Stomach acid blockers promote liver disease, study finds

[Zorro]

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

Chronic liver disease appears to be promoted by taking stomach acid blockers known as proton pump inhibitors, according to a study led by University of California San Diego researchers.

The drugs, including such best-sellers as Prilosec, Nexium and Prevacid, change the mix of gut microbes. This leads to overgrowth of a bacterium that causes liver inflammation and cell death, the study found.

The study was published in Nature Communications. It was performed with mouse models, healthy human volunteers, and data from chronic alcoholics. Bernd Schnabl, M.D., was the study’s senior author. Cristina Llorente, also of UCSD, was first author.

Proton pump inhibitors are the most effective class of acid reducers, used for such conditions as acid reflux. Unlike antacids such as Tums that neutralize acid, they prevent it from being produced in the first place. And they’re widely prescribed or bought over the counter. An estimated 10 percent of the general population takes them.

Read more: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/biotech/sd-me-reflux-liver-20171010-story.html

---

Thought this article was of note, since the drugs mentioned are the ones I see promoted on TV all the time.

[Xipe Totec]

1. I discovered more than 30 years ago that the best remedy for acid reflux...

Was to use suspenders instead of a belt.

Have not had a problem with heartburn since then.

[elleng]

3. Thanks, but I don't use suspenders OR a belt at night/in bed.

[Xipe Totec]

6. Whatever is constraining your midriff, get rid of it.

[elleng]

7. NOTHING is doing that at night, and nighttime heartburn is an issue.

Does it matter, or the button/elastic on day-time pants more important?

[fierywoman]

10. Baking soda works for me.

[elleng]

14. Thanks. Tums also work for me,

but have to 'chew' them repeatedly. For how long does baking soda work?

[pnwmom]

17. And it's a good source of calcium, so that's something.

[elleng]

19. Right, been benefiting for years from that calcium source,

but damned tired of the Tums chews, and continual interruptions of comfort.

[dflprincess]

67. I was having trouble with acid and found myself resorting to Zantac more often then I liked

when Tums weren't doing the job.

I started taking a tablespoon of organic apple cider vinegar in an 8 ounce glass of water once a day and the improvement was almost immediate. I have used Tums a few times since, but haven't needed the Zantac at all. As a side benefit, my recent cholesterol test showed improvement over last year. As apples can help it, I'm assuming the ACV is having a positive effect on that.

[PoiBoy]

131. Interesting...

I'm going to have to try that... thank you for posting..!!

[xor]

89. Isn't there some sort of risk of taking too much calcium from tums?

Well, I guess there is a risk in taking too much anything. I think it was increased chance of kidney stones or gallstones. Everything in moderation, I suppose.

[pnwmom]

90. There could be, but a lot of us don't get enough from our diet and are supposed

to be supplementing anyway. As long as I'm not taking more than my doctor wants me to take anyway there shouldn't be a problem.

[Aristus]

103. It's actually a prescription for hypercalcemia, too much systemic calcium.

Don't go crazy with the Tums. Your best bets are H2 blockers, like ranitidine (Zantac).

I have a huge number of patients on PPI's like omeprazole. They were usually prescribed by providers who made no effort to treat the underlying problem (like for example peptic ulcer disease or hiatal hernia.) I do my best to treat the cause of the symptoms, and then get them off PPI's as soon as possible, and back to H2 blockers or something that won't cause liver disease or osteoporosis.

[elleng]

123. SO GLAD YOU're here, Aristus!

I alternate Nexium with ranitidine (one or the other a day,) and supplement with 'nibbles' of Tums 'as necessary,' rarely an entire 'tablet' in a day. As the ranitidine is not as effective as nexium, I use more of the Tums on ranitidine days/nights.

[Aristus]

124. How many times a day do you take the ranitidine?

Standard dosage is twice daily.

The most common formulation for ranitidine is 150mg, but a 300mg formulation is available, although only by prescription.

[elleng]

125. 2x.

OTC 150mg

[Aristus]

127. That's the danger with medications like PPI's.

They tend to treat the symptoms more effectively, and are more convenient to take (once daily instead of twice as with H2 blockers). People tend to shrug off the potential side effects because they're finally getting effective relief from their heartburn.

[elleng]

128. What about apple cider vinegar???

I'd be glad to be done with this 'issue.' As someone here noted, started with pregnancy!

