Reverse effects of Nexium (acid reflux medication)?

Question

I took nexium for several months for acid reflux, but stopped taking it because I heard it can stop your stomach from producing acid. Now, I notice if I take a vitamin or pill that has a thick gel coating they are not as effective as they used to be. I think my stomach acid is not able to break down the gel capules effectively. Anything I can do to increase my stomach acid naturally?

Answer 1

Take an HCl supplement, e.g. Betaine Hydrochloride.

Answer 2

You don't need to do anything -- the effect of Nexium (which is a Proton Pump Inhibitor) will wear off after 2-3 days:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton_pump...

However, I think it's more important for you to realize that stomach acid does not improve the absorption of medications/vitamins.  If anything, strong acid will degrade the medications/vitamins, leading to LESS being absorbed.  

That's why medications particularly sensitive to acid are given a special coating (called "enteric coating") to allow them to stay intact in the stomach, and only breakup to release the medication when the pill reaches the small bowels.  In addition to the more friendly pH, small bowels also have MUCH more surface area for absorption, due to the presence of something called "villi".  

Finally, non-enteric coated medications / vitamins will break up (to release the medication) in neutral pH environment.  If you don't believe me, just toss one of your pills in a glass of water, wait 5 minutes and you'll see the pill "bloom" or break up into many chunks.  No acid needed!

(If you do the "experiment", don't be alarmed to see a lot of white stuff not dissolved after even 30 minutes -- that is the "matrix" or filler, not the active ingredient.)