📌 Schedule An Appointment with Dr. Ona: https://www.drmelona.com

Most patients on a proton pump inhibitor have no idea it was only meant to be used for 8 to 12 weeks. Some have been on it for a decade. Nobody ever sat down to ask if they still need it. Millions of people fill this prescription every single month without a second thought, and most of them were never told there was an end date in the first place.

In this episode, I'm going to explain what stomach acid actually does for your gut, what happens when it gets suppressed for years, and how to have the conversation about stopping safely.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 The Gut Medication Most Patients Stay On Too Long
0:42 What PPIs are and how they work
1:09 Why the stopping conversation never happens
2:03 The refill cycle that keeps patients on PPIs
3:34 What stomach acid actually protects against
5:35 How PPIs increase SIBO and infection risk
6:42 The nutrient deficiencies nobody warns you about
9:00 When long term PPI use is actually appropriate
9:41 How to safely taper off a PPI

❓ QUESTIONS ANSWERED

How long should you take a proton pump inhibitor?
Most PPIs are designed for short term use, typically 8 to 12 weeks, unless you have a documented condition like erosive esophagitis or Barrett's esophagus that requires ongoing acid suppression. Anyone taking one longer than that without a clear diagnosis should bring it up at their next appointment.

What happens if you stop a PPI suddenly?
Stopping abruptly can trigger rebound acid hypersecretion, a temporary surge in stomach acid that feels worse than the original problem and usually resolves within 4 to 8 weeks. This rebound effect is the main reason patients feel like they cannot quit, even when the medication is no longer needed.

Can long term PPI use cause nutrient deficiencies?
Yes. Long term use is linked to lower magnesium, vitamin B12, and calcium absorption, along with an increased risk of bone fracture and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. These effects tend to build slowly over years, which is why they often go unnoticed until symptoms show up elsewhere.

📱 RESOURCES
Website: https://www.drmelona.com
Patient Portal: https://drmelona.com/patient-portal/
Unsedated Colonoscopy Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Vz1IXF0rmo
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/polymathforever/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doctormelona

🔔 Subscribe for evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention from a board-certified gastroenterologist.

ABOUT DR. MEL ONA:
I'm Dr. Mel Ona, a board-certified gastroenterologist with graduate training in nutritional biochemistry and metabolism. I founded Ohana Gastroenterology and have treated over 10,000 patients across nine years of clinical practice. My focus is evidence-based digestive health, nutrition science, and disease prevention.

#GutHealth #Gastroenterologist #DigestiveHealth #GutMicrobiome #GIDoctor