[Aristus]

130. I haven't read much of the literature regarding the clinical efficacy of apple cider vinegar.

Mostly, it strikes me as one of the frequent fad cure-alls that strike the public attention on a regular basis.

[pnwmom]

126. Not for women who are supposed to supplement anyway, as long as you

only take the amount your doctor has prescribed.

[fierywoman]

21. For me it works the rest of the night.

[elleng]

40. Good!

[fierywoman]

44. PS I down the baking soda with cool/cold water: seems to taste better!

[Horse with no Name]

22. you have to be careful with baking soda

it is very high in sodium

[elleng]

41. Thanks. I don't think that's a problem for me

(at the moment, anyway!)

[ginnyinWI]

78. Tums causes a rebound effect. Stay away from them.

I take a half a Zantac (generic version) when I have trouble with acid reflux. It works for up to 24 hours. It is not a PPI, but something else in between those and Tums.

[elleng]

82. I take 'zantac,' ranitidine, 2xday,

but not as effective as nexium (unfortunately.) Have just read on this thread about Tums rebound effect. Trying to figure out what to do, as I have the problem daily.

[ginnyinWI]

99. I think you also have to look at what you are eating,

and when you are eating it, and how much.

I know that certain things affect me: wine, chocolate, tomatoes, onions, etc. so I try not to have all of them at once!

[elleng]

122. I eat moderate amounts of everything you listed,

and WOULD have chocolate every day but my supply of the good stuff is deficient!

[pnwmom]

15. Have you ever tried sleeping with a wedge at night?

[elleng]

20. No, haven't tried that.

[pnwmom]

29. I'm gonna pm you. n/t

[Xipe Totec]

18. I'm not a physician so take what I say with due skepticism

But if you have a mark around your midriff, then some clothing is constraining you. Whether at night or during the day, It's not for me to say.

All I am saying is that constraining clothing is one factor that induces acid reflux.

Helicobacter pylori is another, though in my case that wasn't it.

I hope you find the cause of your discomfort and resolve it.

[elleng]

23. Thanks a lot.

Nexium works, and I alternate with ranitidine, which doesn't work as thoroughly as nexium. If it's long-term harmful, I'd like to avoid such; have grandkids to think of!

[annabanana]

33. Isn't ranitidine the active ingredient in Nexium?

I think they're both protein inhibitors.

[elleng]

36. 'Antacid and antihistamine

It can treat and prevent heartburn. it can also treat stomach ulcers, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and conditions that cause too much stomach acid.'
(Says about itself.)

More like Zantac! https://www.google.com/search?q=Ranitidine&oq=Ranitidine&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i61j0l4.3082j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[elleng]

43. Active ingredient in Nexium:

esomeprazole (present as 22.3 mg, or 44.5 mg esomeprazole magnesium trihydrate

[Bernardo de La Paz]

57. When do you last eat at night and when do you go to bed?

Is your night time meal your biggest of the day? Biggest by far?

Do you eat a big breakfast?

I used have acid reflux. Now I make sure I don't pig out at night and allow 4 hours between last food/snack/beverage and going to bed. I usually begin sleeping on my left side for the first hour or two. A little bit of water (about 100 ml) before sleep or in the night is often good.

I eat a good sized breakfast: cereal, 2 slices toast and a banana so I don't pig out at dinner time.

[elleng]

62. Light b'fst/coffee + toast or something,

light mid-day, maybe 'serious' dinner, but acid-ref pops up at ANY time, whether having eaten or not, including early in the day. I'm a night owl, and 'often' have ice cream at night. I drink water all day, and sip thru the night.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

66. Skip the ice cream or have it at least 4 hours before bed. How much ice cream? Level cup or pint?

Don't drink too much water. Too much fluid bulks up the stomach fluids. We need not much water if we are air-conditioned and not physically exercising strenuously. A moderate walk is not strenuous.

We get so much water inside food (including ice cream, mostly water) that the myth about drinking 8 glasses of water a day is a myth! When a journalist tracked down the original research, it turned out that the figure was for ALL the water in the entire diet.

Most days the only liquid I drink is 660 ml of coffee. I do eat three to five servings of fruit and vegetables a day.

Don't slouch, if you do. That compresses the stomach, pushing it and contents up.

