On Sunday, I switched from famotidine H2 blockers (aka Pepcid AC) to esomeprazole magnesium PPIs (aka Nexium 24hr). H2 blocking did not seem to have any noticeable effect; despite taking two 20mg pills a day and eating a GERD friendly diet, I still found myself turning to Tums to control the acid reflux.
Later, I realized that famotidine might have seemed ineffectual because of stress. That week, I fretted endlessly about little details on what to eat and how much medication to take. The increased agitation would cause acid reflux regardless of what I ate. By the time I reached this conclusion, I was already on the PPI 2-week cycle so I decided to let it finish.
Once the 2-week cycle is done, I will take a break from the stronger drugs and do my best to control acid reflux with a good diet, low stress and the occassional antacid. If things get out of hand, I will turn to my H2 blocker for help. (After all, the packaging of the PPI clearly states to use it only once every 4 months.) As for a long term solution, that’s something my GI will have to answer.
