Omeprazole side effects

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

Well I too am having "weird" symptoms. It may be due to Omeprazole but not sure at this point. I switched from Prilosec OTC to Omeprazole which I thought to be the exact same thing. A couple months after the switch I am having chest tightness. Not really pain but just a weird feeling in my chest that almost feels like anxiety or stress and kind of a general weird feeling. Also kind of feels like a chest cold without the mucus that goes along with it. Went to the doc and had a EKG which was normal. I'm 30 years old and don't have any family history of heart issues.

I'm going to stop taking it for a few days to see if the symptoms get better. I'll post back in a week or so.

I have been taking 40 mg of omeprazole for 6 weeks now have had constipation since ı started taking it and also itchy skin around the armpits and groin area. Just 2 days ago have had severe dizziness while sleeping the whole room was spinning around its the first time this has happened to me called my doctor to see what ı should do he gave me an appointment tomorrow in the meantime the nurse suggested for me to take 20 mg and see how ı get on wıth that. I have had stomach bleeding which was the reason these drugs where prescribed but they seem to be heavy burden on the system cant wait to come off them.

I started taking Omeprazole 16 days ago and just switched back to Protonix. After taking for 5 days I started having severe dizziness. The first day off Omeprazole I already have less dizziness.

How long do the side effects stay with you?? I have been off for 3 weeks now and still experience light headed and fogginess. Is this normal? Everything else has tested normal. Please Reply

Thanks
Andy

I am very glad I found this site. I have been taking Prilosec OTC for 3 years now and it took care of my acid reflux. I woke up 6 months ago feeling like my "funny bone" got hit but never subsided. I then learned it was possibly my ulna nerve. Burning sensation in my left pinky finger and half my ring finger. Anyone experienced this? I switched to a generic Omeprazole at Walgreens a couple of weeks ago and I have experienced the most excruciating sharp, shooting pain in my neck, shoulders and lower back and sometimes other joint areas. Anyone experience this with the generic brand? I am going off of it and see what happens. The pain is intense!!! Thanks for this site!

Got prescribed Omeprazole for an upset stomach that was causing me to vomit a strange black substance which the gp put down to some sort of bleeding in the stomach, shortly after taking my first tablet i was violently sick, had a really bad fever, sweating and later that evening noticed a blotchy red rash under the arms, on the tops of my legs and down each side of my body.

I am almost 100% sure that it was the medication that caused these symptoms

I just googled "Prilosec & weakness with sweating" and came up with this site. I have been on OTC Prilosec for at least 2 yrs. taking it off & on...mostly on (everyday). I have been getting more ill over the last 2 months than I have ever been! I am diagnosed with Firbomyalgia & CFS, so I keep blaming my worsening symptoms on those two diseases. My doctor has done so many tests & can't find any answers. I am so glad I found this site. My symptoms of severe weakness, & profuse sweating, with many heart palps, may be coming from the Prilosec. I am going off of it starting today to see if I get any relief. I will have to find something else for my acid reflux...no more medicine!! If anyone knows of a natural product or food to lessen the acid, I would love to hear!

I have been on omeprazole for 2 months. I noticed I would get dizzy and hot flashes. I quit taking it and have been off for 7 days. I'm wondering how long it takes for these side effects to stop?? I feel light headed all the time sometimes I feel good and then I get dizzy again?? Please Respond??

Thanks

I have been taking Omeprazole for 2 months! I did experience relief from my acid reflux. Here are my side effects: Extremely dry mouth, blurred vision, itchy eyes that feel like sandpaper. My eyes are extremely sensitive to light. Just two days ago I woke up with spider like webs that appear in the front of my eyes. My eye doctor told me that the fat-like jelly substance in my eyes has torn to cause this effect in my eyes. I also see quick flashes of light. My eye doctor says this is a side effect of this medication. My whole body feels like all the acid in my whole body has dried up!