Aim for balanced diet. When I have ice cream, it is about 200 ml; just under a measuring cup.

[elleng]

71. About a cup of ice cream/day.

4 hours before bed is 'dinner' time, and I don't eat a lot of anything at one time!

I don't think I actually drink a LOT of water/day, but do it regularly, frequent sips. I rarely finish one medium coffee/day. I'd like to eat more fruit and vegs/day.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

72. Good. Some of your habits are good. There's much variation among people. Sorry you have much reflux.

[elleng]

73. Yes, I notice from this threat there's much variation!

As Dad lived til 99, I'd like to preserve major organs, so paid attention to this OP.

[Marthe48]

105. Try elevating the head of your bed

sleep with an extra pillow, so you are propped up. Avoid eating and alcohol at least a couple hours before you lay down. If you eat, make it fruit or something lowfat and moist. Drink a glass of water if you do eat before you lay down.

I've found out the hard way that high fat food gives me heartburn. If I stick to a low fat diet, I need antacids only occasionally. Cheers!

[KPN]

111. Minor diet alterations worked for me --

especially some dietary supplements:
cinnamon, chewing fennel seeds, chewing ginger, 2 TBS of raw unprocessed apple cider vinegar daily with water (actually tasted okay), a slice of apple from time to time.

Other temporary dietary changes: cut out coffee, tomato sauce/spaghetti sauce, tabasco, orange juice, and alcohol for about two weeks.

That was about 6 or 7 years ago when I had GERD. Followed these simple home dietary remedies for about two weeks and its been gone ever since -- though I also have moved increasingly to a vegan diet (not 100%) over the past two years.

[pnwmom]

12. Something tells me you've never been pregnant.

That's when I first developed the problem, and getting rid of the 9-month "constraint" didn't help. The damage was done.

[elleng]

16. Yup!

[Ellipsis]

8. A teaspon of baking soda in 3 ounces of warm water works great for me

[elleng]

9. For how long?

[Ellipsis]

25. When I get heartburn... it normally comes a couple hours after eating

I take it before bed... lasts about four hours, most often past the time my heartburn lasts. Very rarely do I get up to take it again. And for the most part it's instant relief. Its a bit gacky when you first take it. I've gotten used to i and I travel with it. ...and the price is right.

[elleng]

38. I get it any time, having eaten or not.

[Ellipsis]

48. When I get it its outrageously bad

I can go thru 7 or 8 tums..and it will still linger. This works every time and right away.

[elleng]

54. Good!

[Bernardo de La Paz]

59. What foods do you eat and drink in the four hours before you get it?

Do you eat balanced meals? That is to say, not lopsided with protein or lopsided with carbohydrate. Do you eat acidic (sweet / milky / fruity) desserts?

Do you sit with your belly compressed after meals (slouched in chair)?

[Ellipsis]

68. Low carbs for the most part. I cook most of what I eat.

A retail Tomato sauce can bring it on.. and yes, My partner likes Ben and Jerry's toffee coffee crunch. I can't do it. I was surprised ice cream would induce Heartburn. Butter and coffee in the morning combined can... I avoid butter in the morning and have moved to a lighter grind.

For a while it was a daily horror and I'll work for hours coming up with a good sauce.

I love to slouch.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

70. Slouching is deadly. Compresses stomach and moves contents up the esophagus. That's REFLUX. . nt

[Ellipsis]

74. yes... Im learning. Thanks for the feedback on the slouching. I'll work on that.

My esophagus is pretty ffed up.

[Jake Stern]

37. This is my go to as well

A few burps and then sweet relief.

[Ellipsis]

60. Yes, a couple of belches... and no waiting.

I could be up for an hour sitting up to lessen the discomfort.

[cstanleytech]

107. Except everyone is different and what works for you and others does not mean it will work for

everyone such as myself.
I know I tried baking soda, tums and just about every home remedy mentioned here about 15 years ago as well as Zantic but the only thing that really worked was Nexuim back then and it's the only thing that works now though I thankfully only have to take it these days when I have a flare up so I hope they do not take it off the market entirely like they did for Darvocet.

