Stomach acid symptoms and conditions

I started taking Lisinopril two weeks ago for relief of high blood pressure. Male, 45, 260 lbs, family history of high blood pressure and stroke. After one week I began experiencing intermittent chest pain, tingling and numbness in my left hand, and sensations like shocks in my head.

I spent several sleepless nights feeling for chest pain, feeling my heart race, expecting my heart to explode and wondering if I should go to the ER.

I visited my doctor and expressed my concerns. She immediately performed an ECG and verified that my heart was functioning normally and that my blood pressure was down. She also indicated that it's not uncommon for vasoconstrictors like Lisinopril to allow stomach acids to rise in the esophagus. This can cause chest pain and affect nerves leading to the brain and to the arm. She prescribed Zantac 150 twice a day and asked me to call her at home 60 minutes after taking the first pill.

I filled the Zantac prescription (one of the $4 prescriptions you can now get most places) and took one immediately. Ten minutes the chest pain was gone. Twenty minutes later the shocks in my head were gone and my arm went from tingly and numb to just slightly achy. Thirty minutes later all of my symptoms were gone. After an hour I dutifully reported to my doc that she was a genius and on my Christmas gift list.

If you're taking Lisinopril and having chest pain obviously let your doctor know about it. Studies indicate that denial is a serious issue and a contributing cause in heart disease victims. Many of my symptoms were classic for unstable angina, which is scary. However, they are also common stomach acid symptoms for first-time users of a wide variety of high blood pressure medications. It's possible that a simple antacid could relieve your side-effects.

Now my goal is to lose 80 lbs so I can get off this medication completely. Working 90 hours a week (the highlights of which are travel, sitting at desks, and eating) isn't going to cut it any more.

I began taking omeprazole in early june for burning in my stomach for gerd. I started with 20mg twice a day. I felt extremely bloated. I couldn't eat, or lay down. I had to sleep sitting up, and even that didn't work. I was regurgitating the little food I ate. I told my doctor, and he told me to go down to just one pill a day. The bloating went down for about four days, and then came back. I am not on this drug anymore... it has been two weeks. I had an endoscopy yesterday, and I was told that there was a bit of inflammation in my lower esophogus, and stomach (no bleeding). Well the burning pain is gone, but now I am dealing with indigestion. I get a full stomach after only a few bites of food. I am only able to eat one meal a day. I can't drink much water because of the full feeling I have all day. I am very frustrated since I can barely eat (I feel dizzy as a result). I think this drug has thrown my digestive system off balance as I did not have these symptoms before the drug. I understand that this drug changes the ph of the stomach acid as well as lessening the production of it. Because of this, it can potentially bring a bacterial infection, and digestive enzymes cannot help digest food under these conditions. Gastritis can come about from the bacteria, and if I am lucky and do not have this, well I may have indigestion due to lack of certain enzymes. I am trying to get to the bottom of this. I bought digestive enzymes to take, but I want to get a blood test first to check to see if I am lacking this. Is anyone having the same symptoms as me? I will update.

It seems that everyone is having similar symptoms. I have been on Doxy for about 14 days now and I'm feeling worse every day. I am on it because i had been bitten by a tick and contracted Lyme disease. I don't know much about the disease but it has me freaked out. I started taking the antibiotic 2 weeks after being bitten; losing my balance and almost falling to the ground. I also had a couple of dizzy spells after eating. I seemed to feel a little bit better the first week of taking it but started feeling the side effects. It started out with the occasional dizzy spell then came the exhaustion, anxiety, depression, lower back aches, soreness in the back of my eyes, stiff neck, headache in the back of my head, flu like shivers, racing heart, and complete body aches. I also found out the hard way not to go out into the sun while on Doxy. Felt like the tops of my hands were being pricked with a million needles and burning. I wish I could stop taking the drug and be done, but I am already scared about the outcome of the Lyme disease. I hope I can feel normal again soon.

