Side effects with omeprazole/Prilosec use

Posted by blueorca @blueorca, May 5, 2018

i am an 18-year user of daily OTC Prilosec. It does a perfect job of controlling my GERD but I am constantly battling side effects of nutritional deficiencies in iron, B-12, magnesium, etc. For example, my hair is extremely thin and loss of energy is a constant problem. I am looking for specific help in knowing which supplements to take for this and in what doses and formats and on what schedule. All the nutritionists I've found locally are not well-versed in Prilosec use. Is there a medical provider out there who specializes in this? And would they be willing to work with me long distance?

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jun 10 8:36am

In reply to @menderskeepers "24% increase in type 2 diabetes. Increase in dementia Increase rate of fractures Chronic kidney problems..." + (show)

Hi, @menderskeepers, and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Sounds like you have some serious concerns about taking omeprazole.

Do you have GERD? Were you previously taking omeprazole?

dandl48 Dave | @dandl48 | Jun 10 9:41am

In reply to @menderskeepers "24% increase in type 2 diabetes. Increase in dementia Increase rate of fractures Chronic kidney problems..." + (show)

Wow, replying to a 7 year old post. your facts may be correct but I still stand by my question that says, "What does your MD say about getting off it?" If you don't listen to your doctors why go to one?

jmedj55 | @jmedj55 | Jul 4 2:44pm

In reply to @nightngale1998 "Hi there: Has anyone had success in weaning off of Omeprazole? I take it for GERD...." + (show)

I started taking it in May for inflamed esophagus and reflux. I’m concerned because I read Prilosec can be harmful to body. You apparently have not had issues with the medicine ??may I ask your approx age ? I turned 60 but I’ve had heartburn and reflux for at least 5-6 years .. just kept putting it off unfortunately

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jul 8 1:27pm

In reply to @jmedj55 "I started taking it in May for inflamed esophagus and reflux. I’m concerned because I read..." + (show)

Hi, @jmedj55 - I see that you've recently joined Mayo Clinic Connect, so I'd like to welcome you. Sorry to hear about all the heartburn and reflux you've had to endure.

Hoping that here you will get to meet some of the members in this discussion talking about omeprazole (Prilosec) and see if they have had any issues with this medication. Please meet @dandl48 @ksdm @archiemom @debraj63 and others. I'd also like you to meet @jlharsh.

Have you noticed any side effects from taking omeprazole thus far since May, jmedj55?

jmedj55 | @jmedj55 | Jul 8 2:35pm

In reply to @nightngale1998 "Hi there: Has anyone had success in weaning off of Omeprazole? I take it for GERD...." + (show)

Hello .. so far the only side effect has been some nausea, body aches and possibly some anxiety. I dread taking this medicine longer term. What type of effects has been noted by members ? Thank you

jmedj55 | @jmedj55 | Jul 8 2:37pm

In reply to @januaryjane "Ok, I went to my gastro and having symptoms of nausea that got better with an..." + (show)

Prilosec seems to have side effects for some people but yet some seem to do fine with it for long periods of time ? Strange …

Janell, Volunteer Mentor | @jlharsh | Jul 8 8:46pm

In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @jmedj55 - I see that you've recently joined Mayo Clinic Connect, so I'd like to..." + (show)

Thanks for the tag, @lisalucier and hello, @jmedj55

It has been a few years since I tried omeprazole and I’m not sure remember how long I tried it and exactly what my symptoms were. I do remember I had an upper scope that my GI doc said looked ok, and the next step was a 30 day diagnostic trial of the drug. I had been struggling with pain in my stomach, had been to the ER, spent time blending my food, etc.

I remember I tried the PPI and it worked for a few days then everything went back to how it was before I started it. I let it go for a bit and thought I should confirm by trying again. I don’t remember that it helped at all.

Where are your body aches jmedj55?

jmedj55 | @jmedj55 | Jul 8 10:50pm

In reply to @nightngale1998 "Hi there: Has anyone had success in weaning off of Omeprazole? I take it for GERD...." + (show)

The body aches are my arms and legs primarily ; also some nausea as well. Also seems to increase anxiety which I see is mentioned online

Lisa Lucier, Moderator | @lisalucier | Jul 9 11:21am

In reply to @jmedj55 "Prilosec seems to have side effects for some people but yet some seem to do fine..." + (show)

@jmedj55 - From my own experiences in recent years, I am now a believer that medications can have really pronounced side effects for some, while other patients experience none.

I took an entirely different medication than the omeprazole (Prilosec) you mentioned, semaglutide (Wegovy), which my husband took, as well. I had such bad gastrointestinal side effects I had to finally talk to my doctor about a new medication. At the same time, my husband had zero side effects. I also experienced a side effect where I felt like I had drunk far too much alcohol after taking a medication a dermatologist prescribed, and it took 12 hours to recover. It turns out that was a reported, but really unusual side effect.

Here is an article on the topic of varying side effects for different patients I found useful:

- Why Prescription Drugs Can Work Differently for Different People https://today.uconn.edu/2021/10/why-prescription-drugs-can-work-differently-for-different-people-2/#

cjval52 | @cjval52 | Jul 9 11:46am

In reply to @lisalucier "Hi, @jmedj55 - I see that you've recently joined Mayo Clinic Connect, so I'd like to..." + (show)

I had a terrible time with this. I was on a PPI and an H2 blocker. I started weaning from the PPI by taking it every other day and not reducing the H2b. Then every third day, 4th day until off. Then same with H2 blocker. The first week the rebound reflux from the PPI was noticeable and I used some gaviscon when it was really bad. No issues weaning from the H2b. Best of luck!!!

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