Reflux symptoms and conditions

I am shocked!! Over the last year I have experienced significant hair loss, mood swings, dizziness, cardiac issues (ended up in an ambulance for a suspected heart attack at age 37) can not go one day without Protonix, if I do I wake up in the middle of the night with horrible reflux and choking sensation. For the last 2 years I have had numerous allergic reactions resulting in shots of steriods and pred-packs..they can not find the cause (mostly when I get hot or flushed and every time I go on vacation). I never thought it could be my BCP. I have taken Yasmin, Yaz and now Ocella for about 2 years. My MD switched me from Yasmin to Yaz....b/c of HA's a year ago, I had a heavy period for 36 days, started back on Yasmin and my MD wanted me to take them continuous to skip my periods b/c of fibroids. My hair started falling out, my skin is dry with dry patches all over my legs and then my hair started falling out..thats when everyone told me I was crazy. I have a cramp in my right side all the time, I suspect from my gallbladder. I am a nurse and really thought of all of the worse things that could cause these symptoms, Thyroid, Cancer, Heart Disease, OCD, Paranoia. I think I will be stopping my Ocella(generic for Yasmin) tonight. I have been on BCP for 13 years straight, I'm scared that my periods will never be normal again? Anyone have any issues once off Yasmin??

i was prescribed doxycycline for 7 days and it has really screwed my body up, i have experienced all the symptoms mentioned including a general strong feeling of unease and feeling like i have the flu as well as horrible reflux and stomach problems and its been 5 days since i stopped taking it and i am still experiencing these symptoms they seem to be just a little less severe. Can anyone give me any clue as to when i will recover from this or any steps i could take to help my body recover. thanks

Wow, I was amazed to find this site! and glad I did. I went to my doctor about 3 months ago, and I had some reflux coming up and he prescribed me the omeprazole. I didn't do any research on the drug and thought it was just a stronger version of tums or rolaids because I've never had to deal with this before. Well, I started on the Omeprazole and I felt like I was in another world. After I started taking it, I honestly feel many other things have happened, such as after I would eat, I couldn't breathe! It's not that I felt the food was getting stuck, but was moving slower or something and I couldn't take air through my nose or mouth...not once did I blame it on this meds...anyhow, My neck started hurting VERY bad! I thought it was just stress....next, my memory feels like it's really slacking and I'm only 38. I can't concentrate. So, I ended up in the ER and was having very bad chest pains...thought it was a heart attack, but everything turned out to be ok and they said I had GERD. They prescribed me Nexium. That's when the true hell began. The first day wasn't bad,but a lot of gas and chest pain, along with the shortness of breath continuing. By day 2 on nexium, I was having severe, and I mean severe anxiety and panic attacks...I ended back up at the ER, again, they said everything was ok and they gave me ranitidine to take too. If I'm not mistaken, nexium and prilosec are almost the same thing? Tonight was the worst of my life.....my panic attacks were horrible, felt like something was stuck in my throat, my neck hurts so bad and my mouth was so dry I couldn't even spit, I was so dizzy I couldn't walk, my ears were cramping from the anxiety and my eyes were blurry...I honestly feel crazy. I have taken prilosec on and off for 3 months, and now I know why my anxiety was so bad for so long, but the nexium topped it off. I heard that 40 mg of prilosec is actually 20 mg of nexium....this drug is BAD and I will never take it again. I will try the apple cider vinegar method w/ some honey. My grandparents swore by it and just start watching what Im eating. I heard its 72 hours before this crap gets out of your system..I can't wait!

I was on it for 6 weeks as I had a severe chest infection...I had a highly increased appetite (which has now reduced)..I put on 18lbs, which I can't lose..I am still feeling a lot of discomfort due to my stomach being bloated..I look about 6 months pregnant and can't get into any of my Jeans,
I have constant Indigestion and reflux, plus discomfort and aching in my chest, especially around my heart...I have book to see my GP again this week.