This reaction is to the entire "PrevPak", vs. just the antibiotic Biaxin. The PrevPak, used to treat H. Pylori, also contains another antibiotic, Clarithromycin; along with 2 capsules of Prevacid in prescription strength, "these are proton inhibitors" which reduce stomach acid by preventing certain actions to take place in the stomach. The side-effects of the proton-inhibitor include the potential to block the absorption of Vitamin B, calcium and an enzyme needed to process and use iron in your body. Therefore, the following symptoms or behaviors may occur, once you begin the Prevpak. a) anemia/tiredness (take some slow-release iron) b) confusion and anxiety..(B12 deficiency); c) craving for milk and dairy (calcium deficiency).

Long-term, bone breakage, and other issues arise if you continue long-term use of a proton-inibitor.

I am posting this here as many of the reactions people are associating to Biaxin seem more attributable to the Proton-inhibitor that usually accompanie's Biaxin's use for gastrointestinal issues.

Biaxin's reaction, in my case, I would say was isolated to sleeplessness feelings, strange nightmare-like wakings, disorientation, a metallic taste in my mouth, and dehydration.

All of these are considered traditional symptoms of Biaxin.

I also had itching on day 12-14 for the PrevPak dose. This is probably attributable to the proton-inhibitor possibly affecting my histamines. However, it could also be an allergic reaction to either Biaxin or clarithromycin.

ALERT!!!

If you have been having any one of these side effects, then AcipHex may be causing nerve damage.

-- tingling or numb hands or feet
-- confusion / "fuzzy head"
-- ringing in the ears
-- vision changes
-- anxiety
-- depression
-- apathy
-- fatigue

It may be serious. In my case it certainly is. I can barely use my hands. Why it happens:

AcipHex cuts down on stomach acid. Sometimes it cuts down too MUCH acid. In that case, you are unable to break down animal products enough to absorb vitamin B12 from it. Without vitamin B12, your nerve sheathing erodes. My advice would be to stop AcipHex and get a good vitamin B12 supplement (sublingual -- the type that dissolves underneath your tongue, and at least 1000 mcg). I would also advise to get the book -- Could It Be B12? By RN Sally Pacholock. Before starting supplements, insist on a urinary MMA test. It is the only B-12 test that does not give false positives or negatives often.

This book has literally saved my life.

I am a 30 year old nurse and know first hand how birth control pills are individual. I was on many before Yasmin. 6 months ago I started Yasmin because it was the new hype in birth control medicine since it reduces length of period, flow of period, and reduces acne.
I don't think the ingredient drospirenone that's included in Yasmin (a potassium sparing drug, and diuretic, another form of the same type is Spironolactone) works for me.
Ever since I had experienced these symptoms:
Anxiety-heart palpitations, suspiciousness, racing thoughts.
Headaches-tension, leading to muscle spasms in neck and shoulders.
Dizziness-Vertigo type spinning sensations
Ear fullness-popping and cracking without losing hearing.
Fatigue-no motivation, especially for an early riser and a person who works 12 hr shifts.
Chest tightness, lump in throat feeling, could be due to increase in stomach acid (HCl).
If anyone else has vertigo, or dizziness, I would love to know!
Thanks,
Good luck with trying a different form of birth control.

my 6yr old daughter was put on singulair at the age of 4 she had a reaction to nuts and had the allergy testing she was put on singulair and claritin and nasacort .(so she has been on the medication now for 14 months) about 3and 1/2 weeks ago she quit eating we had her to the dr several times they said it was all in her head that she could eat if she wanted to.she was then put in the hospital for 4 days they did the scope down the stomach found nothing i took her off all her meds because i didn't want her taking them with no food in her. she came home from the hospital and i put her back on the meds as the doctor requested and within 2 days she was crying non stop hitting me and telling me that she wanted to kill herself and everyone around her.she was putting her fists in everyines face and was very angry.she would cry and tell us that she didn't know why she was so angry.we took her back off of the meds because we were treating her for the stomach acid from not eating and within 4 days she was like a new kid.she is now eating ..happy ..and doing good in school..this is the 3rd time this yr on this med that she has quit eating we were told that it was all in her head .after reading everyones comments on here i called her doctor today and he said it could be the medication but they would have to put her back on it to check and i refused.no more singulair or clairitin for my children

Is this normal, I have been on Doxycycline for 5 days for a urinary tract infection and from day one i had a sore throat with swollen glands, extreme anxiety and feeling pretty ill, yes it has helped my infection a lot but I have now developed very bad pains in my chest like extreme indigestion and finding it hard to swallow anything, even water, without it hurting??

