill (an hour before breakfast) I order my Nexium online and recently, there was a mail mix-up and I ran out! I went to Wal-Mart and bought Tagamet (which I understand is not the same as Nexium but thought it might get me by). As it turned out, I was two months without Nexium. I took the over-the-counter Tagamet, Ginger Root capsules (2 per day), and recently added Aloe Vera juice (2 oz. per day). Surprisingly, I felt great every morning. My GERD felt like it was completely under control. I quit taking the Tagamet and took the Ginger Root and Aloe alone. My Nexium arrived (finally) and I went back on it as my doctor advised. I noted that 24 hours after starting up the Nexium, I felt sick in the a.m. As I continued taking it, I continued to feel more GERD symptoms than when I was not taking it. My doctor said that sometimes "you don't feel stomach juices coming up into your esophigus. Just exactly of what is Nexium comprised? Meds are SO VERY EXPENSIVE! Could it be there is something very natural and the makers of Nexium are getting rich because GERD is one of the diagonsis "in vogue" at the present time? I would love to stop taking it, at least for awhile. The commercials say 8 weeks -- it's been over 4 years for me! HELP. PLEASE.

I've been on Nexium for 2 years. In the past year I've started having alot of cramping, gas, feeling of uneasiness in my intestines, having to run to the restroom whether or not I ate with watery diaherra. There was never any problems with this before Nexium so I stopped taking it 2 weeks ago. My restroom issues have almost disappeared as have all the other problems. I truely believe that Nexium is only meant to be taken for short periods. A friend stopped taking it because of nutrient concerns and started trying orange peel extract. She said that she watches the intake of high acid foods but ope works well. I do drink lots of water and eat small meals but need to do more research on both ope and ginger before starting due to my high blood pressure.

Susan
Try this home remedy.

My GERD has been distrubing me for over ten years now. I used nexium only three days ago. But the home medication that comforts me was eating oatmeal cooked in water, not milk, then add a teaspoon of oilve oil. Do this in every morning for two monhts.Then take a teaspoon of honey before goin to bed. Eat soft meals in the meantime.Avoid acidic food. Eat a slice of red dilicious apple a day. Hope this will give you comfort and "cure".

Has anyone else gained weight from Nexium??? I started taking it when I was 19 about a year and a half ago when I weighed around 190-200 lbs. I got a the scale yesterday and it skyrocketed to 255lbs! I've never been this fat before and just wondering if anyone had a similar problem with nexium.

I have had the same problem with Prilosec. I have gained at least 25 pounds while taking it. It really works well for me, but I can't afford to keep gaining this weight. I am trying to use anti-acids, which don't work as well, but might let me finally lose some weight. Would like to hear from others with this problem.

I was always thin, too thin, 6' and 125 lbs. until I started omeprazole (generic prescription Prilosec) 2 years ago for acid, I have slowly gone up to 165 lbs, but it is all midsection/lovehandle fat. I suspect the drug and plan to quit for a while and treat the acid with Tums, bicarb, and avoiding acid food and wine and such before I look like a bowling ball with legs.

prilosec and nexium cause weight gain in many people--including me--and even worse will not allow you to lose any weight while you are taking them--I stopped taking either one of them and am losing a half pound a day naturally. Now I am going on a weight loss program to speed the weight loss along. I am afraid of the long lasting effects of these meds--be afraid--be very afraid.....

Has anyone found the generic omeprazole replacement for nexium in a sustained release form (little time pills in a capsule)? I cannot swallow pills and you cannot chew up omeprazole pills. Stomach acid destroys the drug.

Marty wrote:

Has anyone found the generic omeprazole replacement for nexium in a sustained release form (little time pills in a capsule)? I cannot swallow pills and you cannot chew up omeprazole pills. Stomach acid destroys the drug.

Yes, Marty. eBay used to permit sales of generic omeprazole. Before they changed their rules, I identified six vendors who were selling it. I've purchased Collins Alboz (a Mexican brand of omeprazole) from two of those vendors, and it is in the form of capsules containing tiny enteric-coated pills. It works great for me. I can't tell any difference in effectiveness between Collins Alboz and Prilosec OTC.

I made a little web page with notes about this, including contact info for several of the vendors I found:

http://www.burtonsys.com/omeprazole.html

However, another option for you might be ranitidine (Zantac). It needn't be protected from stomach acid, so it can be ground up with a mortar & pestle, and will still work. One disadvantage of ranitidine is that it is a drug with a much shorter half-life, so you'll have to take it 2-3 times per day. But an advantage is that it is incredibly inexpensive (about $0.02/pill at Sam's Club).

Dave

Nexium #11 in top 20 drugs with adverse drug reaction in second 2007 quarter:
www.adverse-drug-reaction.net/drugs.aspx

#11.. that's not very good. do you know what adverse reactions are most related to nexium?