Omeprazole and reflux

Wow, I was amazed to find this site! and glad I did. I went to my doctor about 3 months ago, and I had some reflux coming up and he prescribed me the omeprazole. I didn't do any research on the drug and thought it was just a stronger version of tums or rolaids because I've never had to deal with this before. Well, I started on the Omeprazole and I felt like I was in another world. After I started taking it, I honestly feel many other things have happened, such as after I would eat, I couldn't breathe! It's not that I felt the food was getting stuck, but was moving slower or something and I couldn't take air through my nose or mouth...not once did I blame it on this meds...anyhow, My neck started hurting VERY bad! I thought it was just stress....next, my memory feels like it's really slacking and I'm only 38. I can't concentrate. So, I ended up in the ER and was having very bad chest pains...thought it was a heart attack, but everything turned out to be ok and they said I had GERD. They prescribed me Nexium. That's when the true hell began. The first day wasn't bad,but a lot of gas and chest pain, along with the shortness of breath continuing. By day 2 on nexium, I was having severe, and I mean severe anxiety and panic attacks...I ended back up at the ER, again, they said everything was ok and they gave me ranitidine to take too. If I'm not mistaken, nexium and prilosec are almost the same thing? Tonight was the worst of my life.....my panic attacks were horrible, felt like something was stuck in my throat, my neck hurts so bad and my mouth was so dry I couldn't even spit, I was so dizzy I couldn't walk, my ears were cramping from the anxiety and my eyes were blurry...I honestly feel crazy. I have taken prilosec on and off for 3 months, and now I know why my anxiety was so bad for so long, but the nexium topped it off. I heard that 40 mg of prilosec is actually 20 mg of nexium....this drug is BAD and I will never take it again. I will try the apple cider vinegar method w/ some honey. My grandparents swore by it and just start watching what Im eating. I heard its 72 hours before this crap gets out of your system..I can't wait!

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've been taking Omeprazole on and off for 6 months. I've been feeling increasingly depressed, anxious and apathetic - unable to get out of bed in the morning and having difficulty concentrating. Had initially thought that I was feeling like this because of the adic reflux and ulcers... having read these posts I now think that it could be because of the pills themselves. I'm going to come off them immediately and stick to herbal supplements and controlling my diet.

I have been diagnosed with a pericardial cyst and thought that the problems I have been having were related to this.....until I found this site! I have been taking omerprazole for over a year now and have had several disturbing symptoms. Heart palputations, racing heart, night sweats and hot flashes, sudden onset of nausea that lasts for about 5 to 10 minutes then goes away and horrible chest, back and rib cramping, which is the same feeling as having a severe gall bladder attack. Recently the worst has happened. In the past I have had the sweats thinking it was only menopause and chest pain thinking it was the acid refllux. We shall see....as of today I am stopping the drug to see what happens. In the past week the most severe problems have occured. I started with bronchitis and the antibiotics and prednisone the doctor put me on seemed to be having side effects which I have never had before with them. The only other medication...omerprazole. (haven't had bronchitis since BEFORE I started taking the omerprazole) After the first day I began having severe chest, back and rib cramping which seemed to worsen by the day, more so that ever before. Then came the swelling in the hands and feet until they looked like I had elephantitis. There is aching somewhat in my arms with a strange weakness. And...the heartburn became so bad that I feel like it's coming out of my mouth. So..the doctor increased the omerprazole to 40mg or up to 80mg if needed. I have been taking 40mg and it didn't seem to really cure the reflux! So I was going to increase it. Not now! I believe after reading all the posted side effects everyone has been having, most of my problems are being caused by one thing....omerprazole! I was truely believing I was having a heart attack, but since I just had ALL the tests done and was given a clean bill of health and better with the exception of the pericardial cyst, I couldn't believe this to be the problem, so back to the doctor I went. She has put me on motrin for the pain and skelaxin for the cramping which seems to be helping. But, and this is the big but, I am going to come off the omerprazole and see if this will begin to eleviate the symptoms completely. Will update this in a couple of weeks when the drug is totally out of my system. Thank-you for this site and keep posting.

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

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 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 am 29 y/o. I've been on omeprazole for a year now. My insurance wouldn't pay for the name brand. I had the occasional side effect for the first six months like vertigo, nausea, feeling out of body, etc.
For the last few months, the side effects are more regular. I have extreme hot flashes, sometimes to the point I feel like I'm on fire inside. The headaches are more frequent, and one or twice a month, I get migraines.
I can't handle the burn of the reflux because it is so bad, so I have to endure the symptoms until I can see my doctor.
Thank you guys for the input. I thought there was something seriously wrong with me.

I HAVE TAKEN OMEPRAZOLE TO COUNTER THE REFLUX
ISSUES FROM MY ARTHRITIS MEDS. I HAVE GAS AND BLOATING, CRAVING FOR CARBS AND TERRIBLE RINGING IN MY EARS. I EVEN HAD MY HEARING TESTED AND THEY
CLAIM THAT THE MEDS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. HOWEVER, I NEVER HAD RINGING IN MY EARS PRIOR TO TAKING OMEPRAZOLE.

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.

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 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 on Omeprazole 20 for six months now. Even though I feel better with my reflux, but when I finish the drug and stop taking it, within two days the refux starts again. When I am taking omeprazole 20, I feel pain in my both arms specially when I extend my arms and I have shortness of breath and some time choking even when I am not eating anythings.

I too was taking prilosec for 2 years, I was finally down to 1 every 3 to 6 days days , that was great! then i went to get my script refilled and noticed I was given omeprazole,,,,,I started itching, got cramps, dry skin, aches and pains,,,felt terrible, could not figure it out, now I know, it's the medicine.will tell my dr. shortly as my reflux is now back on a daily basis.........

I am on 20 mgs of Omeprazole per day and I find I have developed constipation, dry mouth and occasional dizziness although the reflux seems to be under controlled.