[C Moon]

83. Sounds like a great idea.

[forgotmylogin]

86. If acid reflux happening at night...

I had horrible episodes of nighttime acid reflux that were violent and suffocating when I would literally choke from inhaling the acid that made its way to my throat in my sleep. It's like painful burning vomit in your sinuses and airway. Even when you spit and cough it out it stays there and burns, requiring chewing antacids to neutralize the pain and gargling to remove the horrible taste of bile and nasal flushing to get it out of your nose.

The solution I found: Elevate the head slightly. Buy a wedge pillow and make sure your head is above your waist while you sleep so gravity will keep acid in your stomach instead of letting it make its way up your esophagus. Even just a mild 20 or 30-degree angle can help.

I actually bought a bed frame with an adjustable upper tilt and a flexible foam mattress to achieve this permanently, and I've not had acid reflux since then.

Also...good to avoid coffee and fizzy soda (and pretty much any food) a couple hours before bed to let your stomach shut down.

[BootinUp]

2. Yes, sounds like the plot from the fugitive. Nt

[fierywoman]

47. ha-ha-ha ... !

[George II]

4. Many over the counter drugs, when used too frequently, can cause liver damage. Even something...

...as common as Lipitor can cause liver damage. That's why those taking it need to get a blood test every six months or so.

[elleng]

5. I thought 'kidney' problems,

wasn't that the 'news' a few months ago?

[watoos]

13. One of my best friends

was born with just one kidney. A year ago he learned he had a tumor on his kidney. He went to the Cleveland Clinic where the surgeon told him he planned on removing 30% of his kidney. After the operation the surgeon told my friend that he had to remove 70% of his kidney. The surgeon said that something else other than cancer was attacking your kidney, it was Prilosec.

There is a good end of the story, my friend with just 30% of one kidney is doing just fine without needing dialysis.

[elleng]

26. WHEW! Thank goodness!

[bucolic_frolic]

11. The body will do what it will do

each tweak alters some biochemical mechanism

[LittleGirl]

24. I have Hashimotos

And many of us suffer with lack of stomach acid. What we need is more stomach acid to break down food, not less which can cause liver damage. And these OTC drugs make our condition worse and can cause permanent damage.

[elleng]

28. 'the most common cause of hypothyroidism in the United States.'

One of my daughters may have it; I forget.

[LittleGirl]

97. yep

all of the women in my family, multiple generations suffer with this. It didn't skip a generation in my family.

[appleannie1943]

27. This is going to sound strange but I have found that eating acidic foods like pickles with a meal

actually help. I guess if you eat an acid you trick your stomach into thinking it does not have to produce it or something. And I chew on two tums before getting in bed. Works better than any expensive drugs. I used to get it at all times of the day. Now, I only get it at night if at all. When I used to have to wear panty hose at work, I always cut the elastic at the waist before putting them on because something tight at the waist used to always bring it on.

[elleng]

30. Maybe 2 Tums before bed would work for me!

[appleannie1943]

35. It is also a good source of calcium and is inexpensive so it is worth a try.

[elleng]

39. Yes, have benefited from that calcium boost since first pregnant,

30+ years ago!

[Purveyor]

55. Fermented food, natures gift to your gut.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

61. That, in moderation, can sometimes help. The real key is balance. Not too much of any one thing

And mix it up: have a little carbohydrate, a little protein, a little colored vegetable, and repeat.

[appleannie1943]

109. Which is exactly how I have always eaten. About once a month I splurge and eat a goody but for

the most part, like last night (pork chop, noodles, cooked apples and a salad). But I have had acid reflux for about 50 years. It seems to be genetic. My father drank baking soda water almost daily.

[DetlefK]

102. And here's the chemical reason why that works:

Weak organic acids can be used as "pH-buffers": They stabilize the pH-value.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffer_solution

Put into very simple terms: If you mix a strong acid with a weak acid, that ratio of the strong acid goes down and the ratio of the weak acid goes up. All in all, you still have the same amount of acid (-> pH-value is stable), but the more aggressive acid gets neutralized and replaced with the less aggressive acid.

Examples for molecules that work like this are carbolic acid (in fizzy drinks), phosphoric acid (found in Cola), citric acid (in lemon-related products)... I guess, with pickles it's lactic acid, which also totally makes sense.

[harun]

119. Good info, doing this works for me too.

[pnwmom]

31. If the problem is gut microbes, maybe that could be fixed with probiotics?

Hopefully they're looking into that.

