Looking for an alternative to Omeprazole
June 22, 2011 | 10,00 EUR | answered by Uni-Arzt Freddy Feuerstein
Dear Sir or Madam,
I am 25 years old, 179 cm tall and weigh 81kg.
Since I have been suffering from a significant lack of libido (for about 3 years, a gradual process), I decided to have myself examined. My testicles, pituitary gland, and other organs are in order. During the endocrinological examination, it was found that my testosterone levels were borderline (11.6 nmol/L).
My endocrinologist became attentive when I told her about my intake of Omeprazole 40 mg for over 4 years (due to my reflux and hiatal hernia).
She believes that Omeprazole can disrupt my testosterone levels, as Omeprazole is known to promote gynecomastia. She recommended that I stop taking the medication now.
Of course, this is not so simple for me, as without the medication, I would not be able to sleep due to pain after a few days...
Therefore, I ask for your advice on what other medications I could take that are not associated with "gynecomastia" as an alternative to Omeprazole. What is your opinion on "Bulrich Salt"?
I want to explore this approach and see if discontinuing Omeprazole will help boost my testosterone levels.
Oh, if the connection between gynecomastia and Omeprazole is not known, I was recommended this source:
http://www.arznei-telegramm.de/html/1998_03/9803031_02.html
Thank you for your help!
Dear Questioner,
You are still very young, the long-term intake of a PPI (proton pump inhibitor), and that would be necessary for you due to your anatomical findings, I would not recommend to you anyway because of the following long-term side effects:
I have already extensively addressed this in one of the previous answers
The lifelong intake of PPI (which is the group of drugs to which omeprazole belongs) can also lead to the following:
1. PPI dependency; i.e. if you stop taking the medication, in addition to your anatomical problem, the axial diaphragmatic hernia, you may also experience an acid problem in the stomach. The parietal cells then produce excessive acid, which would further exacerbate your reflux problem.
2. Some people react with elevated liver enzyme levels, which indicates microdamage to the liver. (Therefore, regular monitoring of liver values is necessary)
3. Long-term therapy seems to have an effect on food allergies; these seem to occur more frequently with PPI long-term therapy.
4. There seems to be an effect on bone metabolism; it can exacerbate the tendency towards osteoporosis.
5. There is a risk of bacteria settling in your stomach, as there is only a little acid left. This can lead to chronic gastritis in the worst case scenario.
The long-term side effects are still under research, so the list may become even longer.
A serious question is whether you should simply have surgery and surgically correct the problem of the hernia and the associated reflux. Whether surgery is possible for you, you would of course have to discuss with a surgeon, but this would be an option to avoid regular medication intake. This way, you would no longer have to worry about side effects.
Bullrich salt is 100% sodium bicarbonate, which may help in the short term, but it is no longer considered a currently recommended medication. It probably won't harm you either, so you can try it if you like. However, it will not eliminate your hernia.
You are still very young, so it is really important that you do not suffer from reflux permanently; otherwise, there is also a long-term risk of developing cancer. The esophageal mucosa simply cannot cope with the acid in the long run, as it is not designed for that.
Even if you follow the general rules of lifestyle; i.e. not smoking, avoiding highly caffeinated drinks, avoiding spicy foods, being cautious with all forms of alcohol, you may still suffer from reflux. Especially if there is already a PPI dependency.
I would recommend talking to a surgeon.
If you have any further questions, feel free to ask in a reply.
Kind regards
T.C. Müller
