I was diagnosed with severe GERD over five years ago, but just a week ago I was also diagnosed with GP. It is clear from the posts on this site that my symptoms are realatively mild, but I would still like relief. My doctor didn't do a real review of my medications, so I would like to know if someone can tell me whether any medication I am on could be aggravating my problem. I have permanent nerve pain from a spinal problem I had 15 years ago and for that I am taking Cymbalta. I wondered if that could be making things worse? In addition, for the GERD I take Aciphex and Zantec. To try to prevent sinus infections (caused I believe by the GERD) I take Mucinex periodically. I would appreciate any information you can give me or any websites that you refer me to for detailed info. Thanks for being there!!!
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Could drugs be making my symptoms worse?
- By gaa
- Posted October 17, 2009 at 3:42 pm · 17 replies
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Explore topics in this discussion:
Surgery Arthritis GERD Prevacid Aciphex Pain Rheumatoid arthritis Fibromyalgia Depression Mucinex Reglan Zoloft
17 replies
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- By macbeth719
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 8:01 am
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Cymbalta will be altered by GP because of the enteric coating but there is no indication, per Micromedex, that it affects GERD. Have you considered Endocinch or a Nissen? The problem with the Nissen is you can get vagus nerve damage which would cause the GP to get worse. Maybe you can get on a higher dose of the PPI. I currently take Kapidex, Zegerid, and Pepcid for my GERD and still have issues. But I had a Nissen so the sinus issues have gone away. Of course, the Nissen may have caused my GP, but my doc is unsure. Talk to your doctor about alternatives.
Good luck
Teresa
- By gaa
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 8:38 am
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I am on a high dose of Aciphex already, but I may try another PPI. I wondered about the Cymbalta making my GP worse. Cymbalta is the first medication I've had that has a very definite effect on the nerves where I have nerve damage, so it would make sense that it might also affect the vagus nerve, only in a negative way, and maybe making The GP worse. So far my GI doc has been unhelpful regarding meds but I'll try being more assertive. I am still dealing with the shock of this diagnosis.
- By Wantakugel
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 11:29 am
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I'm on Cymbalta for depression and I believe it does affect the gut. I've been on it a long time and was going to say that I doubt it caused my GP, but who knows? Need to check with both docs on this one. I'll post whatever I find out, but it may be awhile.
The shock of GP for me is figuring out what the heck I can eat. Sure, I have a list, but it's the complete opposite of what I used to eat. Kind of hard to wrap my brain around it.
Leslie
- By gaa
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 2:07 pm
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Thanks for your replies. Wantakugel, your reaction is the same as mine. Apparently, the things I can eat are the complete opposite of what I used to eat too! Before this diagnosis I had always viewed the things that I am now supposed to eat as unhealthy, so it is a complete 180.
- By BlueSue
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 2:40 pm
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Gaa and Wantakugel,
I agree with you both about the GP diet. Absolute 180 from the way I've always eaten, very hard to wrap my brain around.
Also completely contradicts all info regarding keeping a healthy weight. Go figure???
- By DigmundFreud
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 6:29 pm
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Tell me about it. I am a dietitian and always look for foods with the most fiber!! The GP diet is the antichrist of good nutrition. DF
- By my4heathens
- Posted October 18, 2009 at 11:37 pm
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I was on Sugarbusters for several years, some a little stricker than others, and it is completely the wrong things to eat for this. My doc put me on it b/c my sugars kept dropping....and it worked great for that, kept that level. But when the GP flared, man was it ever BAD for that. Now I have to relearn to eat ....again. It was bad enough trying to relearn for Sugarbusters, but now to do it again?
oh, my.
Diana
- By DigmundFreud
- Posted October 19, 2009 at 9:54 pm
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Macbeth 719- you had a nissen? Did you have any GP before it? I am going to see GI doc about ph test results thur, and to see if I can have a Nissen. My Gerd is severe and worsening. Feels like my stomach is up in my diaphragm all day, very miserable. Taking kapidex, also took prevacid today, mylanta, tums. Have barely eaten and have had almost no fat, very little fiber. Also have sinus issues, allergic to everything (get shots, steroid nosespray, mucinex, antihistamine) and can feel the acid going into them!!! Keep running a low grade temp, think they may be staying infected. DF
- By Gailete
- Posted October 20, 2009 at 9:32 am
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We think that my GP is caused by the heavy duty narcs I was taking for arthritis pain. So I finally stopped them in the hopes of at least getting my stomach to function correctly. A person can only take so many things wrong. This last month, we've been noticing increased depression and lack of energy. Decided last night to quit the Reglan as depression seems to be a big side effect. Don't know what that will do to my stomach but it hasn't seemed to be helping much anyhow. I still get the stomach pain, but the nausea has gone away (at least for now) but that could be because of the narcs being gone. When you are taking handfuls of pills every day, it is hard to figure out which are giving you help and which are giving you trouble.
