Who has acid reflux?

Topcat1982

I know this is a common problem.

After trying changes to lifestyle, diet, I've finally found something that helps - ranitidine.:j

But it's very costly if I take this long term. Would the doc write a prescription? would that be cheaper? He didn't seem to care about my acid reflux last time but he probably has patients with worse problems

lessonlearned

Topcat1982 wrote: »

I know this is a common problem.

After trying changes to lifestyle, diet, I've finally found something that helps - ranitidine.:j

But it's very costly if I take this long term. Would the doc write a prescription? would that be cheaper? He didn't seem to care about my acid reflux last time but he probably has patients with worse problems

Ranitidine is a generic drug and can be bought at any supermarket as an "own label". Far cheaper than paying for a prescription, often less than £1 a pack.

purcel

I too have been diagnosed with acid reflux after over a year of dry coughing. I am on Omeprazole on prescription- 1 a day. I have never heard of ranitidine, I will look into it, thanks

Topcat1982

Thanks, I'm not getting the Zantac brand it's supermarkets own £2 for 12 tablets. I guess I'll shop around.

lessonlearned

purcel wrote: »

I too have been diagnosed with acid reflux after over a year of dry coughing. I am on Omeprazole on prescription- 1 a day. I have never heard of ranitidine, I will look into it, thanks

Rantidine works in a different way to Omeprazole. Omeprazole belongs to a group of drugs called protein pump inhibitors, which work by damping down the production of acid.

New guidelines say that PPIs should be for short term use only, so do not take them indefinitely. Do not stop taking them suddenly, you need to ease off slowly or the acid reflux rebound effects will be horrendous.

Google "quiting Omeprazole" for advice and tips.

lessonlearned

Topcat1982 wrote: »

Thanks, I'm not getting the Zantac brand it's supermarkets own £2 for 12 tablets. I guess I'll shop around.

Do you have a Wilkinsons near you, they are the cheapest ive ever found, although some of the £ shops sell them also B&M stores and Superdrug.

Rather than relying on either ranatadine or Omeprazole perhaps It might be looking at lifestyle changes and your diet. Wheat leaves me doubled up with pain so I now leave it alone.

There are also a number of "home remedies" using kitchen cupboard ingredients.

Fennel tea is very soothing, and for severe episodes, a teaspoon of bi carb in about 100ml of cold water really helps.

I spent over 10 years on Omeprazole but thanks to modifying my diet I managed to wean myself off it.

I now try to eat a Paleo diet - no grains at all - and this has cured my acid reflux and IBS. I keep a pack of rantadine on standby just in case. Thankfully I rarely need it now.

VJsmum

I was just going to say what Lesson Learned says about diet.

I had shocking acid reflux and started to look at dietary solutions - I cut out wheat and sugar (for the most part), eat wholefoods, fresh fruit and veg etc.

I haven't had an episode in around a year.:T

mummyd_2

Probiotics really helped my reflux was on losec and Zantac 2 each x2 daily, homeopath told me about this, haven't looked back, only need odd gaviscon if stomach goes, hope this helps bought mine from. Holland and Barrett

downshifted

I've just come back from the hospital where a consultant looked down my throat with a camera (it's not as bad as it sounds) before confirming acid reflux and prescribing 20mg Losec twice a day for 3 months. I had already had another ppi from the Dr which had no effect. I had already tried various home remedies - raising the head of the bed made no difference, eating slowly, chewing for longer, cutting out wine, drinking fennel tea all had little effect. I take Gaviscon equivalent at night and when I wake up around 4am with a burning gullet. It's all a nuisance!

teddysmum

lessonlearned wrote: »

New guidelines say that PPIs should be for short term use only, so do not take them indefinitely.

How odd.


At my annual diabetes check up, last week, the nurse advised me that NICE has recommended that people being prescribed aspirin should also take Omeprazole, my aspirin being a long term recommendation.

heatherw_01

I have it and am on Omeprazole as ranitidine did nothing for mine