Long-term side effects

K

kitomd21

New member
The NBC Nightly News ran a story tonight about antacid use (e.g., Zantac, Prevacid, etc.). They followed so many thousands of people (I can't recall the number) and found that these individuals were 20 - 30 % more likely to suffer bone fractures, specifically pelvic fractures. I'm concerned about Zantac use and our daughter who is almost a year old. Such a side effect is of great concern given that I've read CFers can also be prone to osteoporosis.

She was initially prescribed Zantac at a two-months-old due to a cough that was characteristic for reflux irritation. I don't know that she necessarily needs it for reflux any longer as opposed to taking it to improve enzyme efficacy. Do any of you routinely give your children antacids? Did you stop at a certain age? Do you take them yourself? Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?

Thanks.
 
K

kitomd21

New member
The NBC Nightly News ran a story tonight about antacid use (e.g., Zantac, Prevacid, etc.). They followed so many thousands of people (I can't recall the number) and found that these individuals were 20 - 30 % more likely to suffer bone fractures, specifically pelvic fractures. I'm concerned about Zantac use and our daughter who is almost a year old. Such a side effect is of great concern given that I've read CFers can also be prone to osteoporosis.

She was initially prescribed Zantac at a two-months-old due to a cough that was characteristic for reflux irritation. I don't know that she necessarily needs it for reflux any longer as opposed to taking it to improve enzyme efficacy. Do any of you routinely give your children antacids? Did you stop at a certain age? Do you take them yourself? Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?

Thanks.
 
K

kitomd21

New member
The NBC Nightly News ran a story tonight about antacid use (e.g., Zantac, Prevacid, etc.). They followed so many thousands of people (I can't recall the number) and found that these individuals were 20 - 30 % more likely to suffer bone fractures, specifically pelvic fractures. I'm concerned about Zantac use and our daughter who is almost a year old. Such a side effect is of great concern given that I've read CFers can also be prone to osteoporosis.

She was initially prescribed Zantac at a two-months-old due to a cough that was characteristic for reflux irritation. I don't know that she necessarily needs it for reflux any longer as opposed to taking it to improve enzyme efficacy. Do any of you routinely give your children antacids? Did you stop at a certain age? Do you take them yourself? Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?

Thanks.
 
K

kitomd21

New member
The NBC Nightly News ran a story tonight about antacid use (e.g., Zantac, Prevacid, etc.). They followed so many thousands of people (I can't recall the number) and found that these individuals were 20 - 30 % more likely to suffer bone fractures, specifically pelvic fractures. I'm concerned about Zantac use and our daughter who is almost a year old. Such a side effect is of great concern given that I've read CFers can also be prone to osteoporosis.

She was initially prescribed Zantac at a two-months-old due to a cough that was characteristic for reflux irritation. I don't know that she necessarily needs it for reflux any longer as opposed to taking it to improve enzyme efficacy. Do any of you routinely give your children antacids? Did you stop at a certain age? Do you take them yourself? Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?

Thanks.
 
K

kitomd21

New member
The NBC Nightly News ran a story tonight about antacid use (e.g., Zantac, Prevacid, etc.). They followed so many thousands of people (I can't recall the number) and found that these individuals were 20 - 30 % more likely to suffer bone fractures, specifically pelvic fractures. I'm concerned about Zantac use and our daughter who is almost a year old. Such a side effect is of great concern given that I've read CFers can also be prone to osteoporosis.
<br />
<br />She was initially prescribed Zantac at a two-months-old due to a cough that was characteristic for reflux irritation. I don't know that she necessarily needs it for reflux any longer as opposed to taking it to improve enzyme efficacy. Do any of you routinely give your children antacids? Did you stop at a certain age? Do you take them yourself? Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?
<br />
<br />Thanks.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Katie -- I discussed this with our CF doctor about 8 months ago. Basically he said that the benefits now outweigh the risk later and that their are strategies to manage calcium intake and absorption.

You should discuss it with your daughter's doctor too -- I'd be curious to hear what they say. I think its a concerning side effect, but i also know that my daughter needs the prevacid for reflux right now.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Katie -- I discussed this with our CF doctor about 8 months ago. Basically he said that the benefits now outweigh the risk later and that their are strategies to manage calcium intake and absorption.