I've been taking omeprazole for years and all this time I've been getting worst from my condition, my digestive system shots down by 3pm and I don't feel better until I wake up the next day. Headaches, fatigue, joint pain, my heart feeling as if it were in my throat when I go to bed, depression, nausea, very sensitive to smells, excessive gas so bad that it makes my lower back ache, feeling like I need to use the restroom all day long but not being able to use it until my normal time in the morning and having no sex drive at all, these symptoms are part of my everyday life. 5 days ago I stop taking it but, I'm beside myself the heartburn and the reflux is worst than when I started to take it. I don't think there's a cure.

Hi, I am a 67 year old male and I am glad I found these testimonies. I have been taking Lisinopril 5mg for over a year now and after reading all this you bet I'll stop taking it right away. My symptoms are pretty much the same as all of yours. Last night I had the worst episode, I started feeling a sharp and pounding headache which made me cry, along with memory loss, nausea, and my pressure was way up high. I really wasn't aware that this medication can make so much harm to your health, no wonder I felt so sick ever since I've been taking it. My symptoms are bloated belly, fatigue,weight gain, nauseas, hartburn, throat irritation, headaches, tiredness, sleeping problems, reflux and pressure in my chest. I hope all of this stops once I've discontinued this venom. This week I'll be seeing my primary doctor and we'll see what else she'll prescribe me,but I'll be sure to check it out first in the internet before I start taking it.

I've been taking Omeprazole on and off for 6 months. I've been feeling increasingly depressed, anxious and apathetic - unable to get out of bed in the morning and having difficulty concentrating. Had initially thought that I was feeling like this because of the adic reflux and ulcers... having read these posts I now think that it could be because of the pills themselves. I'm going to come off them immediately and stick to herbal supplements and controlling my diet.

Ive had the mirena for 4 months.My doctor thought it would help with my painful,heavy periods,well I been bleeding since and it just getting worse.I want to know if anyone has had stomach issues,like acid reflex,heartburn,gas,or just pain in your stomach.cuz im thinking I have a ulcer or is it this device????Lisa

Thank you so much for this site and your posts. I am on my 4th day of doxy. and I had a panic attack today and anxiety--I was doing fine until now. I would consider myself a calm person so this caught me out of the blue. I called the pharmacist who thought I was nuts, I'm sure. She said it was not a side effect of the drug!! I also noticed some nerve pain over my body. But my infection is lots better so I don't want to stop, but I don't want to have panic, either or get sicker.

I also get the stomach queasiness when taking a dose and always eat a slice of bread with it. I have noticed a worsening of reflux and I make sure to sit upright for at least an hour after taking the medication.

10 days ago, my doctor switched me from Aciphex to Nexium. Within 30 hours, I was having severe nausea, painful acidic diarrhea, major abdominal cramping, headaches, muscle pain, and such severe reflux that I have gone through about half a bottle of liquid Maalox. I am not taking even 1 more of this pill.

Be very careful if you start this med.

I have been diagnosed with a pericardial cyst and thought that the problems I have been having were related to this.....until I found this site! I have been taking omerprazole for over a year now and have had several disturbing symptoms. Heart palputations, racing heart, night sweats and hot flashes, sudden onset of nausea that lasts for about 5 to 10 minutes then goes away and horrible chest, back and rib cramping, which is the same feeling as having a severe gall bladder attack. Recently the worst has happened. In the past I have had the sweats thinking it was only menopause and chest pain thinking it was the acid refllux. We shall see....as of today I am stopping the drug to see what happens. In the past week the most severe problems have occured. I started with bronchitis and the antibiotics and prednisone the doctor put me on seemed to be having side effects which I have never had before with them. The only other medication...omerprazole. (haven't had bronchitis since BEFORE I started taking the omerprazole) After the first day I began having severe chest, back and rib cramping which seemed to worsen by the day, more so that ever before. Then came the swelling in the hands and feet until they looked like I had elephantitis. There is aching somewhat in my arms with a strange weakness. And...the heartburn became so bad that I feel like it's coming out of my mouth. So..the doctor increased the omerprazole to 40mg or up to 80mg if needed. I have been taking 40mg and it didn't seem to really cure the reflux! So I was going to increase it. Not now! I believe after reading all the posted side effects everyone has been having, most of my problems are being caused by one thing....omerprazole! I was truely believing I was having a heart attack, but since I just had ALL the tests done and was given a clean bill of health and better with the exception of the pericardial cyst, I couldn't believe this to be the problem, so back to the doctor I went. She has put me on motrin for the pain and skelaxin for the cramping which seems to be helping. But, and this is the big but, I am going to come off the omerprazole and see if this will begin to eleviate the symptoms completely. Will update this in a couple of weeks when the drug is totally out of my system. Thank-you for this site and keep posting.