[Purveyor]

34. Organic sauerkraut or any naturally fermented foods. Funny this comes up as we just

had some of our 2015 kraut w/pork this very evening. Gets better with age!!!

Rainy and cold today so there was nothing better to haul the crockpot put for.

[fierywoman]

49. You don't need much -- a spoonful or two -- (of course you can

eat more if you like!)

[Purveyor]

52. This is true. We have a jar in the frig for just that purpose but occasionally just have to

go all-in...

[Lithos]

85. There are studies along that line

There are various diseases which can cause gut leakage (i.e., bacteria in the gut gets into the blood stream). Some include Fatty Liver diseases, Alcoholism, IBS, various Gluten-based issues, etc.

Some of these are very much interlinked - such as having an fatty liver will impair the ability of the liver to serve as sweeper of a leaky gut which in turn exacerbates the liver, etc. A lot like a house of cards where one issue will cause other things to be impacted which in turn cause a worse feedback loop. Some things people treat are really symptoms of other issues which remain untreated. Exercise, sleep, diet, weight, are all key.

I'm lucky in that I have a great doctor who works with me.

So, maybe a probiotic may help, but you may need to see if something else in turn is causing an issue. Be honest with your doctor, have them run the blood tests, do the sleep study, etc. Do your own research and ask them questions. A good doctor will help you be your own best advocate.

[Purveyor]

32. Esophageal/stomach cancer too. There is a reason the over the counter products of this

type warn against using for more than 14/days at a time during a six month period.

[pnwmom]

50. That situation is murky since many of the people GI docs direct to take these products

have GERD problems that raise their risk of esophageal cancer.

[Ohioboy]

42. I would encourage anyone with chronic heartburn

to get on the internet and start reading about "gut health" and probiotics. Then, after you read up on the subject, make a trip to a good health food store and get some pre biotic tea, and some good quality probiotic capsules, the kind you have to refrigerate. If it's a good health food store they will know what you want. I spent about $4o.00 and it was worth every penny. Then, after you have your inner gut bacteria up to speed, keep it in shape by eating a few fruits and veggies on a regular basis. You don't have to go full blown vegan or anything, but just add more raw fruits and vegetables to your regular diet. Warning: I'm not a doctor. I don't know if this will work on everyone, but I haven't had heartburn in 10 months and I used to get it bad, day and night.

[elleng]

45. THANKS!

Will try it!

[fierywoman]

51. There's also a lot of stuff/research/books about the microbiome (what state your gut is in)

[Ohioboy]

53. Yes, there is a lot of good research.

The good thing about it is it's a natural approach that doesn't require drugs that have side effects.

Like I said, I don't know if it will work for everyone, but it did for me. I used to get heartburn all night and all day long sometimes. It didn't matter what I ate or drank, or if I didn't eat or drink. It was just there, and it started to scare me.

[RobinA]

115. Natural Food

doesn't have side effects? tell that to my digestive system the next time I drink milk.

[catchnrelease]

46. Papaya enzyme

I've had good results with papaya enzyme tabs. They do have some calcium in them also.

When I go to bed I always start out laying on my left side, so that any acid doesn't flow back up the esophagus as easily, because of the position of the stomach (If you can find a diagram of stomach in the body you can see what I mean) I know there is a sphincter between the two but I've read certain foods can 'relax' it or cause it to close more slowly than it should, allowing the acid to go up.

[Binkie The Clown]

56. I had reflux every day for decades, and then...

...the day I became a vegan was the last day I ever had reflux.

Just a coincidence, of course.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

63. Massive North American amounts of meat generate huge quantities of stomach acid in response.

I cut back on meat and did a number of other things and stopped being plagued by acid reflux while sleeping.

[Binkie The Clown]

84. My sister also had reflux for her whole life, and it stopped the very day...

...that she made it a rule not to eat ANYTHING after 7:00 PM. She also calls herself a "six-day vegan", having fish or eggs two or three times a month.

[Crash2Parties]

58. Anecdotal, but my spouse had terrible heartburn until they went low-salt.

Could be some other attribute that goes along with low salt but it worked for a coworker, too.

[gristy]

65. Nexium ads were everywhere a few years back

Absolutely everywhere.