You should discuss it with your daughter's doctor too -- I'd be curious to hear what they say. I think its a concerning side effect, but i also know that my daughter needs the prevacid for reflux right now.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Katie -- I discussed this with our CF doctor about 8 months ago. Basically he said that the benefits now outweigh the risk later and that their are strategies to manage calcium intake and absorption.

You should discuss it with your daughter's doctor too -- I'd be curious to hear what they say. I think its a concerning side effect, but i also know that my daughter needs the prevacid for reflux right now.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Katie -- I discussed this with our CF doctor about 8 months ago. Basically he said that the benefits now outweigh the risk later and that their are strategies to manage calcium intake and absorption.

You should discuss it with your daughter's doctor too -- I'd be curious to hear what they say. I think its a concerning side effect, but i also know that my daughter needs the prevacid for reflux right now.
 
M

Mommafirst

Guest
Katie -- I discussed this with our CF doctor about 8 months ago. Basically he said that the benefits now outweigh the risk later and that their are strategies to manage calcium intake and absorption.
<br />
<br />You should discuss it with your daughter's doctor too -- I'd be curious to hear what they say. I think its a concerning side effect, but i also know that my daughter needs the prevacid for reflux right now.
 
M

MicheleGazelle

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>kitomd21</b></i>

Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?
</end quote></div>

You can consume a less acid diet as an alternative to eating the standard American diet (which is highly acid) and then taking drugs to treat the problems it causes. I never took antacids. But I was on about 8 drugs at one time, about 5 of which were anti-inflammatories as either their primary or secondary purpose. Making my system less acid by eating differently allowed to me gradually get off all of them.

Since the body will strip calcium from the bones to compensate for excess acidity, I suspect excess acidity is a big part of why people with CF are prone to osteoporosis.

Good luck with this.
 
M

MicheleGazelle

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>kitomd21</b></i>

Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?
</end quote></div>

You can consume a less acid diet as an alternative to eating the standard American diet (which is highly acid) and then taking drugs to treat the problems it causes. I never took antacids. But I was on about 8 drugs at one time, about 5 of which were anti-inflammatories as either their primary or secondary purpose. Making my system less acid by eating differently allowed to me gradually get off all of them.

Since the body will strip calcium from the bones to compensate for excess acidity, I suspect excess acidity is a big part of why people with CF are prone to osteoporosis.

Good luck with this.
 
M

MicheleGazelle

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>kitomd21</b></i>

Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?
</end quote></div>

You can consume a less acid diet as an alternative to eating the standard American diet (which is highly acid) and then taking drugs to treat the problems it causes. I never took antacids. But I was on about 8 drugs at one time, about 5 of which were anti-inflammatories as either their primary or secondary purpose. Making my system less acid by eating differently allowed to me gradually get off all of them.

Since the body will strip calcium from the bones to compensate for excess acidity, I suspect excess acidity is a big part of why people with CF are prone to osteoporosis.

Good luck with this.
 
M

MicheleGazelle

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>kitomd21</b></i>

Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?
</end quote>

You can consume a less acid diet as an alternative to eating the standard American diet (which is highly acid) and then taking drugs to treat the problems it causes. I never took antacids. But I was on about 8 drugs at one time, about 5 of which were anti-inflammatories as either their primary or secondary purpose. Making my system less acid by eating differently allowed to me gradually get off all of them.

Since the body will strip calcium from the bones to compensate for excess acidity, I suspect excess acidity is a big part of why people with CF are prone to osteoporosis.

Good luck with this.
 
M

MicheleGazelle

New member
<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>kitomd21</b></i>
<br />
<br /> Suggestions for a "natural" alternative?
<br /></end quote>
<br />
<br />You can consume a less acid diet as an alternative to eating the standard American diet (which is highly acid) and then taking drugs to treat the problems it causes. I never took antacids. But I was on about 8 drugs at one time, about 5 of which were anti-inflammatories as either their primary or secondary purpose. Making my system less acid by eating differently allowed to me gradually get off all of them.
<br />
<br />Since the body will strip calcium from the bones to compensate for excess acidity, I suspect excess acidity is a big part of why people with CF are prone to osteoporosis.
<br />
<br />Good luck with this.
 
