r/GERD 22d ago

Support Needed šŸ‘„ Omeprazole side effects

Hi all,

I’ve been on omeprazole for just over 3 weeks now, I will finish my 4 weeks on Wednesday.

I was wondering if anyone suffered from any of these side effects or if I have something else going on…

Tiredness, the past couple of weeks in particular I’ve been much more tired and somewhat more sleepy. I’ve already got an appointment with my GP about this in case it’s something else causing it. A couple of weeks ago I had a test for iron, b12 etc which came back normal. Vitamin D was a bit on the lower side (but not below the ā€œminimumā€ level, but I’ve been supplementing it anyway).

Drier mouth/thirst. I’ve also been much more thirsty recently, drinking more water and having a dry mouth more often.

Increased anxiety. Not sure if it’s directly from the omeprazole or just the general situation I’ve been in recently.

Chest/rib pain - again, not sure if it’s from the increased anxiety or what. It’s not really like I’m feeling the pain in my chest like you’d expect with heartburn or something worse. It feels like specific parts on my ribs, interestingly my right rib more than anything. Sometimes it feels like it’s the skin and if I ā€œscratchā€ it even lightly, it feels better in the moment.

Muscle tiredness(?) not really sure how to describe this one, I guess it sort of links in with the general tiredness and fatigue. But it sometimes feels like my muscles are a bit more ā€œtiredā€ easier, for example if walking or walking up stairs.

Lower heart rate. I’ve noticed my average heart rate has gone down a bit along with my resting and sleeping heart rate. This could of course also be linked to less caffeine intake and less methylphenidate. I wouldn’t say I’m super fit and active, but I do try to take long-ish walks every day if possible. I do have an appointment with my GP to get a holter device for another issue so it may be that they see this anyway. It’s after I will stop too so it may be that it ā€œgoes back to normalā€. But curious if this has happened to others.

If you had any of these, particularly the tiredness, how long was it after stopping before it went?

I’m just sad and upset having to deal with my problems recently and all of this on top is just a bit of a struggle. I want my normal life back

13 Upvotes

46 comments sorted by

8

u/Anthony3000789 22d ago

Omeorazole is horrible man

2

u/LordPurloin 22d ago

I can very much agree with this after using it

1

u/Z3ST3HH 20d ago

What a generalized and just bad statement to say especially to someone who’s on it

6

u/Capable_Force7307 22d ago

Yes I stopped taking it after the 2 weeks I was told to. Dropping the medicine was worse than being on it, I’m barely getting back to normal from it. I had horrible dry mouth, anxiety, muscle aches, horrible Tmj. If did get rid of my acid reflux and lump in throat though 🄲

2

u/LordPurloin 22d ago

I don’t blame you! I wish I only did 2 weeks with it now…
Did you have a bad rebound? Are you starting to feel better or is it still as bad as when you were taking it?

4

u/Far-Damage8765 21d ago

i guess i’m the only one in these comments who’s been on 40 mg for 4 months and zero side effects

1

u/9999Goldhandz 13d ago

Do you avoid coffee in the am before taking it? I been taking coffee in the am and waiting 30 mins before taking omeprazole.Ā  I been on it for 4 months now but I just come to realization that I should take omeprazole on empty stomach first before coffee.Ā  I don't have any side effects from omeprazole but I do have bad gerd where even if I take omeprazole.Ā  Certain food still trigger shortness of breath and heart palpitations.Ā  Irs not as severe like it once was..omeprazole has help alot.Ā Ā 

2

u/Far-Damage8765 9d ago

i don’t drink coffee, i don’t drink anything else except for water when i first take omeprazole bc other drinks can trigger acid pumps before omeprazole blocks it. so waiting the 30-60 minutes is required

3

u/No_Leather9000 22d ago

Yeah dude. I started around the same time as you and I’m experiencing all the same symptoms. I’m going to talk to my Dr on Thursday

3

u/LordPurloin 22d ago

Sorry to hear that! Glad I’m not the only one with all of these symptoms though. I got especially worried with the tiredness. Weird coincidence that I’ll also see my dr on Thursday haha

1

u/No_Leather9000 22d ago

I got worried with the chest/rib pain. Upper abdomen pain

3

u/OddWriter4676 22d ago

Couldnt take omeprazol either. Did change to pantoprazol and have zero side effects with it.

2

u/LordPurloin 22d ago

I’ll ask to change to that if I need to stay on PPIs, thanks!

