Omeprazole and acid reflux

I have been on this medication for 5 days now for acid reflux (or at least, that is what the dr. assumes I have. The doctor told me to take two 20mg pills in the morning before breakfast, and it seems to have helped some, since the Pepsid prescription did not seem to help me. I also am getting terrible pains on the side of my neck, and my throat hurts. Also have an ear ache that feels like an icepick being stuck in the canal. I also have a red spot now above eyelid like a rash, and all day i feel anxiety. I don't know if I should quit taking this. The stomach burning was terrible and is why I was put on this med. to begin with. So I am afraid if I quit taking this, the stomach burning will return. The dr. said 2 weeks of this, but I don't think i will last that long.

After reading all of the comments, I am embarrassed to say that I have taken omeprazole for the past 2 years. Originally, I began taking it for nausea from GERD. I began taking it soon after the death of my cousin (as I figured the anxiety from her death caused my stomach issues). I began to become depressed shortly after, which I also attributed to her death, financial issues, etc. However, when life got better I was still depressed and anxious. Two years passed and I still couldn't figure out why I felt so bad mentally. Not to mention I was mildly nauseous most of the time and NEVER had a normal appetite. I would only know it was time to eat when I felt faint. Light-headedness, stomach cramps and lethargy were also side-effects that I experienced almost daily. The worst part was that I didn't know if the nausea was caused by my stomach issues or by the omeprazole. It was obviously the omeprazole. About 2 months ago I switched to Prevacid which caused much less nausea but many of the other side effects were still there although a little less. I weened myself off completely (which I would recommend to anyone) and I actually feel like my old self again mentally and physically. I didn't realize how low my energy was until this last week that I've been off those meds. I'm actually HAPPY again, I WANT TO EAT something, I have ENERGY, and no light-headedness or stomach pain at all. It saddens me to think that I spent over the last 2 years feeling this way needlessly and thinking that I was crazy. There ARE other alternatives to acid reflux, GERD, etc out there that are much safer and more tolerable. If any of you are experiencing some of the symptoms that I or others have described, explore other options before you just "get used to" feeling like crap.

I've been take omeprazole for 6 months now for the awful peptic ulcer I was diagnosed with. I take 20mg twice a day and all my symptoms have subsided for the most part. No more sour stomachs or sore throats in the morning and my acid reflux is tolerable. I noticed if I only took it once a day, I would still feel my awful stomach pains. So now, I have to take it twice a day which is fine with me as long as I don't have to deal with that nagging dull pain in my stomach from the ulcer.
As far as side effects go, I have not experienced any dizziness, headaches, or depression. It's all been a very positive experience so far and omeprazole is doing it's job!

Oddly, I'm seeming to have the opposite experience. Omeprazole 20 mg was working great for me for two years, no acid reflux, no weird side effects. Then I ran out for a week or so and started taking Protonix 40 mg that my mother had, and I've been having upset stomach, sore throat and sharp stomach pains since. I'm stopping the Protonix and taking nothing at all until I can get some more Omeprazole, and just hoping I didn't do any permanent damage by switching back and forth between the two.

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.

I have been taking Omeprazole for about 6 months. I've had a terrible itchy rash on my chest, abdomen, back and upper arms and legs this whole time. I've tried all sorts of prescribed creams and steroids, but nothing made it go away. It just occurred to me tonight after reading all of these side effects that Omeprazole is most likely the culprit. I won't be taking another dose of it! I'll just have to suffer with the acid reflux until I find a new drug to take.

I have been on Omeprazole for then past 18 months. It did control the acid reflux however I've suffered with dizziness and joint pain for months. More recently I got muscle spasms in the chest and what felt like heart palpitations. I was ready to schedule a battery of tests but decided to stop taking the Omeprazole first. Within 24 hours of stopping use the symptoms stopped. after 72 hours I felt better then I had in months.

I just started Omeprazole two weeks ago and am having headaches, extreme blurred vision, upset stomach, gas and constipation. I was depressed all day today which is also unusual for me. I will be asking my doctor to take me off this drug - unfortunately I do need something to treat the acid reflux so I will be researching nexium.

Good luck to anyone who has to take this - oh and I too have had the nightmares and can't sleep.