I will no longer take this medication. I will find alternative help for my acid reflux! I do not want to lose my eyesight!

I have been taking Omeprazole for acid reflux,and it worked immediately.No more acid reflux,and no more chest pains.But I do get constipated.Is constipation a side affect?I'm a 52 year old female.And It works for me!Thanks!
Deb from Iowa.

I had been taking omeprazole for three weeks when I developed a hive like very itchy rash. As I am on other medications which have never given me a rash it must have been the omeprazole which caused it. I saw my GP and he prescribed piriton and hydrocortisone 1%. I have stopped taking the omeprazole and the rash seems to be very slowly resolving after two weeks.

insomnia every night for months,nausea,sweating,joint pains,palpitations,hot flushes,and feeling like my whole body is very tired.I also felt numb down the left side.

I have had most of the side effects you are all talking about.

I was taking it for 2 weeks off one week again one week off one week than on again.

I didn't realize my headaches were form the medicine so kept taking it.

Yesterday I had an exteme reaction, huge panic and anxiety chest pain back pain thought I was going crazy.

I am so happy I found this site.

I will never take it again, Today I did not take it but am still feeling horrible, anxiety, heart pulps, just feeling"out of it"

This is just not right, there were none of these side effects listed on the box.

I wonder how long it will take to feel OK again.

been on 20mg Omeprazole for well over a year & when i think back, i regularly have had a very bad rash round groin & armpits. Same doc prescribed steroid cream which kept it in check only. No mention that both only for short term use, I,ve just found that out on this & other Omeprazole websites! 3 weeks ago on Wed. night had normal itch on bum, scratched it, very sore, & carried on.By Sun am. I was at walk in center covered almost head to foot in large blotchy red rash unbearably itchy. After 2 duff diagnoses another GP at my practice took me off Omaprezole without really pointing the finger.The rash & itching have almost gone now after 2 weeks so he knew ok. Can only speak 4 myself but have very little faith in GPs & chemicals now. Someone on this site says try teaspoon Raw Organic Apple Cider Vinegar after meals which ties in with hints on " Miracle Cure 4 a Fee" sites elsewhere. Here,s hoping! Will update.

I can't describe any side effects,but I have to say I'm thankful for finding this site with all yours comments.I got my Omeprazole 20 mg like week ago and something just kept me away from taking it.I'm in pain-heartburn and awful stomach pain,but after reading this,I'd rather keep my pain and take some pain relive pills then this omeprazole.Thank you so much,you helped a lot.

Extremely tired , dizzy , as the one poster said Pain in one side of my head.Awful feeling like I am not walking straight.Stomach pain the first few days I started it.I think I will switch back to my OTC Zantac.

I don't know for sure but I am suspicious:-
I took omeprazole for the first time last Saturday (6 days ago) and noticed that same night an acute sensitivity to light which has persisted. Starting the following day I had a severe headache persisting until today. Went to doctor today and blood pressure is up from normal to a little high to 170/112. I've been feeling dizzy with chest pains/palpitations - thought I was going to have a heart attack.