Started with a Pred pak for a sinus infection. Made my heart race and had tach and early heartbeat, which kept me from sleeping. Went to Cardiologist. Several doctors denied that the Pred would cause the rapid heartbeat. Then the Cardiologist did an echo and found a pericardial effusion and some weird spots on my lungs. They suspected lung cancer which may cause the effusion, so I had surgery to do a pericardial window and a lung biopsy. Then a pulmonologist decided to put me on Pred again...steady dosage...because she didn't know what else to do. (Didn't have lung cancer) I didn't have any more funny heartbeats, so maybe the pred didn't cause it after all. But I've gained 40 pounds. My hair has grown faster, and I've gotten some facial hair (not supposed to have that, being a female)...which I call fur. Moon face with cheeks that are hard, muscle cramps, can't sleep, but once I do go to sleep, I can't wake up. Tired all the time, headaches, joint pain-sometimes severe, dry skin, generally bad attitude, with very little patience, low potassium levels which add to my muscle cramping problems, difficulty swallowing, indigestion which I've never had, with painful and burning reflux. And occasionally when I eat, I have the rapid heartbeat again. I go in search of food like I'm going to store it in my thighs for winter. Anything you eat will turn to fat, including protein. Can't wait to get off this stuff which will take until June of next year. Then my doctor says it will be 3 months before all these effects wear off. No one told me I would get fur.

I have been on Singulair for about one month and am experiencing extremely painful cramps/charlie horses in my legs. I am taking Singulair for adult onset asthma. Have a horrid cough, been told over the past 20 years, yes, 20 years, it is caused by allergies but no medication stops the coughing. Then they figured it had to be caused by acid reflux. So prilosec is prescribed. Still have the cough. Now this specialist deems it to be adult onset asthma. The Singulair does not stop the coughing - so what is next? Major leg cramps/charlie horses.

HI - I had my Mirena removed yesterday. I had it inserted on Valentines Day 2006 - so 2 and a half years. A week after having it inserted I woke up one morning sweating and shaking like a mad woman....also starting Vomiting and then fainted. I went to my OB/Gyn and he told me that I had a virus and it was nothing to do with the mirena...Hmmm???? In hindsight (yes I know hind sight is 20/20) I have to say I am sure that I didn't have a virus - I think it was some kind of shock reaction to the Mirena - 12 weeks after having it put in I threw my boyfriend out - he just started getting on my nerves!!!....and every month or so I have been getting a severe dry swollen throat they have been getting progressively worse over the past 2 years - once again my doctor told me it was nothing to do with the Mirena, but that I had reflux...or allergies....The reflux medication that I took for a year nearly stopped my natural stomach acid production - so I swelled up (was it the reflux medication or the Mirena?? or Both?) About a year ago I stopped the reflux meds and concentrated on Allergies....at first it seemed to help - I think it was wishful thinking - last month my throat was so dry I could hardly swallow....as I said yesterday I had the thing removed - today my tongue is tingling strangely, but I have a feeling that it is actually trying to go back to normal....here's hoping!!!!
One more thing - I started exercising in Dec 2007....have lost about 5 kgs but for the amount of work I have done, it is nothing. I really hope that now that it is out, I will start to show something for the fitness regime I have been on the past 9 months.
I'm scared of the crash that will probably come on Saturday or Sunday - I started taking 5HTP last week in preparation - I hope it helps.

In August I started taking Topamax and every week i am to up the dosage now I am taking 50mg in the morning and and 50 mg at night because my headaches was so bad that I had to quit my job because I couldn't serve food and vomit at the same time. Now that my headaches have gone from everyday to about every other day I have noticed the indigestion. Because I had because sick so long the doctor suggested I had a reflux and it would correct itself.I started looking at all the medication I was on and the list from the pharmacy never indicated indigestion on as a side effect for Topamax.My appetite is non.Weight lost about 20 lbs but I could afford that and then some. I try not to use the upstairs of my home if no one is there because of the dizziness.And simple chores around the house go undone.I have bounce $130 in bank fees this month and can't figure out how and gave the finances over to my husband to keep up with and I am a math major in college this semester.This is how bad things have gotten some simple words i can't recall how to spell . I have to use the dictionary. It's bad.

