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From: Ron
Remote Name: 64.228.101.96
Date: 04/15/02
Time: 04:33:17 PM
Hi Buffy (and Sharon),
The neurontin is not something that you want to take forever because of the weight gain and other problems like the intestinal ones. If you can get pain relief with a minimal dose and then after a few months try weaning off to see if the pain returns, you could find that the reflux has also settled down. The neurontin can affect the LES strength so it is a delicate balancing act.
The problem is that once a gerd sufferer gets on a heavy regimen of meds, it is hard to just stop to see if they are no longer needed. I am sure that there are some who would be better without the high dosages after a few months and are too anxious to get off them, preferring instead to keep seeing the doc for more. What if the reflux was due to a virus like shingles and only lasted a few months? The nerve function could have returned in some cases and the sufferer would still be on meds.
Sorry to bring another variable into the picture. It is something to consider.
Ron