Hi Susan,

One concern about the long term use of Omeprazole (Losec) is that it may increase levels of gastrin, a hormone which may have an effect on cancer growth although this may be of no clinical significance.

A 2001 study showed that taking Omeprazole on alternate days was sufficient to control gastric reflux and also significantly reduced the levels of gastrin compared to taking the drug every day;

Effect of long-term, continuous versus alternate-day omeprazole therapy on serum gastrin in patients treated for reflux esophagitis. Ligumsky M, Lysy J, Siguencia G, Friedlander Y. J Clin Gastroenterol. 2001 Jul;33(1):32-5. – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11418787

A recent article details current concerns and is well worth a read;

Reported Side Effects and Complications of Long-term Proton Pump Inhibitor Use. David A. Johnson, Edward C. Oldfield IV. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;11(5):458-464. – http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/804146_2

Numerous posters on this forum have reported that their reflux disorder has improved following their adoption of the 5:2 diet.

It should be remembered that non medicating if it is needed brings its own risks;

Acid Reflux and Esophageal Cancer. Tracy Miller. http://www.prevention.com/health/health-concerns/acid-reflux-and-esophageal-cancer

It may well be worth trying to cut down your Losec to alternate days when you’ve been on the diet for a couple of weeks. If you have no adverse effects, consider reducing your dose further.

I hope that fasting helps you with your reflux disorder and wish you the best of luck.

Sarah

Hi Susan, welcome! I can only share my personal experience. after starting 5:2 3 weeks ago, I have had virtually NO reflux. I was needing to stay upright for at least 8 hrs after eating, and then still had reflux. Not sure why it’s better, but the only thing I have changed is 5:2. I can even eat tomato sauce!

I hope you have good results too. maybe check with your doctor after you have done a couple of weeks. good luck!

Hi Susan, I can certainly understand your worry. If you are still having reflux on medication, you can probably tell if the 5:2 helps. maybe give it a couple of weeks and see if you need the extra medication. If not, check with your doctor to see about decreasing it. take it slow and perhaps have the doctor check for any damage. good luck with the diet and keep us posted on how you are doing.

Hi Susan,

I have been taking 20 mg and then 10 mg Omeprazole for 3 or 4 years for reflux and GERD. I have been on the 5.2. for about 11 weeks now and have lost 1 stone, I also lost 6 lb the few weeks before I moved over to this diet. So 1 stone 6 lbs overall.

I stopped taking the tablets 5 weeks ago to give it a try, normally when I have done this in the past I get quite ill after about 6 days.

I have only taken just 5 tablets over the 5 week period when I knew I was going out to drink more than a couple of drinks and family occasions having buffet type food.

I have heard such bad reports on these drugs I really would like to stop them, so I feel if taking just one when really needed is better but hopefully trying to stop all together.

Don’t forget to lay on your left side, if the heartburn is bad, it helps!

So good luck, maybe you can try later into the diet.

Hi Everybody,

I have been taking 10 mg Omeprazole tablets for reflux/ GERD Every day for 4 years, I have been on the 5.2 for 5 months and have totally stopped all my tablets. There are so many bad reports of these sort of tablets I am over the moon at stopping them.

Cheers

Symba7, do not usually read about side effects on meds, because I immediately have them. However, after reading your comments re Omeprazole just looked up adverse effects online. Indeed I have quite several of them! I really should try to do without them. Will have a chat with my GP. Did you have a lot of side effects? And did your GP advise you to stop? I just know mine will try to dissuade me from stopping them.

I was put on omeprazole when I had my gallbladder out, so I don’t think I would be able to come off them.

Hi Andre,
This also happened to me, but after a bit of research I discovered that it was more to do with what I was eating, rather than that I was not eating. I had upped my intake of black coffee, tea, and diet coke on fast days quite considerably. If you google Alkaline diet, you will see that these drinks are major causes of acid production and increase the episodes of reflux.
I have almost completely cut these out now (just one cup of tea a day, and one cup of coffee a week – no coke at all) and I drink pleanty of water and herbal tea. I also follow a more alkaline diet, with a hugely increased intake of salad and vegetables and pulses. My symptoms have completely disappeared, and I also have a lot more energy!
You can read more about it here http://www.energiseforlife.com/alkaline-diet-guidelines.
Good luck.