nexium and calcium absorbtion

By Blair Wednesday, May 14, 2008

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Hi, My daughter has been on nexium and erythromycin for several months now and it seems to be doing the trick. Previously she would throw up at least once a day and we were going through tums and other meds to try and control it. Yesterday in the natural food shop I was telling the dr.? about her meds and also her problems with leg fractures from running. The lady said nexium and tums block the absorbtion of calcium into the bones which can make bones and teeth brittle. She suggested gradually substituting acid-ease for the nexium and mega-zyme for the antibiotic which would help break down the food faster and giving a probiotic (acidophilus) once a day. This makes alot of sense to me and I was wondering if anyone else had tried this approach or had similar bone issues possibly from nexium.We are due to see the dr. today and I know she isnt a fan of natural remedies so it should be interesting!

helicobacter P. ...is there no way to cure except through antibiotics??????

Comments (4) | Add comment

Jan Gambino, Health Guide

5/17/08 1:25pm

Hello! It is certainly worrisome and frustrating when the GERD treatment doesn't effectively reduce or eliminate the symptoms. This is especially true with a symptom such as vomiting that affects your daughter's quality of life so much.

It makes sense to discuss the treatments with the doctor. I am not familiar with the Acid eze but I have had personal experience with probiotics. The probiotics were greatly effective for my teens with GERD.

Be sure to ask the doctor what other approaches may be considered- traditional and natural. If you decide to try a natural remedy, ask about weaning from the other medications. Some patients experience acid rebound from stopping reflux medications too quickly.

Jan Gambino

The Reflux Mom

edna

6/10/08 6:56am

I have acid reflux and sliding hiatal hernia. Dr. did not tell me what this meant, nor did he prescribe anything except 'Take over the counter medicines'. He is a gastorenterologist. when I asked for specific information, he said ' would you like to see a gasterenterologist - I can recommend one. I have tried so many things. I have been trying Zantac, it helps, but he me very hyper, and I was taking two a day, now going to do one. What is awful is the fatigue. I am taking acidophalis

I don't have any heartburn, but my throat is sore. I haven't tried Nexium..am trying to go herbal. I gather I should go to a better doctor. Thanks for the information about the acid ease. my health food store did not mention this. It would be nice to find a diet that works. I really suffered with green leafy foods.

Edna

Concerned Wife

7/23/08 9:23am

Just wanted to add this. Long term use of any of the acid reduction medications can scary. My husband has had sever problems with GERD for our entire marriage. He has been on Nexium or Prilosec (which every one the insurance would pay for) for about 10 years.

My husband just returned to work today from a 2 day stay in the hospital. He had 3 blood transfusions. Now keep in mind he is in overall good health, good heart, etc. His HGB count was 7.1 upon entering the hospital, a healthy man his age should have a 13-14 HGB.

I have repeatedly questioned the doctor's about the long term side effects of the medications, and was met with poo pooing about long term side effects, with the doctors saying that this type of medications are some of the safest on the market.

Funny, when you go to the actual websites for these drugs, you will find that long term side effects are.....malabsorbtion of B12, Iron and Calcium, all of which my husband is experiencing.

That was my husband's problem with his hemoglobin being so low, his body won't absorb the iron. About a year ago, he was getting injections of B12, as it was also low. Yet still, the doctors won't see this as a side effect of this medication! Very frustrating!!!

Concerned Wife

cameyo

11/ 6/08 4:59pm

I have been suffering with heartburn since I was 13 yrs old and I am now 39. I have been taking nexium for more then a year. I have been also suffering from lower back pain. It hurts bad enough at time that I cannot normally make it around the grocery store without leaning on the cart to get through my shopping.

I went into a health food store today to pick up some natural joint relief, because according to the doctor there is nothing wrong with my back and he advise me "to stay away from doctors."

I picked out a joint relief and then also asked for a calcium supplment. She showed me a few. She said that the calcium would not help me as long as I was taking the nexium and advised me to wait until I can get off the nexium before starting a calcium supplment.

I said okay and then came home and started researching this information she had given me. I found this web site and after reading a few of the comments, I am beginning to worry about what my body is doing without to prevent the severe suffering I had before.

It was so bad at one time that I was waking up gasping for air after aspirating stomach fluid in my sleep. The one night it was so bad, I wondered if I would ever breath again. I was also worried about the damage that was being done to my throat and lungs when this was happening. When I went to the doctor, they didn't do any test and just gave me a prescription for the "little purple pill". No mention of what could happen with extended use.

I am now looking for a natural aide, something that is not going to deprive my body of calcium, iron and B12. Maybe there is more and we just are not aware of it.

nexium and calcium absorbtion

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