Amongst side effects reported for Proton Pump Inhibitors (Omeprazole, Lansoprazole, Pantoprazole etc.) are weight gain and weight loss.

This recent study has looked at weight gain, for example and one of our forum members recently indicated he/she had gained weight from PPI usage.

I was wondering how common this is. Has your weight been affected by the use of these drugs?

I know this isn't a very scientific study, but the results may be interesting?

Chris

Folks
   It's not the ppi's your takeing it's the stress of dealing with your new found barretts I gained 20 lbs. THEN lost 40 lbs ..That's why you ablate it........

HGD JEFF

Edited by jcombs99 - 29 Oct 2010 at 6:36pm

Weight gain could be because
your diet has changed
the medication is making you retain water
your digestion has changed because of the reduced acid - though I think in theory any change there would make you loose weigh.

I know from personal experience that I have a threshold weight over which my body gets stressed - and reflux does indeed get worse.

Having a digestive problem does mean that one needs to re-adjust ones diet and perhaps re-train ones food habits. I'm lucky in that I have always liked vegetables and salads, so cutting down on meat and other fattening food has not been difficult.

But there are foods which are much less fattening than their calorie count would indicate. Coconut and peanuts are two. Other tree nuts also are probably a lot more healthy than we have been taught. I can give more info if anyone is interested.

Edited by RichardT - 30 Oct 2010 at 2:52pm

Hi Shaddy,

I've been out all afternoon but have just responded to your PM.

Chris

> I think that you do retain water most definately and "bloat" out. 

Curious. Makes me wonder why.

A complete guess:
PPIs are metabolised by the liver, not by the kidneys. Water is excreted via the kidneys of course. So the PPI must somehow be affecting kidney function. Maybe the kidneys don't like the high PPI level in the blood so are retaining water to avoind increasing the concentration.

What is your blood pressure like? If you retain water - that could be high. BP monitors are cheap. Get one.

I suppose you might be able to increase kidney function by eating, for instance, more salt. Salt is removed by the kidneys and doing so removes water in the process.

We are told salt raises blood pressure: the best I can find on this is that it does - but only in some people who have a certain gene (so it's an ethnic thing). If you drink enough water, salt is not a problem to most people.

As I said - a complete guess. I would not want to counter one chemical by using another. It's too much like a doctor prescribing pills to offset the side effects of other pills! Athough salt is hardly dangerous.


Edited by RichardT - 09 Nov 2010 at 9:05am