I was on 100mg Asprin and 20mg Omeprazole for a few years. Recently, I started to have burping and acid reflux. My cardiologist increased my dosage to 40mg. Lo and behold, Iess than two weeks I began to experience severe pain on my right knee and later on both knee. I suspect it was arthritis. Having read the above input, seem logical that the possible sauce of the severe pain on the knee joints could be the increased dosage of Omeprazole. I will stop the Omeprazole immediately. I shall update again to confirm if this is indeed the root cause.

After taking Omeprazole for about a year, I became unusually fatigued. I just wanted to lie down and sleep. The acid reflux was under control, but I could not function from being so tired. Once I stopped taking the Omeprazole, the fatigue is gone. I can deal better with the acid reflux than with the drug side effects.

CK

I am 39 years old and have been on Omeprazole for 6 years. I have had the worst year ever. I was always a healthy and fit guy until 2008. I had chronic headaches and extreme fogginess which led to me having an MRI and seeing a chiro(all negative). I had chronic chest pain which led to EKG's, stress tests, ER visits, and tons of blood work ranging from cardiac, glucose, liver, renal, thyroid, etc...(all negative). Did gastroscopy and found esophagitis and gastritis. Upped the dosage of Omeprazole. Then I started getting tremors, muscle cramping, muscle pain, fatigue, blotchy red skin, and continued fogginess and lightheaded.

Did I mention i still have constant heartburn despite all the Omeprazole. I have done everything...tilt up head of bed, bland diet, no coffee or alcohol, no eating late evening etc....

Doctor put me on Fluoxetine (Prozac) for all my stress and anxiety from these crazy symptoms. After seeing this site and reading all your testimonies I am now thinking it is from the Omeprazole!!! Scary thought to stop since my chest pain and heartburn can be pretty severe and constant. What do I do? Feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place here.

I too have had all the horrible side effects of this dangerous drug.. Yesterday after much research I started taking Aloe Vera gel capsules available at the health food stores.. I stopped the Omeprazole and I fee like a new woman already!!. Many sites recommend the aloe vera capsules not just one site..They work!! Also am eating a bland diet for awhile..applesauce, serial, apple juice..No Citrus, no chocolate, no tomatoes the list goes on.. Bland bland bland is key.

I've been on Omeprazole for about 8 weeks now for acid reflux and for the last six weeks or so I've suffered from a very dry mouth (constantly drinking water!!), sore throat, occasional headaches and insomnia in that I'm finding it increasingly hard to get off to sleep. When I do get to sleep and I wake up I feel like death, my mouth, throat and nose feel like they're full of mucus that won't shift.

For the last week or so I've felt like my mouth and lips are swollen up - I've only just read the side effects on the leaflet with the tablets and several of my symptoms are listed on there so I'm thinking it's not psychological, has anyone else had a similar allergic-type reaction?

My GP has advised me to come off the Omeprazole when I finish my current box, but having read the side effects I'm coming off them tomorrow.

I got Omeprazole instead of Prilosec for my last prescription refill, not by my choice. I got dizzy within 30 minutes of taking the Omeprazole, and severe exhaustion. I am never taking that crap again, I just bought and downloaded an alternative guide to acid reflux from ****** published by Barton Publishing. I am going to give it a try ! I have basically wasted my day off today because between the dizziness, nausea, and the exhaustion, I don't have the energy to do any of my work I need to do at my house ! Oh yeah, another side affect I noticed: restlessness, a feeling of being overwhelmed for no reason... no more of this drug for me....

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!

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 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.

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'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 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 on Prilosec OTC 20MG 12/12/07 first thing in the morning (1 hour before eating) for ulcers and suspected Hiatal Hernia. At first it was great - took my acid reflux away - starting yesterday I developed a tickling feeling in my throat an hour or two after taking and a cough that accompanies the tickle - also after eating within an hour my nose gets stuffed up and I feel like mucous is running down the back of my throat. Also I have had a feeling of upper chest tightness off and on (especially within an hour of eating) almost like a cramping feeling in my chest.

I was put on Prilosec because the Dr. suspected that acid reflux was making my asthma much worse. Asthma has been better on the Prilosec but with the past two days of the dry tickling cough and chest tightness it is scaring me.

Anyone else have this??? Please help!!!!

I have been taking OMEPROZOLE for around 9 months for Barretts Asophegus reflux.
In general I was beginning to feel I was very ill with symptoms mainly: hot flushes, my face was burning for a few seconds, dizziness, stomach cramps top right mainly, feelings of diareah, and dry mouth.
Has anybody else experienced any of these symptoms... my GP is sending me for a scan on my Gall Bladder, but in my mind all these cramps are associated with Omeprozole... I cannot stop taking it or I get severe pain between my shoulder blades with reflux burning.
Maureen.

