PROTONIX is a prescription drug that is used to treat and maintain healing of erosive acid reflux disease, also known as erosive GERD (breaks in the lining of the esophagus), and relieve associated symptoms that may include frequent and persistent heartburn and stomach acid backup. Most patients heal within 8 weeks of treatment. Doctors may prescribe PROTONIX beyond 8 weeks to maintain healing or to prevent a recurrence of your symptoms. Controlled studies did not extend beyond 12 months.
This is an excellent quote and very true. Many medications can cause GERD by relaxing the LED (lower esophageal sphincter)and it sounds like you are on one of them. A healthy LED allows food to enter the stomach, then tightens back up. When the LED is relaxed, stomach acid can splash back up from the stomach causing the esophagus to burn.
But here's the rub, and it doesn't please me to say this: PPi's inhibit the production of stomach acid, so that there is less of it to splash back up allowing the esophagus to heal. Here is the red flag: We need our stomach acid to properly digest our food. If we can't digest our food quickly enough it sits in the stomach for longer than it should. When this happens, the LED relaxes. The LED can only then remain healed as long as the acid remains in a reduced state. The burns or lesions are "healed" but the LED is perpetually relaxed and your food under-digested. In other words, in most cases, you will be dependant on the PPi's to maintain a healed esophagus and in turn your LED cannot tighten up to protect the esophagus from the acid. So in the long run, PPi's cause acid reflux. Any one who has been on them for any length of time and tries to stop taking them will be in instant and perpetual agony. Besides acid reflux or GERD, long term use of PPi's can lead to an inflamed stomach lining and many other new health problems, including the dependency on acid reducers for life.
As I said, it doesn't make me happy to say this! I am painstakenly trying to get off of these meds. I used to have a burning in my stomach for years, which was probably H pilori. I never had acid reflux until I started taking acid reducers. When I learned the way these meds actually work I was stunned. This is why I caution everyone to try holistic approaches for acid reflux that heal the esophagus without harming the LED or stomach lining.
Of course everyone has free will. But as the saying goes "knowledge is power!"