I suffered with gastric reflux for a number of years not paying the attention i perhaps should have done. My reason for seeking medical advice that i found it increasingly difficult to swallow food. I had put it down to a psychological reaction. I reasoned that an episode some years ago caused a fear of food getting stuck in my thought, the thought sometimes seemed to trigger the response - ie the throat closing and quite literally stopping the food halfway down. The phenomenon became more and more frequent occurring almost every mealtime and making social eating a nightmare. Visited a specialist, had an endoscopy and found that the reflux had over a period of time caused a build of scar tissue in the throat, creating a ring of tissue which dramatically reduced the diameter of the throat. Specialist mad incisions into the tissue so it was flaps rather than a solid ring. sounds a bit grim but didn't feel a thing and a lunchtime sandwich a few hours later slipped down a treat.

it has been liberating being able to eat normally again. I am on these tablets or at least similar for the rest of my life so that the reflux does not burn my throat and build up scar tissue again. I do suffer from some of the side effects mentioned, - gas, blurred vision - which i hadn't realized was fairly common and put down to overuse of computer, tiredness. I guess there's no perfect remedy but I'd have to give it my vote. Strangely, before taking the drug i also suffered fairly regularly with dizziness and nausea - put down to labyrinthitis. It would seem the reflux and the connection between the throat and ear was the cause as the condition has disappeared. Sorry a bit long winded but a good site and good to know one isn't quite unique and suffering alone

My son, who just turned 14 this month, was on Singulair for over 2 years.
He was diagnosed with reactive airway disease and possibly Asthma--and prescribed this awful drug-even back in 2004. The doctor said how wonderful this med was and prevents any further attacks.. So, for 2 years-every night, he took this mood altering, destructive drug. He lost all interest in school, his athletics-soccer, skateboarding, biking..in fact became almost a vacant , very unhappy, child-had stomach aches, joint pains and reflux--why--I brought him to the doctor and Pediatric center so frequently--all they kept saying his --his asthma is better, much be other issues...Even after the March 2008 suicide--his doctor said-that is just an isolated incident-just monitor him--It is a good drug. Right, month by month his behavior escalated to wanting to die, no reason to go to school-he said he was stupid and a failure and why don't I understand there is no reason to his life. A usually happy fun-loving boy -my son- didn't want to live. Nothing made him happy-I started to believe what the doctors said--maybe something or someone at school (bully, pedophile??) caused this change. Terrible nightmares and vivid dreams...Until this past July, I asked him want to go to the library for some books or dvd's...he went ballistic-threw everything off his computer desk and tried to break his chair. He is not an aggressive boy but this behavior was becoming a daily issue. Along with everything flying off his table, was his bottle of Singulair pills. It then dawned on me..I have been poisoning my only son. The child I know and love and gave birth to returned within a few days--although I am worried sick about further asthma attacks --all the doctors can prescribe is a steroid drug-asthmex or Pulmicort.. I cannot understand nor comprehend why this drug is being prescribed for children and young adults. The guilt I live with is terrible as my son has lost 2 years of his life--
and thought there was something really wrong with him-At least we woke up---in time--how about some other parents..thinking it's just normal adolescent behavior for their child or their fault???

I started taking 10 mg. of Lisinopril on July 8, 2008. At first, I experienced extreme fatigue and weakness. However, this wore off after a few days. The dosage was increased to 20 mg. on July 21, 2008. I started having horrible symptoms on July 29, 2008: rapid pulse (as high as 118 b.p.m. while I was quietly reading), heaviness in my chest (which felt worse after I exercised), and shortness of breath. I had never felt so bad before in my entire life!!! I suffered with these symptoms until August 15, 2008 because I was hoping that they were just temporary. Unfortunately, they only got worse the longer that I waited. It is such a shame, too, because Lisinopril really did a good job of keeping my b.p. down.

