I have chronic acidity problem with H.pylori infection and GERD. Should I continue my acidity pill?

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Well, it seems that you have H.pylori infection and for which you have been treated already. So it is not uncommon to have acidity even after eradication and treatment of the H.pylori infection.

H.pylori infection can cause hypertrophy (enlargement) of the acid-producing cells within your stomach. Due to their enlargement, these cells keep secreting acid in the stomach irrespective of the absence of H.pylori infection. That is why acid suppressant medication for at least eight weeks or even higher is needed for acid production control due to acid-producing cells' enlargement. I know you are taking an acidity pill in the morning, but since it is not effective. I suggest you increase the dose since these medications show a dose-dependent effect.

Our stomach produces one liter of acid daily, which helps to digest our food. It is an essential process that has to be done in the same way daily.

So, what I can or anybody can do to reduce acid production with acid suppressant medications and cannot completely shut down acid production. Otherwise, the person can feel a problem related to low or no acid production.

So I recommend you to take capsule Esomeprazole 40 mg (proton pump inhibitor) half an hour before breakfast and one before night meal for eight weeks. This is a safe medication and can be taken for a long duration. Make sure you take half an hour before your breakfast and meal. Plus, you can take syrup Gaviscon 15 ml (antacid) four times daily 30 minutes after meals.

I hope you will see improvement in the next 48 hours.

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Your endoscopy with positive H.pylori makes me think that you have an ongoing H pylori infection for a very long duration. We can consider stopping these medications, but not right now. Otherwise, you would have a burst of symptoms that would cause more harm than benefit. I suggest you complete at least eight weeks of Esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily at this dose.

Your stomach may be a kind hypersensitive to acid, and even after suppressing your acid with Esomeprazole, your stomach feels pain even after a small amount of acid. This hypersensitivity is called functional dyspepsia, and this may determine part of your symptoms. In that case, you can start a low dose of tablet Amitriptyline 25 mg at night to control your hypersensitivity. I am afraid that you have to be on medications for some time before considering stopping all medications.

Tablet Amitriptyline is an antidepressant medication, but remember I am not giving you for depression. However, in functional dyspepsia such as in your case, the dose is 25 mg and not a high dose used for depression. So do not get nervous that I have recommended your treatment for depression. This medication takes two to four weeks before you can see any improvement. So do not stop if you do not see improvement in the first two weeks.

Use Esomeprazole 40 mg twice daily and tablet Amitriptyline 25 mg (antidepressant) at night time and get back to me in two to three weeks to tell how you respond.