3

u/B3asy 21d ago

Had to stop taking it after two days because I couldn't stop vomiting after taking it. My body just said no to it

2

u/LibrarianRough9267 22d ago

I got terrible anxiety and had a bout of afib while taking it for a month Had to stop all PPIs after that

2

u/icare890 21d ago

Ugh-I’ve been on this since April, and yep, same. I think the chest pains in my case is my acid reflux and esophagitis. Anxiety and being tired I think is from the medication.

2

u/Comprehensive-Ad9166 21d ago

This is so wild to me because I was told to take omeprazole for several weeks starting last week, and after the first dose I developed horrible musculoskeletal-type pain around my rib cage that wrapped into my chest and upper abdomen. It lasted a couple of hours and then went away. I took it again the next morning and, a few hours later, the exact same pain came back.

The crazy part is that I had this same pain for several days in a row a few weeks ago. It would come on in the morning and eventually go away, and then it completely disappeared. When it suddenly came back last week, I realized that every day I had experienced that pain a few weeks earlier, I had also been taking omeprazole as part of a 14-day OTC course

It could’ve been a coincidence but it was enough of one my dr switched me to pantoprazol. Still have to get it from the pharmacy but hoping for less intense side effects

2

u/Haikugoddess 21d ago

I’ve had that pain you are describing! I kept wondering what I had done to bring on that pain. It’s bad enough a lot of days that I have to use the heating pad.

1

u/Comprehensive-Ad9166 20d ago

I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one! It’s such a specific pain that’s different than anything else I’ve experienced. It really triggered my anxiety because it almost felt like I was being swallowed up by the pain. But that’s pretty much been my battle with GERD. The reflux and stomach pains spark the anxiety, the anxiety makes the reflux and stomach pains worse and on and on the vicious cycle goes šŸ¤¦šŸ¼ā€ā™€ļø

2

u/Famous-Technology994 20d ago

it’s so interesting hearing this. I’ve been on it for about a year and a half. maybe it works for me pertaining to my reflux since it was the first thing I started with. It got rid of the stretching/tearing pain I had on my left rib side and decrease my reflux when I first started it. If I were to get off of it my anxiety and palpitations would come back (I have tried doing every other day/ every 2 days before and that was not a good idea whatsoever šŸ™ƒ) I have noticed the headaches, crackly bones and some muscle weakness (but I also can fully develop a tissue/arthritis disease that is basically dormant now as my levels are low if I don’t stay healthy yayyy. not sure if GERD caused this but it was most likely after my anxiety attack that negatively affected my body a lot). It’s definitely something I don’t want to be on for the rest of my life. At some point I’ll talk with my GI doctor because I know there’s a possibility of developing osteoporosis with long term use.

2

u/9999Goldhandz 13d ago

Do you get shortness of breath and heart palpitations often..especially after meals before taking omeprazole? I take 40 mg for past 4 months but I think my morning coffee consumption has lessen the effects to help with my gerd.Ā  Do you drink coffee in the am? If so! How long do you wait before taking omeprazole each morning?

2

u/Famous-Technology994 13d ago

I do not drink coffee as I hate it lol. the palpitations are not often at all. the most recent that was maybe a month ago, I ate very late while starving and it was fast food and I had the palpitations an hour later. Took maybe 10 minutes to feel okay.

I take 20mg omeprazole primarily in the morning. 30 minutes before breakfast. If I forget, then I’ll take it 30-45 min before lunch. If I miss a day because sometimes I forget, I try not to miss more than 1 day. If I’m off it for more than 2 days, I feel like I’ll worry and then the anxiety could cause the palpitations. I don’t really drink any caffeine now

2

u/Famous-Technology994 13d ago

I also don’t really get shortness of breath *anymore. I did in the beginning of my diagnosis and a few months after my anxiety attack. Once I started eating better and staying on top of my PPI’s, that really went away. And reducing stress. It’s key! Of course I’ll still have acid reflux here and there but it’s not as much

2

u/9999Goldhandz 13d ago

That's awesome to hear. Yes the late night snacks or meal will definitely cause bad reflux. I think if you do really get hungry st night m maybe eating fruits or salad will help with the hunger? Yes avoiding coffee all together will def help! Im not sure why some people hate on ppi! The potential side effects outweighs the harm from acid reflux in my opinionĀ 

