ULCER!!! OMEPRAZOLE!!! GOOD OR BAD NEWS??  PT2.

There are two basic things you need to know concerning any of the ulcer cases (duodenal, gastric or esophageal ulcer) which are :

– The presence of Sores (wounds)

And

– The presence of Acid.

The pains you experience if you have ulcer is as a result of  Acid ( from the stomach) coming into contact with the Sores (caused by H.pylori).

This is where omeprazole comes into play.

Omeprazole is used to treat stomach acid in conditions such as non-cancerous stomach ulcer, gastroesophegeal reflux disease (GERD), active duodenal ulcer, Zollinger-Ellision syndrome and erosive esophagitis.

Omeprazole works by blocking acid production and is from the group of medicines called Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs).

Omeprazole may be given together with antibiotics to treat ulcers caused by infection with H.pylori.

Although Omeprazole may offer a temporary relief by blocking acid production in the stomach (remember the pains is as a result of the acid coming into contact with the ulcer), however, it comes at a higher cost to your body.

Allow me to explain :

First of all, Omeprazole was only approved by the FDA for short- term use of two weeks or less, but the recommendation has been widely disregarded.

Some people have been on them for decades.

Unfortunately, PPIs (Omeprazole) can lead to all sorts of problems.

Like I said earlier, PPIs work by completely suppressing stomach acid production.

These drugs are remarkablely effective at achieving that goal, and can significantly reduce acid  reflux and other symptoms of GERD.

The problem is that they don’t do anything to address the cause of the acid reflux in the first place.

What’s more, they have numerous side adverse effects .

First, stomach acid plays many important roles in the body.

It protects us against infectious organisms that might be present in the things we eat or drink.

Imagine what happens when this natural protection from dangerous microorganisms is removed, those bacteria, fungi and others will have a field day in our digestive system.

The stomach acid also helps with the digestion, absorption and assimilation of proteins,  vitamins and minerals (magnesium, potassium etc)

Over the last two decades, studies have shown that PPIs can cause the risk of infections and significantly increase nutrient deficiency.

One nutrient particularly stamped out by PPIs (omeprazole) is vitamin B12, which is crucial for cognitive health – and indeed several studies have found an  association between PPIs and cognitive health.

By cognitive health, it means that it affects your mental capacity for reasoning and memory.

That can lead to depression and anxiety.

There is also a strong association between PPIs use and bones fractures in the elderly.

This is because it inhibits the absorption and assimilation of certain minerals like calcium and magnesium that are required in bone health.

PPIs (omeprazole)  have been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular events (high blood pressure, heart diseases etc) because they reduce the production of nitric oxide, a substance that promotes the dilation of blood vessels and improves blood flow.

Elderly people who have been on PPIs for many years often suffer from osteoporosis (bone decay) cardiovascular events (heart diseases), kidney issues and cognitive problems ( affects the mental health).

The worst problem with PPIs is that they may contribute to the very problem that they’re meant to solve, especially when used beyond the FDA approved timeline.

It has been shown that PPIs lead to Small Intestine Bacterial Overgrowth (SIBO).

Research has shown that SIBO may be an underlying cause of GERD (ulcer inclusive),  and PPIs may increase the risk of SIBO.

It has therefore been established by numerous studies that the underlying cause of GERD and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)  is SIBO.

It’s so unfortunate that with all these adverse side effects of omeprazole, it does not only fail to address the underlying cause, but, it also contributes to the very problem that caused the ulcer in the first place which is SIBO.

So,  what’s SIBO?

How does it cause GERD (ulcer) ?

What’s the real solution that can safely solve the problem of GERD and IBS?