Question: I have unease in lower left stomach like someone touching slightly from the inside. It started 10 months back. Then I was taking 1500 mg of magnesium daily for my chronic constipation. I had excessive drinking of alcohol for few weeks and also stresses. That is when this unease in lower left stomach started. I have been taking Nexium for 9 months and it has stabilized but not solved the problem. Dosage were 80 mg per day for 4 weeks but mostly 60 mg daily divided between morning and evening.
I am concerned about side effects of long term Nexium usage. So I tried pepcid 40 mg per day half in morning half in evening. Three days a week, I end up taking 10 mg extra pepcid at lunch time. With this combination, I feel stable - same as what I felt with Nexium 60 mg daily.

I had similar problem 8 years back but it became ok after 9 months using dexilant 30 mg first and then only Zantac. Endoscopy at that point showed everything fine except some reddishness on stomach.

My questions are:
1) Is 50 mg pepcid less medicine than 60 mg Nexium even though they both work equally good for me.
2)Will 50 mg Pepcid have less side effects over time than 60 mg Nexium.
3)Looking at the facts, which option will you recommend?
4)Can 50 mg pepcid be taken for months or years if needed without worrying much.

Thank you.

I have unease in lower left stomach like someone touching slightly from the inside. It started 10 months back. Then I was taking 1500 mg of magnesium daily for my chronic constipation. I had excessive drinking of alcohol for few weeks and also stresses. That is when this unease in lower left stomach started. I have been taking Nexium for 9 months and it has stabilized but not solved the problem. Dosage were 80 mg per day for 4 weeks but mostly 60 mg daily divided between morning and evening.
I am concerned about side effects of long term Nexium usage. So I tried pepcid 40 mg per day half in morning half in evening. Three days a week, I end up taking 10 mg extra pepcid at lunch time. With this combination, I feel stable - same as what I felt with Nexium 60 mg daily.

I had similar problem 8 years back but it became ok after 9 months using dexilant 30 mg first and then only Zantac. Endoscopy at that point showed everything fine except some reddishness on stomach.

My questions are:
1) Is 50 mg pepcid less medicine than 60 mg Nexium even though they both work equally good for me.
2)Will 50 mg Pepcid have less side effects over time than 60 mg Nexium.
3)Looking at the facts, which option will you recommend?
4)Can 50 mg pepcid be taken for months or years if needed without worrying much.

Thank you.

Thank you for your clear response.

1) Once in two weeks, I may have say 2 beers. At that time, how should I manage pepcid dosage. Should I take 40 or 60 mg that evening rather than the normal 20 mg ?

2)When having beer, is it good to take some pepto bismol before to coat the stomach ? Take Tums after having the beer ? Any other ideas.

3) What is the maximum dosage of pepcid on a long term basis.

Thank you.

Thank you for your clear response.

1) Once in two weeks, I may have say 2 beers. At that time, how should I manage pepcid dosage. Should I take 40 or 60 mg that evening rather than the normal 20 mg ?

2)When having beer, is it good to take some pepto bismol before to coat the stomach ? Take Tums after having the beer ? Any other ideas.

3) What is the maximum dosage of pepcid on a long term basis.

Thank you.

Thanks for your response.

1) When I have 2 to 3 beers, I find that there is irritation in the stomach with only 20 mg pepcid. Best is 20 mg before the beers and another 20 mg about 1 to 2 hours later. Is that OK ?

2) Does peptobismol coat stomach lining and protect it from the beer?

Thanks.

Thanks for your response.

1) When I have 2 to 3 beers, I find that there is irritation in the stomach with only 20 mg pepcid. Best is 20 mg before the beers and another 20 mg about 1 to 2 hours later. Is that OK ?

2) Does peptobismol coat stomach lining and protect it from the beer?

Thanks.

Thanks for your response.

Suppose I am drinking 3 beers.
1) How much time before drinking should I take Peptobismol ?

2)How much Peptobismol should I take ?

3)During drinking also should I take more peptobismol? How much.

Appreciate your clear responses. Thank you.

Thanks for your response.

Suppose I am drinking 3 beers.
1) How much time before drinking should I take Peptobismol ?

2)How much Peptobismol should I take ?

3)During drinking also should I take more peptobismol? How much.

Appreciate your clear responses. Thank you.

Thanks. I thought Carafate coats only ulcer area. I do not have Ulcer. Does Carafate coat entire stomach lining, not just Ulcer?

Thanks. I thought Carafate coats only ulcer area. I do not have Ulcer. Does Carafate coat entire stomach lining, not just Ulcer?