[Grammy23]

69. My husband and I have been on a low carb diet for several years.

We avoid the usual high carb things like wheat breads, corn meal, potatoes, rice and pasta. As long as we stay away from those things reflux is not a problem. When we do occasionally have a carb laden meal we take Famotidine (over the counter). Not over eating also plays a part and not eating late at night before bedtime. If we forget we will have mild reflux. It is unpleasant enough that we rarely forget. For my husband, we believe it is the wheat that is the biggest problem. He can eat a very small piece of cake or bread and notice a difference in how he feels.

I had an issue several years ago with low magnesium that led to elevated pulse, blood pressure and several ER visits until they got to the bottom of things. (Adjustment in B/P meds). They prescribed Nexium as part of the treatment plan. Within 30 minutes of taking it I had nausea and abdominal pain. I thought it was a coincidence. In a day or two, I associated it with the Nexium. I looked on the drug information sheet and sure enough, nausea and abdominal pain are fairly common side effects. No more Nexium for me. I include that in my meds I can’t take so they don’t give it to me if I am hospitalized. That was very unpleasant waiting for the pain and nausea to wear off.

[Marthe48]

75. My husband took the top brands for 10+ years,

no tests to see why he had heartburn, just new prescriptions every time he needed one.

He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in March 2016 and died in Jan. 2017. The cancer spread to his liver and later other parts of his body. He was 69.

The whole time he was treated for esophageal cancer, the dr. continued to prescribe the proton pump inhibitors and my husband had a feeding tube. I read last summer that it is possible that acid reflux might not even burn the esophagus or be a cause of esophageal cancer.

We're all just guinea pigs and its all guesswork.

[StarryNite]

87. I'm so sorry you lost your husband.

You're right, we're all just guinea pigs and it's all guesswork.

[Marthe48]

104. Thank you

Just such a loss.

[MontanaMama]

77. I'm late to the party here...

just got the kiddo to bed. The most effective heartburn remedy that I have ever found...and I mean STOPS it in its tracks is ACV. Apple cider vinegar. I prefer organic vinegar, such as Bragg's but I don't think it really matters. A tablespoon in 6 ounces of water works every time. That said, my spouse would rather I smack him with a hammer than drink acv/water...he eats Tums instead. I swear by vinegar for a remedy for many things. Vinegar tea cured an ulcer I got after the 2016 election. My MD was impressed.

[StarryNite]

88. You can get ACV in capsules!

And the good thing about the capsules is they won't harm the enamel on your teeth.

[MontanaMama]

94. This I didn't know!

Thank you for the info. Going to Natural Grocers tomorrow with those on my list!

[dhill926]

79. So much info here...

As an aside, I asked my doc about this since OTC Prilosec makes my life way better. He said at the relatively low dosage, not to worry, so I don't.

[KPN]

113. See my post 111 above.

My doctor recommended OTC Prilosec when I was dealing with GERD some years back. It worked great immediately, but after several days it dawned on me that it was inhibiting something that my body naturally does to effectively digest my nutritional intakes (produce acid that serves to digest food).

So I looked into alternative home remedies and tried quite a few minor ones simultaneously. Two weeks later my GERD was gone -- pretty much for good.

Why mess with potential liver damage when natural foods are just as effective?

[Fiendish Thingy]

81. Been on aciphex for 15 years

No liver problems.

I'm more concerned about calcium depletion, but it's still better than stomach or esophageal cancer.

[shanti]

91. oh great

been on them for at least 10 years. docs said then that i would be on them for the rest of my life, yes they did.

[Historic NY]

92. I don't get it how they let people stay on them.....

I was in FDA field trials way back when you had to have a script. I was allow only to use them for a 3 month period. Eventually I learn other methods to control reflux the easiest was to add 3-4 inch wooden blocks under the headboard of my bead. Rarely now, I use Nexium tablets. There are many side affects.

[No Vested Interest]

93. For the ladies - The last several years I have switched to an open-in-front bra,

as opposed to the hooks-in-the-back style that I wore for the many decades of my life.

Can't tell you what a difference it makes, as I can leave a few hooks undone for comfort.
I live alone now, and frequently don't even wear a bra around the house.
Naturally I wear a bra when going out, for shaping and because I'm rather buxom, but as soon as I get home, I open those hooks and feel so much better.

I take my night-time pills with about 2-3 ozs. of 2% milk, which is soothing to the stomach, and if needed, a Tum; sometimes I only use 1/2 a Tum.
Use two foam-type pillows, not high, but just enough to raise the head and neck above the upper body.
That and a CPAP give me (usually) a good night's sleep.

