Omeprazole and endoscopy

I'm 41, male, and have been taking Omeprazole for about a month now due to an H. Pylori infection that was also treated simultaneously with PrevPack and Sucralfate. A subsequent endoscopy found no ulcers, polyps or stomach problems; my entire GI tract down to my stomach is clear.

I was taking a single 20mg pill per day and had it upped by my doctor to twice a day, though it seems that twice a day is now worse for me. Foods that were fine with me on a single pill seem to give me problems with two pills.

Now that I am on Omeprazole alone (taking no other meds) I have had strange sensations, both mentally and physically. My legs and arms get tingly, I have sharp pains across my chest (as if I am doing a heavy bench press and my muscles are being pulled), my heart rate will speed up, especially if I am laying down, and occasionally I suffer bouts of all-over body aches which feel almost like growing pains.

Mentally I am feeling depressed, anxious and on one bad night I felt oblivious to the world, as if I could walk off a cliff and it would be no big deal; scared the crap out of me. Often I have trouble getting motivated to do anything and find that my only way to get around it is to try and absorb myself in a book. Any other chore or project I try, I start but just can't seem to finish; my mind wanders.

I thought this might be connected to angst about dealing with the pain and circumstance of the infection, but previous to my H. Pylori I had another physical trauma that caused me trouble and I had no mental side effects; I was dealing with it and understanding it as a result of getting older and my body doing what every body does as it ages.

Is it Omeprazole? I suppose I can't really say for sure but reading this and other forums I am under the impression that it is probably having side effects that are serious enough to cause concern. I could probably deal with most of the physical side effects but the mental ones are scary. I will stop using Omeprazole starting tomorrow and see how it goes, confining myself to foods which hopefully won't cause too much reaction and go from there.

Hi everyone, I read some of the posts here and thought to share my experience with you.
About 15 years ago I started having heart burns and started taking Tums, Gaviscon and some other antacids and they seemed to work for a little while. But my heart burn slowly got worst and worst until I went to my family doctor. He sent me to a specialist and after sending the scope in my stomach (EsophagoGastroDuodenal (EGD) endoscopy), he said that I have H. Pylori infection in my stomach, as well as LES malfunction (LES = Lower Esophageal Sphincter). He prescribed some antibiotics and 20mg/day of Losec for 8 weeks.
After 8 weeks I ran out of Losec, and my heart burn returned again. I went and saw my doctor again and he said I can continue taking Losec and that I can take it as long as I need it and that Losec has been in the market for over 19 years and no one had any side effect from it and it's one of the safest drugs that they have come up with. So I kept on taking it regularly 20 mg/day for 15 years now. Until about 6 months ago I switched to Omeprazole because my insurance company wouldn't cover the cost for Losec but covered the generic brand Omeprazole. I've had none of the side effects mentioned here, BUT PLEASE READ THE REST OF THIS.
Losec is also called Prilosec and Omeprazole is a generic brand with the same active ingredient but different fillers.
About 2 months ago, I went to a Nature's Source store (here in Canada) and was looking around. An employee of the store offered his help to me and I told him about my case. He said you have totally shot down your digestive system and told me to go and see a Naturopathic Doctor.
I found one and went and saw him. His recommendations were: have 2 tablespoons of an Organic Apple Cider Vinegar (I use Bragg brand) 10 minutes prior to each meal. Also gave me some Probiotics pills as well as some Digestive Enzymes pills.
Prior to this, if I missed taking Losec in the morning, I suffered a great discomfort in my stomach with heart burn (a lot!).
I followed the naturopathic doctor's advice and did what he told me. After about 1 month, today is the second day that I haven't taken Losec. I haven't had discomfort in my stomach yet. I'll have to see how long I can go without it. I will post and update this again. BUT PLEASE READ ON!
Losec, Prilosec, Ranitidine, Omeprazole, Nexxium (the purple pill), and all of this family of drugs are Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPI). Which means, they stop the production of the stomach acid. Therefore, no acid reflux or heart burn....
But when there is no acid in the stomach, the stomach becomes the biggest target organ and a paradise for bacteriums, microbes and other microorganisms, which otherwise can not survive in it's very high acidic environment (H. Pylori is an exception). We can not digest our food properly any more. Our bodies suffer from lack of Calcium (regardless of the amount and type of calcium intake), because it can not be processed any more. Meat can not be digested properly any more. Therefore, lack of Amino Acids which are the building blocks in our bodies. Guess what, NO AMINO ACIDS = JOINT PAIN WHICH LEADS TO ARTHRITIS. And lots of other problems later in life.
NO SIDE EFFECT, MY A*S.
If you're suffering from heart burns, indigestion, reflux, or GERD, stop eating: ANYTHING THAT HAS WHEAT IN IT, TOMATOES OR ANYTHING MADE FROM IT (i.e. ketchup, tomato sauce/paste...), DAIRY FOOD, COFFEE/TEA, ALCOHOL. NO CHEWING GUMS, SUGAR, CHOCOLATE, FRIED/OILY FOOD, STARCHY FOOD. STOP SMOKING AS SOON AS YOU CAN. These are all irritants to the stomach and esophagus.
I'm still educating myself about this. I read this book about stomach acid called: Why Stomach Acid Is Good For You by Jonathan V. Wright, Lane Lenard. Read it and you will be surprised.
I hope this will help some of you.

God bless.
S. AA (Toronto, Canada)

I've been taking Omeprazole 40mg's once daily for two weeks now. I'm 28 years old and up until September have never been sick a day in my life. After an endoscopy, was diagnosed with a "hiatal hernia" after months of a mysterious vomiting syndrome and put on this drug by my Gastroenterologist.

The first week and a half was great, it was able to control my vomiting. But now, after thirteen days of taking the drug, I've been feeling incredibly fatigued over my whole body, like the way you feel the day after you lift weights. Stabbing pains in my ribs, chest and abdomen that come and go. The feeling in my stomach of being "eaten" from the inside out. It's horrible.

Like others, I've also been getting quick, stabbing headaches that come and go in a flash. Joint pain. Muscle cramps. Bloating. Depression. Waking multiple times in the middle of the night. Strange and vivid dreams. Severe nausea in the morning when I wake up. It's all really, really weird. And as of last night, my vomiting has relapsed. Keep in mind, I've NEVER experienced ANYTHING like these symptoms before in my life.

I've got a follow-up appointment scheduled with my doctor in three days and I intend to get off of this stuff immediately.

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 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 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?