Same thing happened to me. Its really frustrating. My set back happened after two months though.

Protonix is a proton pump inhibitor and ranitidine is a histamine blocker. they work in different ways and both have side effects. What you are experiencing is the rebound effect you get when you come off a ppi (protonix). It will take awhile to get back to normal. I read in a medical journal that the ppi work right away and produces good results in about 2 to 3 weeks but to get the stomach back to normal when you come off of it takes about 3 to 4 months.

Buckeyes- how long did your setback last? Still dealing w it?

Stitch- I didn't even consider rebound. That's a very interesting suggestion. I was aware of the difference between ppis and h2 blockers. The ppi did not seem to provide me the relief I needed. I only had real relief with Zantac.
Can one experience rebound a whole month after getting off the meds? Does it mean that my gastritis might be healed/healing still?

everyone is different and yes rebound can go on for a long time if you not treating the cause of your gastritis. Example; if you don't wear gloves and you keep pruning the roses you get scratched up. by taking a ppi or h blocker is just like telling you don't prune the roses till the scratches are healed . Then you get off the ppi and h blockers it's like pruning the roses without gloves on and you get scratches again. But if you learn what foods you can eat or not and stick to the diet then that is like pruning the roses with gloves on and you won't get so scratched up. I found that sticking to the scd diet I am getting much better and most of my pain is disappearing now. I am no on any meds just some supplements. L-glutamine, colostrum, d3, multiple vitimin, and b 12 because of my pernicious anemia and lots of probiotics. ( at least 40 billion count and as many strains as you can find). I just bought a cook book for the scd diet and am learning new deserts and meals I can make. I suggest you look into the specific carbohydrate diet and maybe even leaky gut.

Hi everyone,
Countrysunsets and stitch,
I came off my PPI 2 weeks ago cold turkey...(I've explained why in another post here)..and I was wondering what your pain is like??..I'm getting front flank pain both sides and aching directly under my ribs...it's got less painful over the last week, but sometimes it all day, I take Gaviscon to help it a bit, but the pain is still there. I wonder if it's the gastritis back although I have no nausea or gnawing pain..but some acid burning centre of stomach inch above belly button. I'm eating well though. Could you tell me what your re bound pain was like??. praying we all get well soon. :)

My pain was constant on the left side just under or below the rib. On some days the stomach would join in and hurt in the center and sometimes it would go to the right side . sometimes when on the left side it would go through to the back also. At times it was quite severe enough to land me in the ER and stayed in the hospital for a day. Now it is gone for several days in a row until I mess up the diet then I hurt again for a few days till I get back on track.

Hi boobear,

I'm in the same boat. I dropped off my pantoprazole last Friday and started taking Pepcid. I'm also experiencing that same thing, some burning above my belly button, I have some bad heartburn, etc. But I don't think this is gastritis coming back as I'm being able to sleep at night, I'm able to eat a lot (I actually have to limit myself as I could eat non stop), I don't have chills/fever like symptoms, etc. I'm waiting to see how this goes, but I think I'm actually getting better and this is just the rebound effect (which is expected).

Also I may add that I had an endoscopy 2 weeks ago and they told me my stomach is not swollen anymore so this shouldn't be gastritis. That's why I'm mostly trying to ignore and just plow through it. Things should clear up once I get stabilized from the PPI rebound effect.

HI John1990,
I waswondering if the burning above belly button could be gastrits as I had mild antrum gastritis which is basically at the base of the stomach which is exactly 2 inch above belly button!!...and I'm worried that the rebound effect with the withdrawl of PPI's is causing extra acid to be secreted which in turn is causing the irritation of the old gastritis area??..also are you experiecing the side pain??...I am wondering if this is typical of rebound pain??...sooo scared the gastritis will come back!!...do you know how long rebound can last??...I just want to get back to normal!!..Prays to all :)

Hi everyone,

I'm curious as to how long you had to take the PPI before you noticed any relief? I've been talking mine twice daily for three weeks now, along with Probiotics, Mylanta and Licorice root but I'm still in agonizing pain.

This has been going on since April and I was diagnosed with Gastritis in March. I feel like I'll NEVER get relief :(

I too can resonate with you all. HH, GERD, esophagitis - pain left side, middle sometimes right side. Nightmare. I had gastritis 5 years ago and had PPI's for a couple on months - they did not help me. Turned them down last year when all this flared up and doc gave me Ranitidine am and pm, along with Pepzin GI and Mastic Gum. It is so draining. My hubs has heartburn quite often but he gets rid of it with alka seltzer, he thinks I can do the same, not a chance, it would kill me. Something will come up for you. I was free of it for years - I just ruined everything by eating and drinking too much wine.

Hey all. Sorry for the delayed reply.
Here's a little update:
I'm not sure it was rebound. It just felt like my gastritis- dull persistent aching pain center abdomen above belly button. Worse after eating
But I do think something (potentially a coke I had for the first time in months) flared me up. It lasted about a week and a half and then slowly tapered off. I have been feeling quite well overall the last couple weeks.

I saw my GI today and it was kind of annoying. She acted like I should/could stay on the ranitidine indefinitely. That is something I made clear I did NOT want to do. I never needed meds before (no heartburn, gerd, etc. only this one bout of gastritis). So I don't feel I should need to continue on meds indefinitely.
I asked if she felt I could start to taper down and she said I could. So I'm going to do it super slowly and see what happens. I currently take 150mg tab 2x a day. So I'm going to go to OTC 75mg at night for a week then drop it. Then do the same for morning if all feels well. I NEED this 8 month long nightmare to be over.
If my pain comes back I'll be getting a second opinion!!!