I have been taking Omeprazole for about 2 months and since the start of taking it I have had stomach cramps that range from slight discomfort to buckling pain that is almost unbearable, my hands and feet swell weekly and it was substantial enough for my wife to notice without question, also I have been experiencing nausea more frequently and more severe the longer I continue to take the medicine, I have occasional joint pain most often at night making it sometimes impossible to sleep, I've struggled with depression before and am not sure if the medicine is causing it or not but my wife says she has noticed a change in my attitude since being on Omeprazole, As far as other side effects I have developed a rash on my inner thigh that seems to coincide with starting the medication, also I have had sharp headaches behind my eyes probably about twice a week lasting anywhere from ten minutes to half the day

About two years ago I had nasty ulcer-type pains and aches, some elimination problems: had colonoscopy for the latter, and Doc put me on Protonix for a month - cleared up wonderfully. I have always had occasional acid reflux: that went away too.

After about a year I began to get symptoms again. Didn't want to visit same doc as I knew he would push for a second colonoscopy, which was a treat I thought I could defer for a while. What works now is Prilosec - so glad it's OTC - and I DON"T go for the 14-day course they push. If you look on the pack, it offers a 2-day option, anyway. I usually know when I'm going to have trouble (too much starchy food is one cause), and in the evening I take 2 Rolaids just for the immediate risk and a Prilosec which will kick in after about 4 hours and work for about 24. Same next night if stomach is still dodgy. Have never tried the generic Omeprazole.

I started having problems with my voice cracking and throat aching after singing or talking alot. Went to Dr. and he said he thought it was reflux (of which I had no symptoms). Wtihin days I started experiencing fatique, headache, depression, dizziness, ringing in my ears, and my right leg went numb about 3 weeks into taking it. Then about 2 months into taking, my entire right side went numb (thought I was having a stroke). Since that time I have been through CAT scans, MRI's, lumbar punctures. Been to 2 Neurologists, a Neurosurgeon, Cardiologist, Endocrinologist. 3 different Doctors thought I had Multiple Sclerosis or a stroke. All tests negative for both. After researching Prilosec on my own I found that Prilosec and all like meds block the absorption of and strip vitamins out of your body. 2 1/2 months after stoppping it I had B-12 level checked and it was almost non-existent. Started taking B Complex and B-12 shots. Symptoms have tremendously improved but haven't completely left. I still have numbness even 14 months later. The problem is that B-12 deficiency can cause the numbness and if not treated quickly enough the problems can become permanent. IF YOU TAKE any acid reflux medicine have your vitamin levels checked ... especially B-12.

HAVING ONLY TAKEN OMERPRAZOLE FOR 5 DAYS OVER A MONTH AGO I AM STILL SUFFERING FROM SIDE AFFECTS WITH MY JOINTS ESPECIALLY MY HEELS AND ELBOWS WHERE I AM HAVING DIFFICULTY WALKING ANY DISTANCE MY ACID REFLUX HAS GONE THANK GOODNESS AS I COULDNT TOLERATE TAKING THIS MEDICATION FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME I WOULD BE STRUGGLING

The drug does control acid reflux but I think it may be messing with my brain a little. I get easily aggitated and seem to have what I describe as knots in my head. Could be an unrelated stress thing but Im not a Dr.

The truth of the matter is that it does do its job very well.

Im not too sure all the posts here are real however. Just looks like propaganda for the other drug company.

My husband was on Prilosec for several years, and switched to Omeprazole by our prescription plan. I don't know if the medication is the cause, but he started experiencing chest pain, and occasional shortness of breath, not the same as the acid reflux discomfort. He went to the Dr. and was tested by blood tests, EKG and chest x-ray. All were normal, so stress thallium test was ordered. He passed the stress test with no problem, but had a small abnormality on the thallium scan. He was referred to a cardiologist because of this and a heart cath was performed, also normal so thallium scan was a false positive. The cardiologist changed his medication to Nexium. Could this all be due to switching to Omeprazole? I don't know, but the timing is suspicious.

I have been on Prilosec for several years without any problems. My insurance company switched me to Omeprazole and immediately I noticed a return of acid reflux. I reported my condition to the pharmacist and he arranged with my insurance company to allow me to change back to Prilosec. Now I am back to normal again.