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Just wondering if anyone else among our family has been taking acid inhibitors for a prolonged period.
My reason for asking is last week I saw an ad on TV regarding problems people are having as a result of taking these meds.
I have been taking them since 2003 for constant acid reflux, beginning with Nexium then going to Protonix when the purple pill ceased to work.
Now I have been progressively going down hill with joint pain in knees, hips, shoulders and back. Come to find out that they have now discovered that prolonged use of these meds may cause bone thinning and degeneration in joints.
I did some research on the internet and found many people on the same and similar meds are suffering bone breaks and pain. Now it has been said that the drug companies are going to put warnings on the packaging to let folks know of the possibilities of these side effects, great to know now after it could be too late for me, but I would like to let you all know so that if you are taking these meds to consult your doctor as I intend to do Monday.
The difficult thing is, I have stopped taking my meds because I don't want to risk any further problems, but now I have to take measures to make sure I don't have my reflux problems return, and there is nothing out there really other than changing my lifestyle to avoid the horrible discomfort of waking at night with pain and burning in my chest and throat.
I am so angry with my doctor, I did question him prior to changing to Protonix (Pantoprazole the generic form). I wanted to know if it was safe to take this med over a long term after reading that it's recommended for short term use. He told me that comfort is more important than having constant reflux and the possibility of damage to my osophogus. Now I have to deal with the possible damage to my skeletal structure, something that at my age is a bigger worry.:smilie_tischkante:
My reason for asking is last week I saw an ad on TV regarding problems people are having as a result of taking these meds.
I have been taking them since 2003 for constant acid reflux, beginning with Nexium then going to Protonix when the purple pill ceased to work.
Now I have been progressively going down hill with joint pain in knees, hips, shoulders and back. Come to find out that they have now discovered that prolonged use of these meds may cause bone thinning and degeneration in joints.
I did some research on the internet and found many people on the same and similar meds are suffering bone breaks and pain. Now it has been said that the drug companies are going to put warnings on the packaging to let folks know of the possibilities of these side effects, great to know now after it could be too late for me, but I would like to let you all know so that if you are taking these meds to consult your doctor as I intend to do Monday.
The difficult thing is, I have stopped taking my meds because I don't want to risk any further problems, but now I have to take measures to make sure I don't have my reflux problems return, and there is nothing out there really other than changing my lifestyle to avoid the horrible discomfort of waking at night with pain and burning in my chest and throat.
I am so angry with my doctor, I did question him prior to changing to Protonix (Pantoprazole the generic form). I wanted to know if it was safe to take this med over a long term after reading that it's recommended for short term use. He told me that comfort is more important than having constant reflux and the possibility of damage to my osophogus. Now I have to deal with the possible damage to my skeletal structure, something that at my age is a bigger worry.:smilie_tischkante: