Prevacid side effects

I had extreme hair loss in February 2008 while taking Prevacid. I got off of it and began taking Protonix and my hair began growing back. It is now as thick and healthy as ever. Prevacid is definitely the reason that I lost my hair in clumps. It really scared me.

I was on prevacid for about 2+ years. I tried to get off of it several times without success. I tried a 21 day weight loss plan that involved eating complex carbohydrates early morning and afternoon and heavier on protein and easily digestible veggies in for dinner. Following this plan has allowed me to finally get off prevacid! The biggest reward for being off prevacid has been regrowth of hair I thought I was loosing because of my age!

In February of 2008 I took 8 capsules over a period of 14 days, The second day I had a hedache and tightness in the chest-abdomin area. Over the next 10 days the symptoms got worse and then my neck and upper back started hurting. I stopped taking the prevacid and started feeling better. Since then I have been waking up after about 2 hours sleep and my arms and across my back are very cold I have sharp pain in my shoulders and have labored breathing. I have been sleeping setting up and that has helped my acid reflux. But this coldness and aching in my arms and shoulders will not let me get very much rest. I still have acid reflux if I eat within 3 hours of bedtime and if I lay down.
I have also tried acupuncture for the shoulder pain , it helps for a day and then it is back. I am 65 and am getting old fast with this pain.

I have been taking Nexium for over 7 years. I started on Prilosec but when that became available over-the -counter my doctor switched me to Nexium, 20mg once per day. Not long after that I started seeing a new doctor. I was still taking the Nexium, 20mg, one per day. But I was still having a little of that burning pain just below my sternum. I told my new doctor about this thinking he would probably increase my dosage to 20mg twice a day or switch me to the 40mg capsules once a day. Instead he switched me from the 20mg Nexium to the 30mg Prevacid capsules. I had horrible side effects immediately. I would have sudden and unpredictable loss of appetite. Not just loss of appetite but the sight of food would actually make me feel queasy. I lost over 10 pounds in a week and wasn't even trying. But the worst, and most frightening, side effect was the severe shortness of breath. I was in the Navy for 10 years and kept myself in pretty good shape. At one time I was even running 3 miles a day. Immediately after starting on the Prevacid I got so short of breath I could not climb a flight of a dozen stairs. It made me feel like I was 80 or 90 years old. And I was only 48 or 49 at the time. My chest would heave up and down. Air was going in and out. But it felt like my lungs weren't getting any oxygen from the air that was going in and out of them. I wanted to trust my doctor but I was actually becoming afraid of going home from work and taking the Prevacid. I got back in to see my doctor as soon as I could and he put me back on Nexium. Not long after this he took a job at another practice/clinic to be closer to home and family. I had to find another doctor. When I went to see my new doctor (the 3rd I've had since the reflux started) I told him about the Prevacid and the shortness of breath. It wasn't as bad since I stopped taking the Prevacid but I still had some shortness of breath and burning pain in my chest when I exercised. He said he had never heard anything about the Prevacid and breathing problems. He sent me to the hospital for the treadmill stress test to make sure it wasn't my heart. It wasn't my heart, but then again I knew that. Even after complaining about the shortness of breath during several visits over the years he never said or did anything about it. About 2 years ago I had a bout of bronchitis. My doctor was busy all day so I took an appointment with another doctor at the same clinic. (I've had to do this several times) While seeing this other doctor for my bronchitis I mentioned to him the whole shortness of breath story. He said I should consider having a pulmonary function test because "you're not too young to have emphysema". Then early in January, 2008 I had to see another doctor at the same clinic, again for bronchitis. I told her about the Prevacid and the shortness of breath. Finally someone sent me to the hospital for the pulmonary function test (PFT). Two weeks later I had an appointment with my PCP for an annual physical check-up. I asked him about the results of the PFT. He said he hadn't seen them but he would check on it while the nurse was giving me and EKG test. Some time later he comes back into the exam room and says "yep, you have a little emphysema". The nurse-practitioner who sent me for the PFT had already started me on Advair. Besides that my doctor seemed to have little to say about my newly discovered condition. I'm not sure if the Prevacid or continued use of Nexium had anything to do with me developing emphysema. But I do know that after complaining to MY DOCTOR of shortness of breath for 3 or 4 years it shouldn't have been someone else that discovered that I have emphysema. Anyway, I guess my real question is has anyone else had a problem with SEVERE shortness of breath on Prevacid, Nexium, or any of the other PPIs?

Update: I have been off this medication for 15 days, no problems with stomach acid. I do believe my hair feels thicker as if I am getting some growth where I have loss it. The last side effect I am looking forward to seeing if it is affected, is my Liver tests. The enzymes have always been high (since I started taking this med some 5 to 7 years ago. No matter what I did I could not lower those results, maybe being off this medication will do the trick as I just read last month that one of the side effects are elevated levels in the livers (AST & ALT levels). That can't be good to keep those levels over the recommended zone.

HAIR LOSS....I am a 52 year old male, been on this medication for many years, at least 5. It has worked very well for me and a recent scope indicated no issues in the throat, esophagus or stomach. The side effect I am most concerned about is hair loss. My hair has thinned since I started taking it. No one in my family has a hair loss or thinning issue going back to great Grand Fathers. I am stopping this medication as of today. Does anyone know if hair growth returns after stopping this med?

having night sweats and leg pain

I've only been on Prevacid for about 2 weeks so I'm not sure if it is the medication or not.

I'm starting to notice some changes in my body since I've been taking this medication. I noticed that during the middle of the night, I'm awaking with a very dry mouth, so now I keep a bottle of water on my nightstand. During the day, I'm catching cramps all over my back and occasionally in my legs. I haven't had any problems with cramps until I developed this stomach condition and had to take this medication.

Could there be a need for vitamin suppliments while taking this medication?

I have been on prevacid 30mg 2x for 8 months it help me quite a bit, but I'm still not 100% better. I tried all the other such a Nexuim didn't work at all, Aciphex made me feel like I was choking & protonics gave me horrible headaches.

the only mild side effect I have experience with Prevacid is rosey cheeks & and dry skin patches on one of my arms and both legs.

I've been reading tons of articles on apple cider vinger. It's suposed to work. better then any of the meds listed above, with no side effect,also a close friend of mine is a certified nutritionist and swears by it.

Chest tightness, fatigue, and heart palpitations.
I've read lots of side effect reports - none make any references to cardiovascular problems - but I'm having them.

second time to try prevacid, acipex quit working, and again feel like my skin is crawling, Dr. didn't beleive me but this is the second time I have had this feeling when I have taken prevacid. Anyone else have this problem??

3 days of 30mg gave me chest pain/tightness every late afternoon and evening

being on prevacid, does it cause you to have dry mouth or a burning sencetion in your mouth? please answer as soon as possilbe thank you

diarrhea for 6 days , 6 hours after taking one pill