Omeprazole and prilosec

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 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 just stumbled across this site and it has given me such renewed hope. I have GERD and have been on 40 MG of pantoprazole for about two months. My DR suggested taking two pills a day (one in the morning, one at night) for two weeks to see if that helped my lingering problems. It did. So much so I started eating like an animal again. Of course, this it me hard in the throat. In a panic (insurance wouldn't cover two pills a day) I added Prilosec OTC as my nightly solution. I had already noticed pins and needles in my arms and legs slowly developing. Exactly two days after including the Prilosec I was instantly hit with a panic attack and extreme anxiety literally out of no where. I had nothing on my mind and absolutely content moments before and then in a totally different mind set. I had paranoia and abnormal thoughts. I didn't sleep for almost 5 days (with a few hours here and there). I am 31 and have never had anything like this anxiety and like other readers here thought I was going crazy. I stopped the OTC when I thought it was the culprit and four days later I am doing a bit better. Reading the stories here I believe I am stopping the omeprazole starting tomorrow to see if I get even better. I feel like my entire body is shaking from this stuff and it is the only thing I have changed or added to my life. Thank you all for your stories as I was grasping at straws.

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 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 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

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'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'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.

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.

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 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.

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 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?

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.

I was given Prilosec after an upper endoscopy confirmed GERD. Mostly my symptoms were a feeling like a swallowed a childes building block and it was stuck in my chest, along with heart burn. Prilosec seemed to help, but after about 2 months on it, I began to experience severe dizziness, anxiety, depression, heart palpitations, tingling hands and feet, occasional numbness to right side of body and was diagnosed with anemia. The dizziness was the worst for me. It got so bad, I thought I had agoraphobia, because the dizziness seemed to get worse when I went into stores or public places with bright or fluorescent lights. I thought I was losing my mind and my life. Christmas is coming so I had to force myself to try and shop. Ironically, because of all the hustle and bustle, I forgot to take the Prilosec that day and I was able to shop with very little dizziness! Before this, I would have to leave stores because the dizziness got so bad. My husband thought I went back on it the following day and said this would be the test to see if the Prilosec was the culprit. But, I hadn't taken it for the 2nd day and I was able to shop for almost 6 hours and felt like myself again! I know Prilosec was the cause of my feeling like I was going to die for almost a year now! I was about to contact a psychiatrist, it was getting so bad. Unfortunately, after the 3rd day, the heartburn got so bad, I had to take the Prilosec again and I feel awful again. Helped the heartburn, but all the horrible side-effects are back. After the holidays, I'm calling my doctor to see if she can put me on something else.

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've been on Prilosec for 3 yrs, and most recently put on Zegerid, which is omeprazole/sodium bicarbonate. I have had on both the occasional chest pain, anxiety, joint pains, and weakness/fatigue, and mild depression/with aggitation, and confusion. I am on 40 mg a day. These side effects are real, no doubt about it.

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.

After three days or maybe four days of taking Prilosec, my husband started to feel tingling, chaffing type feeling in his inner thighs. By the fifth day he started feeling weekness in his legs, by the seventh day he could not walk without holding on to something and felt very strange driving, as if his legs were not working. On the sixth day of taking Prilosec he was sent to the emergency room by his physician for an emergency overview and possible stat MRI. He was given several tests in ER and admitted that eve. MRI and spinal tap done within next few days, all back neg. He is now in a nursing home for PT, he stopped taking Prilosec on my urging 4 days ago, as of yesterday, his balance started to improve and this am is reporting that he is walking better. Before he had what I would call, stroke symptoms as far as leg goes

I am 71 yrs. old and have had a lifetime of tests and medications to try to control what is now referred to as Gerd. Prilosec was prescribed several years ago and for me it was nothing short of a wonder drug. However, for the past couple of years, I have had several episodes of chest pain and pressure across my shoulders that resulted in Nuclear stress tests, ultrasound, etc., etc. All negative. Today, I had a chest x-ray and they are talking about a cat scan to follow. I have had increasing pressure in my chest, both arms go numb, and what feels like pressure or rawness in my esophagus. I have finally realized that it all coincides with my Insurance Co switch to the generic OMEPRAZOLE. That led me to your site on the internet. I think I have found the answer. Switching to the generec has been a very expensive mistake for my Insurance company. I have discontinued the medication and hope to get back to normal.

I have been on Omerprazole since 2/1/05 and have not felt normal since. I get chest pains, and a anxious or nervousness feeling. I have had CT scans, ultrasounds, EKG, all normal. I haven't experienced these symptoms prior to taking the medication. I have noticed on this site that a lot of people have had better experiences with Prilosec, I am calling my Dr. ASAP to make the change, hope it helps, I am eager to feel like myself again.

I have been taking omeprazole generic for prilosec for about 3-4 months now and have been experiencing dry mouth and a cracked tongue as well as my taste buds on my tongue are always irratated. Does anyone else have theses symptoms?

I have been taking Prilosec and Omeprazole for more than 5 years. I have had trouble with itching, dizziness, and now, tinnitus. The itching which was intense on my calves was solved by washing with a wash cloth and not taking a shower or bath, as my doctor recommended.

The dizziness comes and goes. The tinnitus is new. My pharmacist said that tinnitus usually starts immediately upon introduction of the drug, but it is possible for it to occur at any time. Over the years I have identified the foods which cause distress (most food), and I am extremely careful. One bite of, let's say, pizza, will cause a great deal of gastro distress for days.

I also feel like I am completely dependent on the Omeprozole, because I get ill within 1 to 2 days if I do not take it every day.