Im thinking about talking to the Doctor Im feeling pretty rough at the moment and not too sure whether this is normal or not!!

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.

I was taking Ambien for a year. I ended up with a sever sore throat that lasted for months and trouble breathing. After going to nine doctors, and missing work for a month I was diagnosed with esophogitis and acid reflux. I even went to the emergency room by ambulance because I was having trouble breathing. I was aspirating stomach acid. I was talking with my gastrologist about surgery. I decided to make a list of what was different in my life that might be causing these symptoms. Ambien was on the list. I have been off Ambien for two months now and all my digestive problems, sore throat, breathing problems and acid reflux have ended.

I'm not sure if this is a side effect but since I've been taking this drug my face has broken out in these small red bumps. After reading this blog I can finally figure out why I was always scratching my arms and legs especially at night and why I'm so tired all of a sudden. Is the drug worst than the heartburn???

I have been taking Omeprazole since December 2007 now so 2 and a half months.

I had the dose increased to 40mg 3 weeks ago as 20mg wasn't curing the burning in my throat.

For a few weeks now i have had increasing vertigo/dizziness and palpitations. I only linked the 2 to the medication just yesterday, googled it just now and confirmed my suspicions to the Omeprazole.

Other feeling i have had since taking this medication...

Severe dizziness
vertigo
palpitations
headaches/migraines
weakness
fatigue
sweating
nausea
bloating
stomach cramps
visual problems
intolerance to bright lights
aching joints
chest pain

Now my question to myself is do i come off the tablets and endure the misery of my acid reflux? surely there must be something else we can take for our stomach problems that don't cause these awful side effects.
Anyone tried anything else that worked and didn't make them unwell?

Update: I have been off this medication for 15 days, no problems with stomach acid. I do believe my hair feels thicker as if I am getting some growth where I have loss it. The last side effect I am looking forward to seeing if it is affected, is my Liver tests. The enzymes have always been high (since I started taking this med some 5 to 7 years ago. No matter what I did I could not lower those results, maybe being off this medication will do the trick as I just read last month that one of the side effects are elevated levels in the livers (AST & ALT levels). That can't be good to keep those levels over the recommended zone.

I can't even describe how this website is making me feel. How could I be so stupid as not to consider my birth control as having large effects on my body. I was on Ortho Cyclen before and it was fine but I wanted to switch to something else because I gained weight on it. I switched to Yasmin and didn't notice much of a difference besides the annoying thing that I still get severe cramps and back pain during my period. In probably the last almost 2 years I have been suffering from depression and OCD symptoms that are very bad. I was not sure what was wrong with me! I have also developed IBS symptoms to the point that I can't even go out and eat dinner with my boyfriend or family without being anxious about having stomach pain, nausea, and having to run to the bathroom. I was tested for an ulcer (it's genetic in my family) but it has been confirmed otherwise. I am on Omeprazole (to decrease stomach acid) and feel at lest functional on it but still get severe stomach pain, nausea, and diarrhea. No one seems to understand!!! I also get dizzy spells and feel faint and weak frequently. I was diagnosed with a thyroid disease but have been on medication for that and never really felt many side-effects from that anyway. I am going to request a different medication the next time I see my gyno and hopefully I'll be back to the fun-loving spontaneous person I once was.