[truthisfreedom]

95. That seriously sucks.

[Chemisse]

96. I'm going back to Tums. n/t

[csziggy]

98. Drugs that lower stromach acid can also encourage C. diff

Clostridium difficile (C. diff) can cause colitis, a serious inflammation of the colon. It has often been found among patients in health care facilities especially those who have been prescribed antibiotics but now incidence has increased among other populations. Now another risk factor is taking medications to reduce stomach acid, including proton pump inhibitors.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/c-difficile/symptoms-causes/syc-20351691

When my mother in law was in hosptials, nursing homes and assisted living for the last year of her life she had repeated bouts of C. diff. She not only was taking rounds of antibiotics she was on acid reducers for her reflux.

[Sunlei]

100. I didn't realize this- "10% of the general population takes them!" people need a healthy liver & th

that's really the only organ we have that can regenerate somewhat with a bit of care.

stop drinking!

[still_one]

101. The H2 blockers like Zantac work differently than the PPI

[woodsprite]

106. My son has to take them intermittently due to GERD

His pediatrician prescribed Prevacid for him when he was about 10yo, but cautioned us to use it only as long as necessary because it can also affect bone density and growth. Hearing that was bad enough. Glad we found a work around. He was on the initial script for about 3 months, then intermittently for about 2 years. They finally stopped it all together and moved him to OTC Zantac, only on an "as needed" basis. They said that Prevacid had to be in the system before an attack for it to work, but Zantac will work once an attack occurs.

At 17yo now, he has learned to manage it mostly by watching his diet and staying away from (or limiting) trigger foods.

Thanks for posting. I'll pass this article along to him so he is aware if his dr. tries to prescribe it again.

[kimbutgar]

108. I drink apple cider when I get heartburn

Or a small tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a cup of warm water. Takes care of the acid reflux. Years ago I read that if you eat apples it’s natures natural acid reflux reducer. As we get older we don’t produce enough acid to digest our food and apple cider assists in digesting food in our stomachs.

[Sunlei]

110. I don't get heartburn, or acid problems at all. I do eat apples & homemade lemonade almost daily.

my drink of choice, love lemonade

[kimbutgar]

112. I am also a lover of lemonade.

You actually proved my point about apples.

[Sunlei]

118. Love Lemonade!

Your're right about the apples and IMO lemonade is a miracle drink

what I find funny is watch the old 1930s shows and all the kids have an apple in their lunchbox!

The Little Rascals, "Honkey Donkey" 1934

[RobinA]

117. Funny

apples give me a stomach ache. My stomach also feels acidic if I DON'T eat a little something before bed. We're all different.

[harun]

121. Yes, everyone needs to find their own "sweet spot"

I was on nexium for a long time and doctors didn't know what was wrong. Come to find out I am very sensitive to eggs.

Eliminated them from my diet and nearly all my GI problems went away and I eat/drink whatever else I want now.

Eat eggs and all hell breaks loose. High acid, low acid, pain, etc.

[democratisphere]

116. A doctor told me that if anyone has stomach problems there are 3

dietary changes required:

1.) Stop eating fried foods
2.) Stop drinking alcohol
3.) Stop drinking anything with caffeine

So how can you live in the USA with these diet restrictions?

[Bengus81]

129. The tums work for me and keep your head elevated a bit...

But...I've had to say goodbye in the last few years to pepperonis on pizza. I love em but man they about kill me. I have to watch really spicy stuff but not doing to bad.

Does acid reflux happen to people during the day--unless your laying flat? I've never had a problem so far,only at night.

[Bayard]

120. Rut roh

I've been on prescription omeprazole, 2xday for several years. I better do some googling.

[roamer65]

133. If you have just nighttime GERD, it is time for a sleep apnea test.

OSA (obstructive sleep apnea) can actually vacuum up acid out of the stomach and bring it as high up as the larynx, where it can be aspirated...thus becoming LPR. A hiatal hernia will exacerbate this problem.

In my case, a CPAP knocked out my nighttime reflux completely. Like gone, goodbye...

A GREAT reduction in PPI dose as well.

So if you snort in your sleep or snore and have nighttime GERD, it is time for a sleep apnea test.