I was on Prilosec for over ten years when my insurance company took it off their formulary, and switched me to a generic. I haven't had any problems with the generic, other than that which I experienced with Prilosec, except slight hair loss. I changed generics, and that stopped. However I firmly believe that this drug is addictive, and I cannot function without it. The insurance company calls it a currative, and my doctor calls it a maintenance drug. The doctor says I will be on it the rest of my life, and the insurance company only approves it for 10 week period of time. I have tried Nexium and can tell no difference. I learned at the beginning how to adapt to the side effects of brief periods of nausea, and constipation.

After taking prilosec for many years I was switched to omeprazole 20 mg. I did not have any problem with reflux while on prilosec, but I do now. I have also had my entire body become very itchy, but more especially the bottoms of my feet. I get stomach cramps, a very bloated feeling usually follows. My blood pressure has increased, and I get bad headaches. I'm going back to prilosec.

Most people believe that when their doctor writes them a prescription for a generic drug, that their are getting the same medication that they were taking before. This is not true. I work in the medical field and I know for a fact that the reason generic drugs are cheaper is because they are not manufactured with the same controls as the name brands. They work differently. That's why so many people have bad reactions to them and alot of the times they don't even work. Once a medication works for me, I never accept the generic form of it. Alot of doctors won't even write prescriptions for generic drugs. Especially cardiac medications. I took Prilosec for 3 yrs and it worked like a charm. I tried Omeprazole for 1 week and it made me deathly ill. Went back to Prilosec and refused to switch.

I have always taken Prilosec but when I asked the dr for a new prescription , I was given the generic drug. I didnt take notice as I never have any side effect from any drug. Shortly after taking it, I started experiencing irregular heartbeats and pounding of my heart. I ended up in the emergency room but my ekg's , x'rays were fine. I ended up getting so anxious and nervous , the dr gave me valiem for my anxiety. I also experienced insomnia, hot flashes. Didnt know what was going on until three weeks later, I started reading on side effect of this drug and found out that a lot of people were experiencing the same symptoms I was. I immediately quit taking the drug and within a few days my symptoms started going away. I still get an occasion jerking on my stomach but its a lot better than it was when I was on the drug and didnt even know this was causing it.

A throbbing in my head, not painful, but still a throbbing which has occurred several times a day since I started taking Omeprazole a little more than a week ago. Previously, I was taking prilosec on a regular basis and did not experience this side effect. Has anyone else had this type of side effect?

I have taken Omeprazole for ten days and had previously taken Prilosec for several years without any problems. With the Omeprazole I am experiencing numbness in my arms when I sleep.

I had been taking Prilosec for about 18 months with very good results. About a week ago, my doctor switched me to Omeprazole and I am now experiencing low-level symptoms of reflux again. Is it possible that the Omeprazole is not as effective as Prilosec?

I began taking Omeprazole in late December but switched back to Prilosec due to an increase in GERD systoms. Then my husband picked up my medicine and ordered the generic again. I only order 15 pills at a time. On Jan 12 I experienced dizziness and a fall. Five days later I went to the doctor but EKG, bloodwork and urinalysis were all neg.Still having these spells is anyone else?

My infant daughter was taking Prilosec and was switched today to omeprazole. Her symptoms are worsening.

I have been taking Prilosec for about 6 years, about 2 months ago I was put on Omeprazole. The problem I have now is no sex drive and can't seem to keep it up. Has anyone else had this problem, I'm 38yrs old.

Having taken Prilosec for many years at the displeasure of my Health Insurance carrier, I was initially pleased to be OK'd for Omeprazole. I have taken the new drug for about 2 1/2 weeks and have felt mildly dizzy, slightly depressed and I am not sleeping well. Are these connected? I think I will stick it out for a while longer in case my "symptoms" are unrelated.

When I switched from Prilosec to Omeprazole I started having muscle spasms, or twitches, in my arms, legs, posterior, and abdomen.

I was switched to the generic OMEPRAZOLE from PRILOSEC about 6 months ago. I take 20 mg. every other day. Seems to control my GERD, however I itch. Not just a little itch, gut generally all over my body. Am I the only one?

I had been taking Prilosec for may years without any problems. I just went for a refill about 3 weeks ago and was told that I've been switched to a generic brand- Omeprazole. Since I've been taking it my reflux is worsening- I'm definately producing more acid.

I have been taking Prilosec for several years without any side effects..My husband picked up script for me at pharmacy. They were out of Prilosec and filled script with Omerprazole. I have been taking this med for about a month now. Recently I have noticed muscle spasms, heart palpitations, headaches, night sweats. I asked the pharmacist yesterday if this could be related to this medication. She stated that yes this could be related. I will be switching back to Prilosec ASAP.

After 3 years on prilosec I switched to omeprazole believing it would act the same. I 've been battling intestinal cramps and bloating which stop when I switch back.(i've been alternating pills)Anyone else have this happen?

I have been on prilosec for several years without any problems. My Dr. just put me on Omeprazole and I have been on it for about 2 weeks. My symptoms has come back and I have even tried to take two omeprazole a day and doesnt seem to help..I also have a lot of bloating. Im calling my Dr. tomorrow and going back on prilosec.

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 5 years. I was recently switched to omeprazole and have experienced a problem with my tongue. It is sore and cracked. I had this same symptom a few months ago when I tried takng chromium picolinate for skin tags.

How do I rescind the side effect I noted before (sore and cracked tongue). Since I reported it, it has gone away and I am still taking the omeprazole and it is working as well as the prilosec did. The side effect must have been linked to something else and I do not want to blame this drug.

I had been taking Prilosec and Celebrex together for years with no problems,Then Iwas switched to Omeprazole.The Celebrex gave a alergic recation and Ihave had to stop takimg it.Is this unusual?