Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest An Alternative Medicine To Omeprazole
Question: What can I take instead of Omeprazole? I have terrible side effects from this.
Brief Answer:
Consider switching to an H2 blocker.
Detailed Answer:
Newer studies are showing that proton pump inhibitors such as Omeprazole have 2 particular problems:
1. When discontinued they can cause a severe increase in acid production. For this reason they are hard to discontinue.
2. There is some indication that they can cause certain cardiovascular problems in some people.
You can consider an H2 Blocker such as Zantac (ranitidine) which has fewer severe side effects. You can take 150 mg twice a day, but you may need an even higher dose. You might want to talk with your doctor about how high of a dose he/she feels comfortable prescribing. It may be difficult to sort out if the Zantac is working adequately if you have rebound elevated acid production from discontinuing the omeprazole though.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Consider switching to an H2 blocker.
Detailed Answer:
Newer studies are showing that proton pump inhibitors such as Omeprazole have 2 particular problems:
1. When discontinued they can cause a severe increase in acid production. For this reason they are hard to discontinue.
2. There is some indication that they can cause certain cardiovascular problems in some people.
You can consider an H2 Blocker such as Zantac (ranitidine) which has fewer severe side effects. You can take 150 mg twice a day, but you may need an even higher dose. You might want to talk with your doctor about how high of a dose he/she feels comfortable prescribing. It may be difficult to sort out if the Zantac is working adequately if you have rebound elevated acid production from discontinuing the omeprazole though.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
I have been on omeprazole for a little over 2 weeks. I had headaches at first which went away. This past Wednesday I started getting dizzy. So severe that the room was spinning. I immediately stopped omeprazole and am taking a liquid antacid. I need something a little bit better, though. I was diagnosed with erosive esophagitis due to too much acid. Biopsies from endoscopy revealed no cancer.
Do I need a prescription for Zantac? Is there anything else that will work like Zantac that I don't need a prescription for?
Thank you.
Do I need a prescription for Zantac? Is there anything else that will work like Zantac that I don't need a prescription for?
Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Zantac is over the counter.
Detailed Answer:
Zantac 150 mg is over the counter. The over the counter directions on the box say to take it once a day, but the therapeutic dose is twice a day. So please use it twice a day.
With erosive esophagitis, you may want to check with your gastroenterologist in a couple of weeks to make sure that he/she feels Zantac will be adequate for you. Gastroenterologist like to prescribe the proton pump inhibitors because they generally have stronger faster results than H2 blockers. But they have their down side too.
Zantac is over the counter.
Detailed Answer:
Zantac 150 mg is over the counter. The over the counter directions on the box say to take it once a day, but the therapeutic dose is twice a day. So please use it twice a day.
With erosive esophagitis, you may want to check with your gastroenterologist in a couple of weeks to make sure that he/she feels Zantac will be adequate for you. Gastroenterologist like to prescribe the proton pump inhibitors because they generally have stronger faster results than H2 blockers. But they have their down side too.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
