Suggest Treatment For Acid Reflux And Aspiration Pneumonia

Posted on Sat, 21 Jun 2014

Question: I am having a problem with acid reflux pressure in my esophagus then I cant breath good i am taking prevacid I took 45 mg yesterday and it wont be time for more until about 6.00am my dr wants me to take 60mg because he says he thinks i am aspirating acid into my lungs. I started taking the prevacid on may 30, 2014 but acid seems to be getting worse I am having a hard time eating anything but eggwhites baked potatoes a white loaf bread and water. what is the safest meds for me to take with the prevacid I have ranitidine I have a generic to Maalox advanced XXXXXXX strength , tums smoothies and sucralfate I don't know what im suppose to take my regular doctor called in the perscription for the ranitidine and the sucralfate but she has not been a doctor for very long and i don't know if i really trust her the pumonoligst said not to take the ranitidine and the nurse at the gastrologist office said not to take the ranitidine so I don't know what to do about taking something but I have got to have something more than the prevacid can you please tell me what to take I understand that with the zantac and the prevacid there is a chance of taking pneumonia the lingular pneumonia that i was diagnosed with on april 1 was still showing up being in my lung on may 22 but he said it was better. the pumonoligist that told me not to take the ranitidine is not my pumonoligist mines out of town and the gastronoligest is out of town so i am really confused about what to do and what to take. but i have not sleep in days and i really need someone that has a lot of experience to tell me what to do

Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for posting your query.
I am Dr.R.K and I am pleased to assist you.

As per your post you are having severe acid reflux and aspiration pneumonia due to severe reflux. You are taking Prevacid and still not totally relieved of your symptoms of reflux. And your sleep is disturbed because of reflux.

I would like to tell you that complete relief of acid reflux needs two things -
1. Medications
2. Lifestyle changes

Prevacid is a good medication for acid reflux. If you feel the response is inadequate you can go for other similar medications like Nexium. Since you are not getting sleep because of acid reflux, in addition to the above medication you need to take ranitidine at bedtime. Zantac which you have mentioned contains ranitidine only.

Regardding lifestyle changes -
1. You need to reduce weight if you are obese
2. You need to avoid coffee, citrus, tomatoes, fatty food, alcohol etc.
3. You need to avoid eating large meals and have only smaller frequent meals
4. You have to avoid bedtime snacks and go to bed at least 2-3 hours after food
5. You need to sleep with head elevated position

I hope that answers your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (22 minutes later)

my regular doctor which is a new dr called me in a prescription yesterday for sucralfate should I take it and how do I take it , I take 30mg of prevacid at 6am 30 minutes before I eat and this sucralfate says to take 1 hour before food and how long should I wait to take it after the prevacid. and as far as my diet I an eating nothing but plain egg whites and white loaf bread and plan baked potatoes with white loaf bread . I am 5foot 8 inches and I only weigh 122 pounds because I cant eat anything my insides feel raw and like there are in a knot for the last several days, should I take the sucralfate with it help the way my insides feel. I have a appointment with my gastronoligst on june16 2014 but that seems like a long time the way I feel I have tried to get a suner apt but he is out of town. so I am just trying to find something that will help until I can see him can you help please and thank you

Answered by Dr. Dr.P.Ratnakar Kini (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Answer given below

Detailed Answer:
Hi,
You need not take sucralfate.
You take prevacid in the morning and zantac in the night as mentioned in my previous post.
In addition to the medications you need to follow the dietary advice I have given you in my previous post.

I hope that answers your question.
Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr.R.K

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar