Heartburn / Acid Reflux / GERD / Stomach Acids
Users on Reddit report experiencing heartburn, acid reflux, and GERD while on GLP-1 medications. Some find relief with specific medications or by making dietary adjustments.
Experiences with Heartburn / Acid Reflux / GERD / Stomach Acids:
Another user experienced severe acid reflux on Zepbound, leading to aspiration of stomach acid and pneumonia, even while taking high doses of Pepcid. Pantoprazole was ineffective, Lansoprazole was an improvement but not sufficient, and finally, dexlansoprazole (Dexilant) resolved their GERD. They also found cutting back on citric acid, prevalent in electrolyte drinks, helped with silent reflux. [2]
A user mentioned their GERD seemed to have gotten worse on Ozempic, sometimes waking them from sleep. [4]
One user on compounded semaglutide noted heartburn from foods that usually don't cause it. [6]
A user on Mounjaro reported experiencing "a bit more frequent heartburn" on day 2 after injection, which they believe is related to food volume. [7]
Another user mentioned that acid reflux goes away after adjusting to the medication (weeks 6-10). [8]
A user on Saxenda experienced "the worst Acid Reflux pain. " Switching to Zepbound resulted in minimal side effects. [5]
One user noted that their GERD was a pre-existing issue that worsened on Ozempic. [3]
A user mentioned that some patients experience "sulfur burps" which can be unpleasant. [9, 10, 11]
Excessive saliva was questioned by a user as possibly secondary to GERD caused by the medication. [12]
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
Omeprazole was mentioned by several users, with one stating they take 40mg daily but still had out-of-control reflux before trying Dexilant. [1] Another user takes 20mg Omeprazole and has had no gastric symptoms. [3]
Pantoprazole and Lansoprazole were tried by one user with varying degrees of success before finding relief with dexlansoprazole. [2]
Pepcid (famotidine) in high doses was not enough to prevent severe acid reflux for one user. [2]
Pepto-Bismol (specifically cherry chewables) was called a "life-saving medicine" for sulfur burps and associated issues by one user. [10]
Dietary Adjustments:
Cutting back on citric acid, found in many electrolyte drinks, helped one user with silent reflux. [2]
Avoiding heavy carbs was strongly recommended by a user who experienced severe bloating and sulfur burps after eating pasta. [10]
One user suggested reducing sulfur-containing foods like eggs to help with sulfur burps. [9]
Other:
Probiotics and digestive enzymes were suggested to help with sulfur burps. [9]
One user mentioned that adjusting to the medication over several weeks (6-10) can lead to the resolution of acid reflux. [8]
It's important to note that some users with pre-existing GI issues, like gastroparesis, are advised to be cautious, as GLP-1s can slow gastric emptying and potentially worsen these conditions.
Experiences with Heartburn / Acid Reflux / GERD / Stomach Acids:
- One user reported having "terrible heartburn" even on a very low dose of Ozempic, despite taking omeprazole and other antacids.
Remedies and Preventions Recommended:
- Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and Antacids:
- Dexilant (dexlansoprazole) was described as a "miracle for GLP1 heartburn" by one user who found it effective when omeprazole was not sufficient.
It's important to note that some users with pre-existing GI issues, like gastroparesis, are advised to be cautious, as GLP-1s can slow gastric emptying and potentially worsen these conditions.