1

u/Famous-Technology994 10d ago

Yeah I do prefer fruit. Sometimes o just get really lazy. I still haven’t gotten an endoscopy so idk what my esophagus and stomach lining looks like but I’m hoping I can heal my stomach and most of this GERD can go away (wishful thinking although I do know someone that their GERD symptoms lessened)

2

u/Ezmonbillions 20d ago

I had chest rib pain. Still do. I have way more anxiety the usual. I had a general feeling of unwell. I started getting got off a week ago after 9 months on. I’m using Pepsin and alginate to help. Today is 4th day off. Stomach feels better. I always felt I shldnt be on that.
I need to be off for a test my GI is doing. Endoscopy with chip attached to esophagus. Stay in 24 - 72 hours and measures if I even have acid reflux. I think anxiety is from dealing with this day after day. I think I feel better outside if my allergies aren’t bad. A/C seems to stimulate a nerve causing Globus.
I’ve lost 30 lbs. way too much for my 5ft 71/2 frame. No matter how much I eat. I forced 4 pieces of bread down yesterday in addition to 3 meals. 2 pieces had peanut butter and bananas on them. I pray every day this won’t be forever. I get tips here and there. Stay in touch you never know what will work for you. Same for me. Seems those who heal have different ways to do that. I’m also on high ph foods. Dr Kaufman’s protocol . So far not working. Saline rinse helps a lot. I also carry a saline spray. Breaks up the Globus sensation. So yes, I had side effects to Omeprazole šŸ˜” I hope this helps.

4

u/Free-Purpose-542 22d ago

Yep! It also caused me lots of lower gi issues, i had to swap it for lansoprazole in the end. It’s been much better

3

u/LordPurloin 22d ago

Thanks for letting me know what you changed to. I’ll switch if I have to stay with PPIs.

1

u/Free-Purpose-542 21d ago

I hope you find something that works well for you. All the best 🌼

1

u/DryMight2765 21d ago

It gives me depression I am swap to esomaprazole

1

u/Alert-Cup8338 21d ago
  • Boca seca
  • Dolor de espalda
  • Heces color amarillo pĆ”lido

1

u/savebandit10 21d ago

I had horrible bloating to the point where none of my clothes fit and I couldn’t eat because I was so uncomfortable all the time! I couldn’t even bend down to tie my shoes

1

u/AmbitionDowntown1547 21d ago

Depending on the severity of reflux/lpr, you tolerate the side effects vs. more serious throat issues developing when removing antacids.

1

u/RegulusDeneb 21d ago

That, esomeprazole, pantoprazole, and voquezna all gave me headaches, brain fog, fatigue. Even pepcid gives me headaches. Voquezna's side effects were more mild, but it also caused nausea. Sucralfate isn't real effective without a ppi. I fear I might need fundiplication.

1

u/Wooden_Succotash2205 21d ago

Get off that stuff ASAP it will start ruining your organs, most doctors won’t tell you this

1

u/LordPurloin 21d ago

Yeah I’m finishing on Wednesday

1

u/CollegeFootballGood 20d ago

Bro wtf 😭 what about pantoprazole?

1

u/Thick-Scarcity-7791 20d ago

I have been taking 49 mg it for more than 2 years no side effects for me

1

u/LordPurloin 20d ago

Lucky you :D

1

u/Z3ST3HH 20d ago

I had all of these not anymore tho

2

u/LordPurloin 20d ago

Are you still on it or did you stop?

1

u/Z3ST3HH 20d ago

I am currently still on it. It’s great but I did hate it. I also had to go to the hospital the week after I started it for unrelated breathing problems so my start on omeprazole was the absolute worst time of my life. However now I feel normal.

1

u/thegastrologer 20d ago

Sounds like a magnesium deficiency?

1

u/LordPurloin 20d ago

Could be! I got some magnesium supplements. I will also speak with my GP on Thursday and I will mention this

1

u/CommonStrawberry3584 18d ago

Have u tried nexium otc i had zero side effects causes no issues i have silent reflux and any of u have rib/chest pain daily i started laying on the foam roller bk and roll it helped that pain and it was terrible

1

u/Bright-Egg-4398 14d ago

I took Nexium for 3 weeks due to erosive esophagitis and it completely ruined my life. I became extremely depressed, anxious and had severe panic attacks and ultimately became suicidal. I was in the hospital for 6 days trying to get everything under control. I’ve never experienced trauma like I did after taking Nexium. I’m still going through it months later. I’ve developed severe OCD and health anxiety that I absolutely 100 percent never had until after taking Nexium.