- By DigmundFreud
- Posted October 20, 2009 at 6:56 pm
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I am trying to take my pills seperately. Try to space yours out by 30 minutes if you can to try to see if you have symptoms. I noticed this morning that after I swallow glucosamine condrotin I feel like I have a small apple stuck in my throat. My hips and legs ache If I don't take it though. Anyone know if glucosamine chondrotin comes in liquid or powder form?? DF
- By DigmundFreud
- Posted October 20, 2009 at 6:58 pm
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Forgot to mention, I haven't noticed any problems with mucinex, Gaa. I have horrible GERD, still waitng on test results. DF
- By gaa
- Posted October 20, 2009 at 7:04 pm
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DigmundFreud, about sinus issues. Have you tried a saline spray? An ENT doc suggested that to me as I was having so many sinus infections. When I use it frequently I get only infrequent infections, even though I can still feel the acid going into my sinuses. It may be worth a try - it certainly can't hurt and it's cheap.
- By gaa
- Posted October 20, 2009 at 7:19 pm
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Digmund, I take Mucinex too. The only problem I have found with it is that it feels like a small apple in my throat (like your glucosamine!) so I try to take it with food to make sure it actually gets into my stomach. (I don't have proper motility in my esophagus either. ) I don't know if glucosamine comes in liquid form, but I wish more medications did.
Regarding the Nissen - my previous GI doc (who diagnosed my GERD about 5 years ago) said that a GI surgeon would say you should have the surgery, but in his experience those who had it were back on meds again within ten years.
I am still wondering about Cymbalta, whether it could be having an effect (or causing) my GP. Any other thoughts on this?
- By my4heathens
- Posted October 21, 2009 at 12:10 am
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DF,
There is a liquid glucosamine/condroitin combo drink that my walmart carries. I can't remmember the name of it, but I have seen it in liquid form. It is the size of like a 6 or 8 oz drink tho
Diana
- By DigmundFreud
- Posted October 21, 2009 at 6:19 pm
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Thank you, I'll look for it. I did have some capsules of glucosamine and I opened one up and put it in my tea. I'll see which is cheaper. Gaa, I was using the sinus rinse, you spray it up your nose and it pours out the other side. It does get out that thick stuff. I got paranoid that it was pushing the acid up farther so I stopped. I will probably see an ENT soon and discuss. I don't know about cymbalta. I have a friend who takes it who has rheumatoid arthritis and gluten intolerance, no other GI issues. I have another friend with fibromyalgia who took it and she said she had some problems with her fingers feeling numb. I take generic zoloft. DF
- By macbeth719
- Posted October 22, 2009 at 6:28 am
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Yes, I have a Nissen. I had it done in 2002 laprascopically. The only issue I had at first was the fact that I could not burp (still can't). However, I now have GP but not sure if it was caused by the Nissen or not. And I have the nausea with the GP and can not throw up. The Nissen did "save" my esophagus, though. I had a column of Barretts several years ago and as of last Tuesday, my esophagus looks "pristine" (exact words of my GI). I was off all PPIs and H2 blockers for about 5 years but now am back on them. Would I have changed things knowing what I know now? Yeah, probably. I highly doubt I would have had the Nissen knowing that I would have GP. Then again, no one knows for sure if the Nissen was the cause. Hard decision.
Good luck
Teresa
- By DigmundFreud
- Posted October 22, 2009 at 8:34 pm
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Mcbeth -Thanks for your info. Saw the GI doc today. My sphicter (sp?) isn't working, bile and fluids keep washing up my throat. I could take that, but I can't take the constant throbbing in my chest. He explained that it is elective, but since I am so miserable that I am a good candidate. I am going to have a nuclear scan first though, to see if I have GP. I don't know why I thought that PH test would tell me, I guess I was confused. Did you have a nuclear scan before the nissen?? Did you try reglan before the nissen? My doc says if I have GP that I need to try the Reglan first. I am concerned about the not burping. I have alot of air coming up which is also driving me crazy. I have alot of pressure in my ears. Did you have nausea before the nissen? I am almost never have nausea. I dont care if I have to stay on PPI or go back on it. Even if I can only eat soup and cereal like I am doing now, I would like my chest to stop throbbbing. Sorry about your GP. DF
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