If you have been taking Omeprazole for a long time, like myself, then you should talk to your 
doctor or pharmacist about it. What was promised to be a miracle drug has now shown a lot of
 harmful affects if taken long term. Many doctors won’t even mention this — some don’t even
 know.

As always, I try to be my own advocate. I have learned that after being diagnosed with 
a rare cancer in 2016. I discovered things on my own, such as alternative sources of
 information, that really helped me. After reading so many online sites and a number of 
YouTube videos on acid reflux, I found that long-term use of Omeprazole can cause serious 
harm to kidneys, liver, lungs, heart, and even respiration.

One video in particular was given by 
Dr. Chris Smith of the Southern Reflux Clinic in Georgia. It’s nice to find a genuine expert who 
deals with reflux every day. He stated there were four recent in-depth studies in several countries
 that showed how widespread the problems are with Omeprazole.

Dr. Smith says it is critical to stop taking this drug because it was never intended to be taken for 
more than a few weeks. He also warned not to stop taking it “cold turkey,” as it would rebel and
 cause painful stomach problems for a while. It is like breaking any other addiction your body 
has gotten used to. It might be this drug does too good a job of neutralizing stomach acid because 
the body needs this acid to break down food.

Dr. Smith says about 40% of those taking
 Omeprazole never should have taken it to begin with. He suggests a patient can take it
 every other day until the body gets used to being without it. There are also a number of
 alternatives a person can switch to. We know now that acid reflux is a complicated disease that
 means much more than simply “heartburn.”

There is a new wonderful procedure available now called LINX. It is an ingenious device
 made up of a string of magnetic beads that is placed around the esophagus in a relatively 
simple 40-minute outpatient procedure. The magnetic attraction is soft enough to allow food 
to pass down but strong enough to stop acid from coming up. I read lots of comments by both 
gastroenterologists and patients who are very pleased with the results of this procedure. Many 
patients claim it changed their lives.

Unfortunately, our local gastric doctor does not offer this 
procedure, but many in the Portland/Seattle area do (including OHSU).

David Burns

Pendleton