J

JORDYSMOM

New member
Katie, I understand your apprehension with the PPI's. Jordan, myself and my youngest son have been on them forever. In our cases, we cannot stop taking them. I tried going off of the Zantac 150, but I have such severe reflux that I aspirate at night, and wake up gagging from it. I didn't want that to happen with my boys.

One thing that I have heard of as an alternative is aloe vera. The juice is just nasty tasting. Jordan and I both tried it. It does come in a pill/gel bulb form, which would probably be much easier to swallow. I've been thinking of starting it along with my PPI, because it is said to also repair damage due to acid. My theory is that maybe I can ween myself off of the PPI.

It's like you take one thing to fix something, and then you have another problem from what you took, and you have to take another thing....<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> Anyway, it might just be worth the risk of bone problems to protect the lungs from the aspiration.

Stacey
 
J

JORDYSMOM

New member
Katie, I understand your apprehension with the PPI's. Jordan, myself and my youngest son have been on them forever. In our cases, we cannot stop taking them. I tried going off of the Zantac 150, but I have such severe reflux that I aspirate at night, and wake up gagging from it. I didn't want that to happen with my boys.

One thing that I have heard of as an alternative is aloe vera. The juice is just nasty tasting. Jordan and I both tried it. It does come in a pill/gel bulb form, which would probably be much easier to swallow. I've been thinking of starting it along with my PPI, because it is said to also repair damage due to acid. My theory is that maybe I can ween myself off of the PPI.

It's like you take one thing to fix something, and then you have another problem from what you took, and you have to take another thing....<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> Anyway, it might just be worth the risk of bone problems to protect the lungs from the aspiration.

Stacey
 
J

JORDYSMOM

New member
Katie, I understand your apprehension with the PPI's. Jordan, myself and my youngest son have been on them forever. In our cases, we cannot stop taking them. I tried going off of the Zantac 150, but I have such severe reflux that I aspirate at night, and wake up gagging from it. I didn't want that to happen with my boys.

One thing that I have heard of as an alternative is aloe vera. The juice is just nasty tasting. Jordan and I both tried it. It does come in a pill/gel bulb form, which would probably be much easier to swallow. I've been thinking of starting it along with my PPI, because it is said to also repair damage due to acid. My theory is that maybe I can ween myself off of the PPI.

It's like you take one thing to fix something, and then you have another problem from what you took, and you have to take another thing....<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> Anyway, it might just be worth the risk of bone problems to protect the lungs from the aspiration.

Stacey
 
J

JORDYSMOM

New member
Katie, I understand your apprehension with the PPI's. Jordan, myself and my youngest son have been on them forever. In our cases, we cannot stop taking them. I tried going off of the Zantac 150, but I have such severe reflux that I aspirate at night, and wake up gagging from it. I didn't want that to happen with my boys.

One thing that I have heard of as an alternative is aloe vera. The juice is just nasty tasting. Jordan and I both tried it. It does come in a pill/gel bulb form, which would probably be much easier to swallow. I've been thinking of starting it along with my PPI, because it is said to also repair damage due to acid. My theory is that maybe I can ween myself off of the PPI.

It's like you take one thing to fix something, and then you have another problem from what you took, and you have to take another thing....<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> Anyway, it might just be worth the risk of bone problems to protect the lungs from the aspiration.

Stacey
 
J

JORDYSMOM

New member
Katie, I understand your apprehension with the PPI's. Jordan, myself and my youngest son have been on them forever. In our cases, we cannot stop taking them. I tried going off of the Zantac 150, but I have such severe reflux that I aspirate at night, and wake up gagging from it. I didn't want that to happen with my boys.
<br />
<br />One thing that I have heard of as an alternative is aloe vera. The juice is just nasty tasting. Jordan and I both tried it. It does come in a pill/gel bulb form, which would probably be much easier to swallow. I've been thinking of starting it along with my PPI, because it is said to also repair damage due to acid. My theory is that maybe I can ween myself off of the PPI.
<br />
<br />It's like you take one thing to fix something, and then you have another problem from what you took, and you have to take another thing....<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-confused.gif" border="0"> Anyway, it might just be worth the risk of bone problems to protect the lungs from the aspiration.
<br />
<br />Stacey
<br />
<br />
 
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