This is Part 2 of a three part series, written by Laurie Goldstein. In Part 1, we discussed how long term use of antacids may raise stomach pH, which can cause:

• bacterial infection, bacterial overgrowth, small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO),
• bile acid deconjugation (a common and often diagnosed cause of fat malabsorption and chronic diarrhea, distinguished by yellow or green watery stool);
• nutrient deficiencies, notably B12, iron, calcium, zinc, folate, and vitamin D; and
• reduced gastric emptying times. Delayed gastric emptying can result in pain, loss of appetite, feeling full after eating only a little bit, and changes in blood sugar levels.

 

It is important to note that these are risks, not givens, and that the probability of problems is higher with proton pump inhibitors (like Prilosec (omeprazole)) than with the H2 blockers (like pepcid a/c (famotidine) and Zantac (ranitidine)). Antacids can safely be used short term to stop a cycle of nausea and inappetence; sometimes a few days is all that is needed. If it isn’t, then it is best to identify and address the underlying cause. Obviously, treating the cause is always better than treating the symptoms when possible, and apart from treating stomach ulcers and/or rare hyperacidity, all other uses of antacids simply suppress symptoms. Of course antacids can be used for longer periods, and the H2 blockers have a lower probability of the side-effects occurring compared to the proton pump inhibitors, but such use should only be done with vet awareness and supervision despite the availability of these drugs without prescription.

That said, here in Part 2, we focus on how to identify and address the source of the nausea rather than just suppress the symptoms.

……. Click to read the entire article. ……

 

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