I've had serious GERD for 20 years and in that time have been almost continually on antacids, from Tums to Zantac to Prilosec. These medications have been a miracle for me but in the last 3 years I've developed IBS and I wonder if there's any connection. I read somewhere that over time these medications can alter flora in the digestive tract because there is less stomach acid to help keep certain bacteria in check (e.g. c diff).I tried twice stopping the Prilosec - the longest I lasted was about two weeks - and I didn't see any IBS symptom changes. Maybe I've irreparably messed up my GI tract with chronic antacid abuse? Anyone else wondering about this?