BEEN ON OMEPRAZOLE FOR A FEW YEARS,BUT RECENTLY GOT DIAGNOSED WITH H-PYLORI STOMACH BUG,THIS BUG CAUSES ULSERS AND GIVES YOU SEVERE HEARTBURN.I WISH MY DOCTOR HAD THE BRAINS TO CHECK ME FOR IT WHEN I FIRST WENT TO HIM FOR HELP WITH MY HEARTBURN. HOWEVER I HAVE JUST FINISHED A COURSE OF ANTI-BIOTICS AND HAVE STOPPED TAKING OMEPRAZOLE.MY STOMACH IS NOT AS BLOATED AND MY SEVERE FACIAL RASH IS CLEARING UP.I THOUGHT IT MUST HAVE BEEN THE STOMACH BUG THAT WAS CAUSING THESE SYMPTOMS,BUT 7 DAYS AGO I STARTED TAKING OMEPRAZOLE AGAIN AS MY HEARTBURN WAS BACK.SUDDENLY MY FACE ERUPTED AND I WAS BLOATED AGAIN.I STOPPED THEM AGAIN AND ALREADY IM GETTING BETTER. MY HEARTBURN IS STILL TRYING TO GET ME BUT IM TAKING REMEGEL SWEETS THAT ARE SOLD IN MY LOCAL NEWSAGENTS AND SEEM TO BE WORKING FOR ME.I HAVE READ ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS LISTED HERE AND I AM SHOCKED THESE TABLETS ARE STILL ON THE GO. I BELIEVE OUR STOMACH ACID SHOULD NOT BE MESSED WITH AS THIS GETS OUR FOOD OUT OUR SYSTEMS QUICK ENOUGH TO SAVE BAD TOXINS ESPECIALLY RED MEAT POSIONING OUR BLOOD.

I was having terrible heartburn and would start vomiting this acid stuff from my stomach in my sleep. It was awful...actually coming up my nose as well. My doc gave me prilosec and after about 10 days my face was so swollen I couldn't even open my eyes. Now my doc gave me about 30 days samples of aciphex and I am having severe prickly feelings in my legs and arms. I still don't have a diagnosis for my problem....guess it's GERD or something. This has been six months for me and I am just at a loss what to do. For now I think the prickly feeling is better than choking half to death in my sleep.

I too have been taking Aciphex for acid reflux for about three weeks and although it seems to have helped with the burning and nausea, I have just recently (four days ago) been experiencing a slew of symptoms. They include headache, blurred vision in my left eye, facial numbness, both forearms numbness, leg (knee down) numbness, and tingling sensation in head. I went to the ER yesterday due to the left arm and left side facial numbness. They ruled out heart attack, blod clot, stroke, bleeding in brain, and brain tumor via a CT scan and a host of other neurological examinations. Doctors have suggested an MRI to rule out something else neurological (MS, neurofibromatosis, etc.) that a CT scan might not pick up. Also, will do a neck MRI to rule out a bulging disc or pinched nerve. I am hoping that it is just the Aciphex.

Been on Aciphex about 3 months I have daily tingling feeling throughout my spine.

I have only been on Aciphex for 1 day, and I have tingling/burning in my arms and hands! My stomach feels great, I can actually eat without curling up into a ball on the floor in pain, but I don't like this tinging, almost funny bone, feeling.

About three or four weeks into the aciphex, i started getting strange tingly almost numbness sensations in my arms, elbows, face, around the mouth/jaw, back of the head/scalp, sometimes it feels very "whole body"ish. It feels like i'm being pricked with something with electrical current and getting a shock. It's very strange and quite worrisome! Searching the net it sounds like this is a possible side effect of the aciphex. I hope that's all it is, but I will ask my doctor if there are any other possible causes we should rule out. At this point if it turns out to be a side effect and it doesn't go away (it's been 4 days now), I'm not sure if i'd decide to stay on the aciphex or try something different. It helps the reflux but doesn't solve it.

About 2 years ago, I stopped Aciphex because I was getting muscle pains and ocasional pins and needles. I went Pepcid AC. About 6 months ago I decided to give Aciphex another try, feeling that maybe it wasn't causing those symptoms. Now, I've started getting ocasional pins and needles again, only worse than last time--so now I'm back on Pepcid. I hope the pins and needles go away.

i have been off yasmin for about a month now after taking it for 3 months...i have experienced many side effects that made me stop taking it :upset stomach, acid reflux, awful belching, fluid retention, extreme thirst, fatigue, mood swings etc.
After I stoped taking it , many of the effects have gone except for the upset stomach and the belching, i hope this will get better some time soon otherwise i'll be going crazy...

tingling and prickly feeling - have been taking it for years..this is new development.. have had neuorological tests..negative.
Any input?

Hi - I have been taking Aciphex for just over a week and have noticed that I have muscle aches in my arms and legs with ocassional pins and needles and that my face tingles. I was begining to think I had some other major illness but it just sounds like the medicine. Do many of you have the same?

Leg cramps. waking up at 3am, neck pain, chest pain from my stomach acid