My husband has been taking Omeprazole for about ten years now. About nine months ago he went in for a endoscopy and the doctor said she wanted to increase the omeprazole of 20mg 2xdaily because of the acid reflux. Several weeks after increasing this drug, my husband began getting very depressed. He losted all interest in our business and started having severe mood swings. He couldn't sleep at night, screaming with cramps in his legs, heart palpitations, blurred vision, ringing in ears, hot flashes, headaches behind the eyes. Some night I thought he was having a heart attack. It only got worse, hallucination began and horrible nightmares. He thought I was putting drugs and poison in his food. and felt like the world was against him. He became very violent toward me because of the hallucinations. We went for a follow up at his doctor and she suggested a psychiatry. Of course, my husband refused because he felt nothing was wrong, it was everyone else with the problem. His attacks got so bad, it was happen everyday, all day. We have two small children and we decided to split up for the children sake. My husband left for a week and when he left he refused to take the Omeprazole. He called me during that week and said he has felt great, he was able to sleep, no anxiety. He said to me if you are not putting drugs in my drink and food..it's got to be the omerprazole.
Of course the doctors said it's not possible...he has been off these pills for 8 days and it's unreal how this symptoms has disappeared. He is still having some side effects and withdraws. I don't know how long this will be in his system but I hope it goes away soon. THIS IS A DEVIL DRUG. He almost took his life and my too over OMEPRAZOLE. My doctor recently wrote this drug for me but I will not take it... We would never know about how serious this little pill for heartburn was if we didn't research it. When you get this drug from the pharmacy, they only list some side effects and not the serious one...How many more people out in the world is dealing with this same problem and not aware of these serious side effect. This almost destroyed our lives. WE NEED TO TAKE SOME KIND OF ACTION, SO THESE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECT HAVE TO BE LISTED..

I had all the problems that you people describe and I have been off the medication for 3 months and I still have a little light headiness. I found out that after eating a meal take a little kosher pickle and you will find your acid reflux not bothering you at all. You can try a teas. of Raw Organic Apple Cidar Vinegar after every meal. I take 1/4 teas. and have no problems. I can eat anything and as much as I want with no reflux. I have Barrett's Asophegus and I'm 79 yrs old. If this works for you I would not tell your doctor because he will just laugh at you but it works and it is worth a try to get off of that medication. According to FDA omeprazole is poison and a little every day will give you death.

I have been taking the generic Omeprazole for about 12 days. First few days i had no symptoms whatsoever. I thought i was in heaven, until now. I am now suffering from lower back pain, shooting pains through out my upper body, chest pressure, stiff neck, and head pressure through out the whole day. It's funny that this medicine will cure one symptom but will give you many others.

I was on 40mg Pantoprazole for a year, and then the Doctor suggested I start to take 20mg of Omeprozole twice a day.

I've only been on it for three weeks now, and I've asked to come off it because it's not helping as much as the pantoprozle. I wake up in the morning and I just feel ill.

I've also been miserable, and i've been finding it hard to get out of bed in the morning, and even wake up. I was blaming this on glandular fever that I had earlier this year. But then I started thinking it might be something to do with the change in medication.

As well as tiredness, and acute depression, I've been irrational, extremely itchy, my skin has broken out in spots (mostly face, thighs and neck/chest area). My vision has also started to blur slightly, which I thought was just over use of computers (because i'm a graphic designer).

Once I switch back to Pantoprozole I'll start to see if these symptoms were the Omeprozole, which I think they are.

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.

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???

Have been using since 1998, ten years, 10gm per day, stops most all heartburn but does have some side effects. I have a warm discomfort high around waist and mild sweating. MD said if I stopped it would take 5-8 days to leave system, and the diet must be very non acid generating, like yogurt, jello, fresh fruit and apple juice, no orange or citric juices. He said some people then add 1 teaspoon of Aloe Gel after meals and take Zinc-L-Carnosine (PepZin) twice daily. Have used this technique for 3 weeks, all discomfort, except for mild sweating has gone. Remember, acid blockers, acid pumps, and anti acids only stop the acid, they do not do much for healing. Be kind to your tummy, no booze, coffee, pain pills etc.

I've been taking Prilosec since late 2003 and it hasn't been until now that I've linked all the strange symptoms I've been having to taking Prilosec. I've been having anxiety, heart pulps, strange, stabbing headaches that come and go in a flash, occasional sensitivity to light, pain behind the eye, dizziness, fogginess, and fatigue. I've been to the doctor several times over the past few years hoping to find a cause. After many blood tests, x-rays, heart tests, etc, he couldn't find anything and just said anxiety and that I should try yoga. It surprises me that he wouldn't even suggest that I try coming off the Prilosec to see if that could do it since it appears that many people experience these strange symptoms.

