dedoubt Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I've had various stomach problems since I went back on lithium, and the problems have increased with each additional med. Mostly, everything is much better now, but I have to make sure to take my nightime meds with food and/or milk or I end up having a very acidic stomach. Sometimes, it gets so acidic, I can feel it kind of sloshing up my esophagus (or I imagine it is) and the pain is almost unbearable. The upper part of my stomach burns and contracts like crazy, and the aforementioned sloshing feeling happens with each contraction. For the next day or two, it all feels burnt inside, and my stomach feels kind of full, like I ate a lot (even if I haven't eaten). It hurts when I eat. Ugh. It's really horrible, and it makes tossing back that hand full of pills kind of scary, since this happens sometimes even if I eat with the meds. It also makes me feel sorry for myself, which is so frickin' lame-o. My pdoc told me I need to see my gdoc, to make sure it's not gastric reflux or something else, because apparently it can cause scarring of the gastroesophageal junction (yay anatomy class). Gah. It's always something. Anyway, I am seeing my gdoc on Monday, but I'm hoping you all might have some ideas about juggling med cocktails with gastric cocktails. BTW, I love Adderall. I've been meaning to post about this since last summer, but it took getting a little brain organization before I finally did it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 It says a lot about me that I thought this was about cocktails of the alcoholic kind. But then, the last time I had acid reflux I drunk a load of Velvet Elvis cocktails (in our great leaders honor) so I brought it on myself. I don't know what to say about the acid reflux, other than that seeing your gdoc is probably best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
notfred Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 Any pill has the potential to cause reflux. I have to take Zantac twice a day to control my reflux, brought on by the meds I take. Abilify is especially bad for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dedoubt Posted March 23, 2012 Author Share Posted March 23, 2012 It says a lot about me that I thought this was about cocktails of the alcoholic kind. But then, the last time I had acid reflux I drunk a load of Velvet Elvis cocktails (in our great leaders honor) so I brought it on myself. Ha ha. Um, ha ha about the cocktails, not about your reflux... What's in a Velvet Elvis? (I don't drink, but I can pretend.) Any pill has the potential to cause reflux. I have to take Zantac twice a day to control my reflux, brought on by the meds I take. Abilify is especially bad for me. Thanks for the info. I'm glad it's not just me, but I'm not looking forward to having to add yet one more med to my daily doses. Ack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 1½ shots Jack Daniels Tennessee whiskey 1 shot Chambord berry liqueur ½ shot Freshly squeezed lime juice Top up with Lemonade/Sprite/7-Up Shake and prepare to be hungover and curse CB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 I use generic prilosec, 40mg a day. The OTC directions say 20mg, but my nephrologist said 40 is okay. Of course, check with your pdoc, I don't know about interactions. I have a hiatal hernia, which is why I need a PPI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larkspur Posted March 23, 2012 Share Posted March 23, 2012 You're taking Li carbonate. Try Lithobid or Li ER. Those are so much easier on your stomach. Regular old Li carbonate kills my stomach every single time I've tried it. True. The lithobid controlled-release tablets cause a lot less tummy trouble than the immediate release, if that's what you're taking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indigo 'n dye Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 Meanwhile, raise the head of your bed a few inches: it really does help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dedoubt Posted March 24, 2012 Author Share Posted March 24, 2012 Thanks for all of the suggestions. I'll type more when I'm not typing around a sleeping kid (he crashed out on top of me... and he's ten!). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 I have gastroparesis, slow emptying of the stomach, it also slows down the peristalsis that's supposed to take place in the lower stomach. My gastrodoc did an endoscopy and sent me the pictures; it was pretty bad. It also screws up how the valves, in and out, of the stomach don't work well. He has me on a med that I have to order from Canada, it's called domperidon (sounds like the champagne). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowan77 Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 I also have acid reflux, which is from having a Hiatus Hernia, but also medication related. I have taken Nexium in the past but now am on Losec 20mg. One day, recently when I was in with my GP, she suggested I only take the Losec PRN. Well I only missed one day and the reflux started again and I was experiencing discomfort, so after a few more attempts at taking it PRN I went back to taking it on a daily basis and have had no problems since Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiaroscuro Posted March 24, 2012 Share Posted March 24, 2012 I have a family history (on both sides) of reflux problems. I take the 300mg of Zantac at least once a day everyday. Recently I had to take it twice a day to get relief. Am thinking of talking to my GP about going on Nexium, as maybe that'll be better for me...who knows I've been taking Zantac on & off for years & haven't had a problem with it interacting with my meds, but I do check with the GP or at least the pharmasist if I'm not sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dedoubt Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 So I saw an NP on Monday, not the usual lady I see. She wasn't very helpful AT ALL. She told me that I didn't want to take another pill every day (what? really? like it makes a difference? I don't care!) so she wouldn't prescribe anything for my stomach. Her idea of help was to tell me to space me meds out over the course of the day so I would know which med is causing me problems. Totally ignoring that I had told her it is the lithium. I KNOW THIS. I take 6 meds! That would take all day, not to mention the fact that the meds I take at night make me sleepy... Anyway, my usual NP somehow got word of what went down and had her nurse call me up to find out why I "didn't want to take" the med for my stomach. Sigh. So it got straightened out and I now have a 'script for pantoprazole (Protonix). I just started it this morning and haven't noticed much of a difference. I imagine it takes some time to work. The idea of it freaks me out more than my other meds. I don't like the thought of a med that alters the cells in my stomach. You're taking Li carbonate. Try Lithobid or Li ER. I checked my bottle and it says that the lithium carbonate is substituted for Lithobid. So it looks as if my pdoc prescribed the Lithobid, but freakin' insurance won't cover it. I will talk to him about getting a Lithobid "medically required" 'script. Meanwhile, raise the head of your bed a few inches: it really does help. Oh man, I wish I could! My bed is barely holding together. I think it would collapse completely if I tried to hoist up one end. Extra pillows will have to suffice for now. I've been taking Zantac on & off for years & haven't had a problem with it interacting with my meds, but I do check with the GP or at least the pharmasist if I'm not sure. My NP's nurse told me to take the med one hour before anything else so that it won't interact. Of course, this means I now have two pills in the morning that I have to take an hour apart from anything else, which is going to make mornings fun. First take the pantoprazole, wait an hour, then take the levothyroxine, wait an hour, then take the rest of the morning meds... Bah. My life feels like it revolves around taking pills. I now take them five times a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larkspur Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Lithobid is available in generic. Mine says lithium carbonate ER tab 300mg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crtclms Posted March 29, 2012 Share Posted March 29, 2012 Dedoubt, if it is anything like Omeprazole (which wouldn't surprise me, given that they both end in -prazole), it will take a few days to take full effect. I think it is a PPI. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dedoubt Posted March 29, 2012 Author Share Posted March 29, 2012 Thanks for letting me know, crtclms. From what I've been told about the action of the med, I figured it would take some time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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