This is the third day that I haven't taken Lisinopril, and I am feeling a little better. I am now on Metoprolol, which is helping with my rapid pulse. For those of you who experienced breathing problems while taking Lisinopril: How long did it take before your breathing returned to normal?

mY 11 year old son has a history of reflux, which he had taken Prevacid for in the past. He broke his arm and is taking NSAIDS, flaring up the reflux. Company's new insurance plan requires we have documented 2 week trial of zantac prior to approving Prevacid for use. He has been on Zantac now for four days and has had increasingly frequent watery diarrhea, stomach discomfort, nausea, difficulty sleeping, and loss of appetite. This is an unacceptable side effect profile for a medication for a child. Per the insurance company, he has to suffer with this for two weeks in order to get a medicine that we know works approved for payment. Insane. I will be taking him off Zantac as he is worse now than when he started taking it.

I am about 8 weeks pregnant and was prescribed Zofran by my ob/gyn for severe nausea. I bragged on the drug after the 1st dose because I felt wonderful. I was prescribed every 8 hours as needed. The first pill I took on a Tuesday night, the second on Thursday night when I developed severe motion sickness, the third on Friday (by then I could not stand to move around). By Monday of the next week I felt as if I was going to explode. I was extremely miserable. I realized that I felt worse after the Zofran because of severe constipation. I felt as if everything I had eaten for the last week was just sitting in my stomach. I had nausea, dizziness, headaches, indigestion w/reflux, excessive gas and bloating, and a horrible taste in my mouth. I stopped taking the Zofran and used an enema and prune juice to clear my system. Some how, compare to how the Zofran made me feel the nausea doesn't seem so bad!

I had my Mirena inserted about 4 months ago and I have felt like I'm falling apart ever since. I have experienced the following symptoms: numbness/tingling in arms and legs, EXTREME fatigue, depression, anxiety, acne on back, my hair is thinner, bloating, sore stomach, lower back pain, etc. Most recently, I have had a lot of heartburn and my voice is kind of hoarse. Also, when I went to the doctor, they did a urine test and found that I have a trace of blood in my urine. Along with this I feel like I need to pee all the time, but I seem to have no bladder infection. I am fed up with this device and feeling like total crap all of the time. I have no energy and can't seem to get enough sleep. The only thing good about this thing is that I don't have a period. Of course, my doctor swears all of these symptoms can't possibly be due to the Mirena, but I don't see how it could all be coincidental. Please let me know if anyone else is experiencing these weird symptoms like the bladder issue or the heartburn/hoarseness.

Wow - I just had an MRI today of my head and am scheduled to go through 3-5 hours of tests with a neuropsychologist next week. I have been on levoxyl with no substitute allowed due to this being the only drug that has leveled out my Hoshimoto's disease of the thyroid. My endocrinologist whom I saw on Friday suggested I see a neurosurgeon as "levoxyl can't be the cause of all your issues" which are identical to all of those I am reading about on here. I am a breast cancer survivor, take arimidex daily as well as xetia and a couple of other prescriptions for gastric reflux and anxiety. Now they all tell me that taking all these pills is fine as long as I don't take them all at the same time. Add today prednisone for the severe headaches - 6 at a time - I felt like a drug addict putting them all into my mouth at once. If this all is because of levoxyl I am going to be very relieved yet very PO'd that I have been told otherwise.

I've been taking Prilosec OTC for 3 years, 20mg a day. All problems with my acid reflux disappeared. HOWEVER, I switched to generic Omeprazole 20mg and the heartburn reappeared. This has been awful! I thought they were supposed to be the same drug! I switched back to Prilosec OTC and my stomach is finally feeling some relief.

Although this drug helped my reflux tremendously I am going off of it because of the weight gain. I gained nearly 17 pounds in 3 months time.

wow and I thought it was just me.
I have been on doxycycline for 6 days and talk about nausea, headaches, tightness in the chest and throat I am also contending with sore limbs almost flu like, also lots pf frothy mucus and a racing heart.
I have severe reflux normally but this drug is making it a nightmare.
depression is normal for me but now I am worried that is going to get worse.