I've stopped taking Prilosec today and I'm hopeful that all of this will clear up and I can get back to normal.

Depression, itching of the skin with small pimples erupting at site, sensitivity to bright lights, swelling of tongue, numbness of feet and legs, tiredness and fatigue, and most of all a depressed feeling.

Having been on omeprazole on and off for 15 years I have finally come off it.
My Gerd symptoms were worse at the end of the working day, probably due to me being a dentist, not an ideal posture for a Gerd sufferer. I could control my symptoms with 10mg daily but still got occasional side effects. The main one was slight diziness/ visual disturbance esp with bright light.
Have been using DGL 20 mins before my evening meal and just take magnesium hydroxide based antacid at night if required. Feel it is better to let the bodies natural buffering sort out the acid-base balance.
It has taken 3 months of cold turkey and the odd bout of severe symptoms but seem to be coming out the other side and now have several days at a time with no symptoms at all.

i started taking omepron 20 mg. last march 10 for GERD and today, march 29, i am still experiencing drowsiness, pain in the throat and back.sometimes i feel itchiness on my face.Could all of these be side effects of omeprazole?

does anyone know if the tinnitus will cease if i stop taking the prilosec, its driving me crazy? I experience dizziness sometimes and fatigue. i have been taking prilosec for probably a year now.

Relative with lung cancer was given Omeprazole 20 mg. once a day. On the second day, he started coughing up huge amounts of red blood which continued for hours and lessening throughout the day. That evening he questioned if the new prescription could have caused the bleeding and decided to discontinue its use. By the third day and since then (this is day six), no blood at all. None of my online searches suggested bleeding as a possible side effect.

Been on omeprazole for a week now and have awful gas. Also a headache at times anyone else suffering fro severe gas.

Best thing I ever done was come off Omeprazole, I still suffer with the pain of acid etc but that itching was unbearable. I have stated taking Co-dydramol for the pain (only when it gets really bad) and that seems to work for the pain ok, I only feel a bit light headed but it's still better than the itching and the rash that came with it.

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?

I started taking Prilosec a few months ago and didn't notice any acute symptoms, but a week or so ago my pharmacy used a generic form of this
( Omeprazole) and I have been having debilitating headaches every day all day. I thought t was from my arthritis but it continues. Yesterday stopped taking Omeprazole to see if it will make a difference.I woke up today with a MAJOR headache. What I have been trying if 2 2mg Valium and some ibuprofen to see if this helps. At least it eases the pain. I have been taking Relpax (migraine pills) but after a while the headaches come back. This is so bad, guess I will have to go back to the doctor if this doesn't work. Anyone else having bad headaches too? Thanks for letting me let off steam.

I have had diarrhea and a constant headache on one side of my head since starting Omeprazole. I've taken Tylenol and even migraine medication but this just eased the pain. It is 24 hours a day. I think I'd rather take a chance with the heartburn.

I had tinnitus (ringing in the ears) before taking Omeprazole. It has gotten significantly worse. If anyone can tell me if this will go away when I stop taking the medicine, please tell me. Is it because of the B-12 deficiency??

my symptoms were with Prevacid, I believe that these drugs all have the same dangerous side effect. It started with extreme weakness, numbness and pins and needles in my legs and arm. Now after 9 weeks of stopping the Prevacid I feel shaky and tremors. I take b-12 injections because it seemed to have depleted me of my normal b-12 levels. I am hoping this is the problem and will improve . until than my doctor has me going to a neurologist to assure it is nothing else . mri of brain is normal and thyroid is normal. HOW LONG UNTIL THESE SYMPTOMS SUBSIDE , PLEASE TELL ME THEY WILL GO AWAY.

I was on Prilosec for 3 days, then switched to Aciphex for one day. Within hours after starting the medication, I was extremely drowsy, dizzy, and just "out of it." I also have dry mouth and facial numbness. The side effects are pretty incapacitating, and the most distressing thing is that I stopped the meds 5 days ago, yet the symptoms persist. My doctor has run a series of tests to rule out other problems, and agrees this may be a bad reaction to Prilosec. Has anyone ever experienced anything like this, and if so, how long until the side effects went away?

