Prilosec? The culprit?

[RNRita]

Well, you guys know that my PVCs are back.  I take fish oil and Cal/Mg. They were gone for so long that it was very nice.....mmmm.  THEN they came back.  Anyway, I noticed that it was about a week after I started taking Prilosec every day.  Then I didn't take it for a day or two and they got a lot better.  I took it again....back.  Stopped...they calmed.  Yesterday I didn't take it and I had a decent day.  I am going to ride this one out.  I have NO idea where there could be a connection, but this is too coincidental for my tastes.  I also remember, in the past, having bad times with PVCs and I might have been on Prilosec, Prevacid or Protonix at the time.  I was on them for a long stretch.  Anyone else?

[Madge270]

DaddyO, I tried the vinegar thing and had the worst heartburn of my life. My doctor asked what I was thinking. He showed me the pics of the acid erosion in my esophagus from the endoscopy, and said "Vinegar is pure acetic acid!"  Anyway, it's not for me. Wish I could just use it. I've read that vinegar works for those who have low acid, and my grandma used it for "stomach problems" years ago when she was in her eighties. So maybe that's it...vinegar works for low-acid, which often has the same symptoms (heartburn) as high acid.

My EP doctor said to be sure I take an antacid that has both calcium and magnesium, because magnesium can help with PVCs. Not eliminate them, but make them less uncomfortable and, for some people, less frequent. I've taken a calcium/magnesium supplement and Mylanta tablets (which has both calcium and magnesium) for a few months, and find I'm feeling the PVCs less. They're not gone, but they're less troublesome most of the time. Hope this helps someone.

[daddyO1950]

Hey folks, Im pretty sure there is a link between acid blockers like prilosec and pvc's tachycardia, etc. I now use apple cider vinegar 2tbs in a half cup of water couple times a day(one at bedtime) and no heartburn or gerd. I think tums and rolaids indirectly cause them too, by messing up the acid balance in the stomach. Since Ive been off the ppi and the antacids....no pvc's ! hope this is the answer! I remember on a couple of occasions, I had a pvc immediately after  chewing a big calcium carbonate (like tums) tablet.I used to feel like I knew I was going to have one, and now I dont! My heart feels much more relaxed. Of course,I prayed about it too! Hope this helps

[heartfluttersflyawayplz]

wow ive been on prilosce for years now , never really had any problem with it i had really bad pac 3 years ago than nothing but today woke up with them, i take a pill a day for acid cant go with out it. now scared it will cause afib down the line , whats a person to do.

[Madge270]

Mastic gum... Where could I get this?  I'd like to try it. It's nice to know I could use it while still on Nexium. Maybe I could try Nexium every other day and mastic gum on the off days for a few months? Then cut back more on the Nexium if that works?

Not eager to deal with acid rebound, since that really gets my PVCs going. But I really don't think it's good to be on Nexium for many years, with what we are now finding out.  Thanks.

Oh...almost forgot...where do you get your mastic gum? Is it in a tablet or capsule?

Thanks.

[sick and tired 47]

I too had some serious issues when on Prilosec, nexium ,ect... felt worse on it. And wow, was it hard to get off of it, the rebound reflux was terrible. What helped me was a natural medicine/herb called mastic gum. I used it 2 in am /2 pm and slowly cut my nexium down every day. It took some time , but I did get off of it and now feel much better than when I was on it.
I take the mastic gum off and on for a few weeks if my indigestion symptoms start up again.
Good luck to all, hope this helps.

[Madge270]

I'd like to get off the 20 mg of Nexium I take daily, but don't know how to do it. I recently developed about 8500 PVCs a day. They came out of the blue. I've heard that Zantac, Pepcid, ranitidine (generic Zantac), and other H2 blockers can also cause heart beat irregularities.  

I need advice in tapering off. There's B-12 deficiency in my family and osteoporosis, other reasons to get off PPIs and H2 blockers. But I don't know how to safely taper off the Nexium without risking serious esophagus problems. My doctors are useless. They think I'm making it all up. They should read the side effects of the meds those with reflux are taking!