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GERD & Acid Reflux
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Posted 6/18/2012 8:25 AM (GMT -5)
Has anyone had success with nexium? I have been on many other ppi medications and am taking dexilant samples which have worked pretty well but require prior authorization and a high co pay. They will cover nexium without a prior authorization at a lower co pay. My doctor is new to me so I am not sure he would be willing or even able to do the prior authorization for dexilant.
Posted 6/18/2012 8:34 AM (GMT -5)
Erica,

I was on Nexium, but it did not do much for me. My GI doc explained that Nexium can wear off before a full 24 hours has passed. He switched me to Dexilant, which has eliminated all of my symptoms except for throat tightness. I keep reading that PPIs basically work the same way, but some individuals will respond better to a particular type. With my insurance, Dexilant is about $8.00 less expensive per month than Nexium; I guess it just depends on your insurance provider.

Stefanie
Posted 6/18/2012 8:47 AM (GMT -5)
Hi,yes ive had good results with nexium,i was on 40mgs but had some unpleasant side effects.Went for surgery in march,now back on ppis,lansoprazole 60mgs this time. I tried every ppi and nexium was definetly the most effective,wish it just hadnt all those bad side effects.Maybe you will be ok on it,ive have met a lot of people who are very happy with nexium.Good Luck! Barry
Posted 6/18/2012 11:02 AM (GMT -5)
I only have about 7 more days worth of the dexilant and he also gave me Aciphex to try. I tried it years ago but for the past several years I have been on generic protonix. I want to make sure the Dexilant is really working before I start the fighting process with the insurance company. Aciphex also requires prior authorization as well. Nexium I have heard some positive comments about it so I am looking to that for the short term if the insurance is being annoying about the Dexilant (or Aciphex). All of these drugs make me confused and frustrated. I dont want to be on any of them but I am still going through testing and I need to function.
Posted 6/18/2012 11:11 AM (GMT -5)
I have had a good run with the Nexium for about a year and a half, however it does not seem to be as effective as it was. Thinking its probably time to try something else for a while. But it did and still does work for me to some extent.
Posted 6/18/2012 11:43 AM (GMT -5)
I am currently trying to stay off PPI's.  I'm on the 11th day.  I'm now taking pepic 30 mg twice a day, but the acid rebound is pretty  bad.  I also use gaviscon.  Any ideas?

 

Posted 6/18/2012 12:38 PM (GMT -5)
Feelbad, Sucralfate is absolutely invaluable to someone doing what you're doing. It kicks my heartburn's butt every time.

Erica, I was on Nexium for a year and while it took away the daily heartburn I was having, it also gave me chest pressure, pain and bloating to substitute. So it was kind of a toss up for me.

Take care all
Ashley
Posted 6/18/2012 12:39 PM (GMT -5)
But Erica, Nexium takes away symptoms for like 90% of the people who are on it, hopefully you'll be in that group :)
Posted 6/18/2012 1:09 PM (GMT -5)
My symptoms are more chest pain, upper stomach pain, and esophageal spams. To be honest, all of that pain could be the spasm. I rarely have heart burn while on PPIs. Still going through all the testing to find out what is causing my reflux and the spasms that are the result of the reflux. While on my diet I have mild symptoms but if I deviate, I am in trouble.
Posted 6/18/2012 2:21 PM (GMT -5)
Erica, Nexium helped me heal when prilosec didn't seem to help. I hated the long term side effects, so I only stayed on it for six months. I am so happy I am now off all ppis, I feel so much better just on zantec, pepto bismol and many lifestyle changes. The rebound was bad, lasted a few weeks.
Posted 6/18/2012 2:50 PM (GMT -5)
my plan is to get off of them but i need them to function right now until I figure out what the issue is. Already changed my diet and lifestyle and still have symptoms.
Posted 6/18/2012 4:28 PM (GMT -5)
Erica you and I sound very similar. I went to the ER three times for what I now suspect to be esophageal spasms but they stopped before I got to the ER so I never got any confirmation. How were yours diagnosed?

I am now thinking that I may have had NERD or something due to low stomach acid - now that I'm off the PPI, I'm 100x better, but I can still feel reflux. Last night when I went to bed I could feel the fullness/discomfort in my throat, but there was absolutely no pain. Sometimes this disease really makes me want to throw my hands in the air and scream. I would also like to add that I'm eating like crap (burgers, fries, the whole 9) and it's really frustrating that these symptoms rear their ugly head when I have broccoli and beans for dinner, but not now?!?!?!
Posted 6/18/2012 7:07 PM (GMT -5)
I also think I have NERD. The endoscopy showed only mild reflux esophagitus. My spasms were never formally diagnosed but my last doctor and this one thinks they are from reflux. It waxes and wanes. I am on a strict diet but before I was, there were times I was ok. I do not get it and I often want to throw my hands in the air also. I have been toying around with having a glueten sensetivity so I am only eating glueten free. I want to get off the PPI but I need to function and I tried weening off the protonix and I could feel it. My plan is to stabilize myself where I have no symptoms and then ween off the ppi slowly. I also wonder if I am refluxing something other than acid. I am going through all these tests that I put off having because it is time I know the root of the issues. You and I do sound similar. I do not have symptoms of LPR either. No one knows what I have.
Posted 6/18/2012 7:41 PM (GMT -5)
Ashley/erica, try drinking 1/4 baking soda mix with a cup of water first thing in the morning. If you belch within 2-3mins it means you have a healthy level of stomach acid. Anything earlier means excess stomach acid and anything after 5mins means you have low stomach acid.. another test is the HCI betaine test.

I learnt that having low stomach acid could also cause same symptoms as GERD. So the medication that docs give usually targeted for high acid refluxers.. so if you have low stomach acid and taking these meds would make things worse or no effect.
Posted 6/18/2012 10:35 PM (GMT -5)
I have heard that before, I will try it again. I have a reduction in symptoms with ppi but still have symptoms. I'll prObably remain confused until after all testing
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