I have tried to take Omeprazole twice - the first time for 9 days - and the second for 4 days with 10 days in between. The first time I took the drug I experienced severe bloating, wind and abdominal cramps and decided to stop. Those symptoms resolved after 4/5 days and I began to feel well and eat normally. Having then had an endoscope where the gastroenterologist found inflammation round the gastric outflow, I was encouraged to go back on Omeprazole. Within 3 days i felt v nauseated and have now stopped again - it seems to take a number of days for the symptoms to settle. Has anyone else suffered this? How long do the side affects last and is there an alternative that won't do this?

I felt like I couldn't breath 15 min. after taking this pill that is why I decided to see if that could be a side effect this happened yesterday also. I now believe that it is the Omeprazole. I am really dizzy, blurred vision, headache, nausea. Glad I found this sight!

I was treated for gastric reflux last year and took Lansoprazole but experienced severe burning mouth,lips and throat after 2 weeks. Then I went on Omeprazole 10mg for two months which suited me altho did burn sometimes. Had an endoscopy diagnose of an inflamed esophagus who suggested a higher dose. Doctors changed me to Nexium 20mg and after a few days experienced that burning sensation again. Went off drug after two weeks as unbearable but experienced acid asthma type symptoms so returned to Omeprazole 10mg but after 4 days the burning is back again and finding it intolerant now. Anyone else experience burning mouth throat and lips whilst on the drug? Doctors say keep on it and take Galveston as well but how can it be reflux when I no longer suffer from heartburn?

I started taking this medication ten years ago i wish they would have given it to me sooner for years i suffered from heartburn they called me the relaid kid and in my later years mostly at night while sleeping my food would come back up then i would inhale into my lungs and i thought i was a gonner it was acid reflux thanks to this medication i have been heartburn free for ten years and i can eat just about anything.it does give me some mild stomach pain but its a lot better than having heartburns day and night

I took Omeprazole for about a week and after after having severe foot cramping stopped. Its been 5 days since I stopped and still have cramping. Does anyone know when the side effects go away??

I have been taking Prilosec for years because my gastrointestinal doctor told me it would not hurt to do so. In the last year I have had sever B12 deficiencies that have been treated with injections. Does anyone else have this sort of side effect?

Update from the 27th Dec 07. Well my skin is still a wee bit itchy but certainly starting to get better. I have been off Omeprazole for a week now.

I started taking Omeprazole almost eleven days ago. I feel light-headed and weak. I called the pharmacist and he said the medicine should not have these affects. I went to cardiologist and he said that this is a mild medicine and it was probably something else causing the symptoms. The prescription calls for 1 20mg a day.

Terrible ringing in both ears, low B 12. Have been taking this drug for severe GERD for about 5 months. Does any one know if Prilosec has the same negative side effects that I've had or have been reading about on this forum.

My nine week old son has been on this drug for 3 weeks due to reflux. He suffers from lengthy bouts of crying, incredibly bad stomach cramps, raspy throat, constant sneezing, diarrhea. The reflux was easier to deal with than the side effects of this drug

Been taking 20mg Omeprazole for 28 days now, (took last one this morning). 1 week into using this medicine I developed a very itchy skin. It started under breastbone then around to the middle of my back, I thought I had Shingles but it can't be as the ichyness is now all over my body with a nasty looking rash especially on my chest, back & legs. I do have a GP appointment soon, but I don't want to take this prescription anymore as the itching is driving me mad, keeping me awake at nights. I just hope the symptoms this was prescribed for don't come back, if they do I dread to think what they will prescribe next as the pain I was suffering was pretty awful as well. I found that bathing in Oilatum helped sooth the itch but not for long!