Lifestyle Changes Can Reduce Need for Heartburn Medication
(NOTE TO EDITORS: Dr. Anthony Komaroff -- "Doctor K" -- has decided
to retire. His farewell column to readers is slated for release Nov. 30;
it will be sent to clients on Nov. 10. Taking over the column will be
three physicians affiliated with the UCLA School of Medicine: Drs.
Elizabeth Ko, Eve Glazier and Robert Ashley. "Ask the Doctors" begins on
Thursday, Dec. 1. The frequency of the column will not change. Photos
and bios of the new writers are available on our server, or by calling
our sales department at 1-800-255-6734.)
*
*
*
DEAR DOCTOR K: For years I've been taking a PPI twice a day for heartburn. My doctor wants me to cut back, or stop altogether. But the idea frightens me. Do you think it's possible?
DEAR READER: To anyone tormented by frequent heartburn, not taking your daily tablet -- or tablets -- of omeprazole (Prilosec) or lansoprazole (Prevacid) might seem like a scary idea. These and similar drugs, known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), are the foundation of treatment for heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. PPIs work by shutting down the acid-producing "pumps" in the stomach. They sharply reduce acid secretion and therefore the irritation it causes when stomach contents back up into the esophagus.
A number of my patients whose GERD was tamed by PPIs, and now have no symptoms, have been able to successfully taper off of them. This is more likely if they also make the lifestyle changes that reduce the symptoms of GERD. Those include:
-- Lose weight. Being overweight is the leading cause of reflux.
-- Avoid eating large meals. Instead, eat more frequent, smaller meals.
-- Avoid eating two to three hours before your normal bedtime.
-- Sleep with your upper body above stomach level by elevating the head of the bed slightly on blocks or by using a wedge-shaped cushion. This reduces pressure on the opening between the upper stomach and base of the throat. Just propping up your head with pillows won't work.
-- Avoid certain foods that can trigger heartburn. They include chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods, spicy foods or fatty foods. Try cutting them out for a while to see if it makes a difference.
-- Completely avoid foods with mint. Mint may loosen the passageway from the stomach to the esophagus and allow acidic material to back up into the esophagus and throat.
What's the problem with remaining on the PPIs indefinitely? There is some evidence that long-term use may increase your risk of developing a type of pneumonia called aspiration pneumonia, and a potentially serious intestinal infection with the bacteria called C. difficile. It may also cause you not to absorb enough calcium, magnesium, vitamin B12 or iron.
To taper down on your PPI, start by gradually reducing the dose and frequency until you are taking the lowest dose once a day. Then, gradually replace the PPI with an H2 blocker, an acid-reducing drug. Examples include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid) and nizatidine (Axid). Switching to an H2 blocker may help you stop taking a PPI.
I don't think we have solid evidence of serious side effects from long-term use of H2 blockers. The evidence of adverse effects from long-term use of PPIs is somewhat stronger. But suppose you've been free of GERD symptoms for several months on a PPI. If you're committed to lifestyle changes, it's worth talking with your doctor about how to gradually taper off your PPI.
(This column ran originally in December 2014.)
CORRECTION: In a recent column about caregivers, I made an error. I stated that "Particularly if your father is on Medicare, he may be eligible for help in cleaning the home, personal hygiene, and even 'Meals on Wheels' delivered to the home." I should have stated "Medicaid," not "Medicare." I apologize for this error."
*
*
*
DEAR DOCTOR K: For years I've been taking a PPI twice a day for heartburn. My doctor wants me to cut back, or stop altogether. But the idea frightens me. Do you think it's possible?
DEAR READER: To anyone tormented by frequent heartburn, not taking your daily tablet -- or tablets -- of omeprazole (Prilosec) or lansoprazole (Prevacid) might seem like a scary idea. These and similar drugs, known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), are the foundation of treatment for heartburn, also known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).
GERD occurs when stomach acid backs up into the esophagus. PPIs work by shutting down the acid-producing "pumps" in the stomach. They sharply reduce acid secretion and therefore the irritation it causes when stomach contents back up into the esophagus.
A number of my patients whose GERD was tamed by PPIs, and now have no symptoms, have been able to successfully taper off of them. This is more likely if they also make the lifestyle changes that reduce the symptoms of GERD. Those include:
-- Lose weight. Being overweight is the leading cause of reflux.
-- Avoid eating large meals. Instead, eat more frequent, smaller meals.
-- Avoid eating two to three hours before your normal bedtime.
-- Sleep with your upper body above stomach level by elevating the head of the bed slightly on blocks or by using a wedge-shaped cushion. This reduces pressure on the opening between the upper stomach and base of the throat. Just propping up your head with pillows won't work.
-- Avoid certain foods that can trigger heartburn. They include chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, acidic foods, spicy foods or fatty foods. Try cutting them out for a while to see if it makes a difference.
-- Completely avoid foods with mint. Mint may loosen the passageway from the stomach to the esophagus and allow acidic material to back up into the esophagus and throat.
What's the problem with remaining on the PPIs indefinitely? There is some evidence that long-term use may increase your risk of developing a type of pneumonia called aspiration pneumonia, and a potentially serious intestinal infection with the bacteria called C. difficile. It may also cause you not to absorb enough calcium, magnesium, vitamin B12 or iron.
To taper down on your PPI, start by gradually reducing the dose and frequency until you are taking the lowest dose once a day. Then, gradually replace the PPI with an H2 blocker, an acid-reducing drug. Examples include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid) and nizatidine (Axid). Switching to an H2 blocker may help you stop taking a PPI.
I don't think we have solid evidence of serious side effects from long-term use of H2 blockers. The evidence of adverse effects from long-term use of PPIs is somewhat stronger. But suppose you've been free of GERD symptoms for several months on a PPI. If you're committed to lifestyle changes, it's worth talking with your doctor about how to gradually taper off your PPI.
(This column ran originally in December 2014.)
CORRECTION: In a recent column about caregivers, I made an error. I stated that "Particularly if your father is on Medicare, he may be eligible for help in cleaning the home, personal hygiene, and even 'Meals on Wheels' delivered to the home." I should have stated "Medicaid," not "Medicare." I apologize for this error."
Comments
Post a Comment