I have been diagnosed with IBS. I am taking 150 of Zantac once a day and the Dr also gave me the generic of Valium (he said take the Valium when needed). I know that Valium can be addicting. Dr did a scope on my stomach. If I stop the Zantac the burning in my stomach and reflux come right back! I have had this problem for 7 months. Yes I also have constipation and diarrhrea alteration when off the Zantac.Also I feel a pulsation in my stomach when off the Zantac.
What are the effects of taking Zantac for a long period of time? My blood was also tested and everything is fine except my cholesterol was off the scale. I am taking 1000 mg of Niacin 2 times a day. My question is should I be tested for parasites and bacteria, a Parathyroid condition, Gall bladder? I have Kaiser and seems they only do what is asked and nothing else.
Thank You
REPLY:
Your letter deals with several issues and I will try to touch on some of them.
Although you use the term IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) some of your symptoms are more clearly related to the upper gastrointestinal area and the burning and reflux you describe may be a different problem. Changes in your diet, elevating the head of the bed. losing excess weight, not eating or drinking anything for four hours before retiring to bed are all worth trying to minimize reflux episodes. The chronic use of Zantac in a once-a-day dose is not likely to cause problems for you and I would continue this if it helps you.
Stress and anxiety can worsen IBS and reflux symptoms. It sounds like your doctor feels this may be the case since he has prescribed a drug which is a tranquilizer. This is not always necessary in the routine treatment of IBS and/or reflux so you may want to explore stress reducing exercises and work away from the regular use of Valium. This may mean taking a serious look at the areas in your life which may be contributing to anxiety. Discuss with your doctor whether or not you might benefit from some type of counseling. It is difficult to get a good sense of an individual's life from an electronic message; a sit-down face-to-face doctor-patient visit where these issues can be freely discussed is the best setting to explore this topic.
Parasites and bacteria would be an unusual explanation for your symptoms and I do not see an immediate need to check for these. Parathyroid disease is a rare problem and again an unlikely cause of the symptoms you describe. Gallbladder problems are very common and can mimic other conditions. Discuss all of these topics with your primary doctor or your GI specialist.
You raise a very important issue in the last line of your letter which will increasingly affect us all whether we are patients or health care providers. We need to keep open the lines of communication and not let the "rules" or "policies" of managed care organizations interfere with our access to quality care now or in the future. --
Bruce Sckolnick, M.D.
NOTICE: OFCN is not engaged in the rendering of professional medical services. The information contained on this system or any other OFCN system should not supplant individual professional consultation. It is offered exclusively as a community education service. Advice on individual problems must be obtained directly from a professional.
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