Chronic kidney disease linked to heartburn drugs
 

Common heartburn drugs increase risks for chronic kidney disease.

A good reminder that there are very few harmless medications out there.
Heartburn is often caused by diet and/or food intolerances. Try an elimination diet and see if it is caused by dairy, gluten, soy, or something else.

The difficulty is getting off PPI's once you're on them - I've been trying a protocol without success - the rebound acid is pretty awful.

Ah, yes, a rebound. Just thinking out loud, but would going dairy free during a weaning trial possibly help?

I'm sure you've researched it online, but maybe this can help?
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2010...tting-off-ppis/

Wow! Back in 1997 I was told that being on Prilosec for life was the only way to address my chronic GERD and nausea. I hated the idea of being on the pill for life, and luckily discovered that going gluten free alleviated all the symptoms the doctors were clueless about.

I stayed off prilosec until the reflux was so bad I could not stand it. I asked for a referral for an upper gi scan. Locally in our small town these are done by general surgeons. Their office is known for doing obesity surgery and fixing hiatial hernias with the wrap. I told him there was no way I was going under his knife and went to a gastro specialist. Meanwhile the first doctor told me to take prilosec. I read about it and protested but i took it. My kidney function has always been a little iffy but after 6 months on that stuff it got really bad. In the meantime I got on LC and lost 30 pounds. I quit any reflux drug and was able to stay off. now and then I eat a tums. On the next test my kidney function was almost normal.

I should add that I already knew NSAIDs were bad for my kidneys, but I used to take a lot of tylenol for my arthritis and I quit taking that too, which contributed to my improved kidney function. I have now lost 40 pounds and do not take any reflux drugs and tylenol.

Prilosec is as bad as they say for me.

Study on PPIs announced June. New post by Dr. Perlmutter "Acid Blocking Drugs May Threaten Health":

http://www.drperlmutter.com/acid-bl...hreaten-health/

If you can find a good aloe product, it's very helpful for GERD.

One of my sons was told he had "atypical" GERD, because he was constantly burping after he ate. When he and his wife came over for dinner one night, I gave him a glass of water with aloe in it.

As we sat around, talking, after dinner, I mentioned that he wasn't burping. He turned red and said, "Probably just a coincidence, Mom."

And started taking the stupid Prilosec. Because what do mothers know, right?

:lol: :lol: aloe juice was a part of the regimen used to get my DH off of the PPIs. Used multiple natural products as the med was titrated down to avoid rebound and aloe juice was a nice beverage in the mix. At least it won't increase the risk of a heart attack.

Heh. What other things did your husband use, Janet? I find that aloe really helps with heartburn. But, for example, when Daughter was pregnant, it didn't do much, if anything, for her pregnancy heartburn.

Discussion here: http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=461849

DGL licorice, aloe juice, probiotics and digestive enzymes...various recommendations from the People's Pharmacy and their readers. I bought it all :) since we already knew after nine years the rebound effect of Aciphex would be brutal! so can't tell you "the one" that worked ;)

I used to use Prilosec daily and thought I would never be able to go off of it but then when I went low carb paleo the heartburn went away and I haven't taken Prilosec for years. I had a surgeon willing to do surgery for both the heartburn problem and for the obesity. Low carb made all of that unnecessary. I'm so glad I did things my way, no surgery, no medications, most health problems a thing of the past. I am so grateful to have found low carb and Paleo.

Jean

Thanks! Those are interesting. If Daughter gets pregnant again, I know she WON'T be using the licorice. She detests it, LOL.

Licorice root tea? I'm trying to recall if it tastes like licorice. Maybe you can buy it in capsules?

Deglycyrrhizinated Licorice comes in capsules too. And the more common chewable form comes flavored..German Chocolate anyone?
Swanson Vitamins had a good selection of various forms.

(Tuck info about licorice capsules into back of mind, where it will get dusty, along with the other things there.)