[wtd]

Update to post #16 in which I quickly described my spouse's and my experiences with PPIs. We both described our reaction to PPI's as 'depressive' and it likely had to do with the interaction of the PPI restricting Magnesium absorption. It affected my spouse more dramatically because of post heart valve repair surgery medication to regulate heart rate. Here are links to details regarding PPI's & Magnesium:

• FDA: FDA Drug Safety Communication: Low magnesium levels can be associated with long-term use of Proton Pump Inhibitor drugs (PPIs)

  "[3-2-2011] The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is informing the public that prescription proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs may cause low serum magnesium levels (hypomagnesemia) if taken for prolonged periods of time (in most cases, longer than one year). In approximately one-quarter of the cases reviewed, magnesium supplementation alone did not improve low serum magnesium levels and the PPI had to be discontinued."

• 

  As stated above, both my spouse and I were prescribed PPIs (Protonix, initially by Rx) then OTC versions of PPIs as they were no longer covered by our prescription insurance. We both eventually became aware of a depressive effect of these PPIs and cut back on the dosage or resorted to alternate acid reducing OTC remedies when taking a break from the PPIs.

  It was during a course of preventive dose of Milk of Magnesia that we both noticed significant improvement in our health and explored this with our physicians after discovering the connection between Magnesium and PPIs.

[Viking2002]

My original doctor said that not every person can take the same PPI and have the same effect. He ended up failing me out of two PPI's before we struck gold with AcipHex, and I stayed on that for years until the insurance company stopped paying for it. Then I was getting omeprazole for several years before my wife's insurance stopped paying for it, stating that I could get it OTC at the same price. Turned out that OTC was cheaper than the prescription equivalent. Now, with my new prescription plan, I get it for free.

[be-baw]

“We both described our reaction to PPI’s as ‘depressive’ and it likely had to do with the interaction of the PPI restricting Magnesium absorption”

Hmmm. Two years ago last May I went to ER because I had extreme exhaustion, and my brain wasn’t working properly. I felt like I had taken the purple acid. After a slew of tests, they gave me Mg intravenously. Afterward I asked my primary if I should be taking Mg supplement and he said no.

I had already bought the supplement and still have lots left. I did some online research and Mg deficiency may be more prevalent than most doctors realize. Apparently Mg is hard to measure because most of it hides out in your bones and the standard blood test for it may not be all that useful.