Sometimes after I take it I get heartburn so bad and it just burns all the way up my throat. I feel like I'm going to die from it. Sometimes I throw up and it really hurts. Has this happened to anyone else? How do you prevent it? Or deal with it?
Anyone get extremely bad heartburn with Prozac? Burns throat so bad!
Question posted by lennongurl on 8 Dec 2015
Last updated on 23 August 2023 by Hollielace1216
The information on this page reflects personal experiences shared by our community members. It is not reviewed for medical accuracy and should not replace professional medical advice.
78 Answers Page 2
Hollielace1216
20 Sep 2022
Switch to tablets instead of capsules. Something about the capsules made this happen to me so I switched to tablets and viola! Never happened again. Thank god because I constantly felt like a pill was stuck in my throat. I’d throw up randomly and get terrible GERD.
bbb1441
16 Sep 2022
I have run into several strange contradictions in this thread that makes me wonder why this is happening to so many of us. In literature I’ve read produced by the manufacturers, the potential for heartburn & esophageal pain is not disclosed. I have read cases of ER trips for esophagitis and SEVERE esophageal damage resulting in reconstructive surgery due to Prozac intake. This nearly warrants at least looking into a prospective class-action suit. Anyway, here is my experience-
I have heard some people say that AURBINDO green capsules were the culprit for them, and to either switch to TEVA capsules or the generic white tablets. This thread, interestingly, is filled with people saying the exact same thing about TEVA capsules and the generic white tablets, saying to switch to the other two that they don’t take. It appears that all 3 variations I’ve found reflected in this article are, in fact, producing these side effects.
I began taking 20 mg TEVA capsules in August of 2021. Over the course of the next two months, my severe depression finally lifted and I began caring for myself for the first time in a decade. From day one, though, I experienced severe heartburn. This continued when I moved up to one blue-and-orange 40mg TEVA capsule per day. It also continued when I moved up to a 40 combined with a 20.
Eventually, it got to a point where I couldn’t take it anymore. It’s led to me telling myself I’ll “finally do it” tomorrow, but eventually procrastinating it even more to the point that I’ve been severely clinically depressed due to lack of any medical treatment for it. I am hesitant to take it because of fear of pain, but I’m also insanely unwilling to abandon it entirely due to its unprecedented efficacy for me when taken daily.
Eating a substantial meal first does help, but make sure it’s also not a food that will make u burp/ cause indigestion. I will soon be switching my manufacturer and practicing new habits/ schedules surrounding my fluoxetine intake, and I will update this answer with a reply shortly thereafter.
WildcatVet
16 Sep 2022
This is what I found on Drugs.com:
"Gastrointestinal:
Common (1% to 10%): Abdominal pain, constipation, dyspepsia, flatulence, gastrointestinal disorder, vomiting
Uncommon (0.1% to 1%): Aphthous stomatitis, buccoglossal syndrome, colitis, dysphagia, eructation, esophagitis, gastritis, gastroenteritis"
The potential is certainly there...
TRIPLEOG60
12 July 2022
Oh yes! If you arr taking the blue capsule it will make you feel like you are going to shoot fire out of your mouth. It is awful. My pharmacist changed me to 2 twenty mg instead of one 40mg. Also make sure you eat a lot before you take it. Like a hamburger or something substantial. I swear that blue capsule has battery acid in it. Pepcid complete and mixing baking soda in water and drinking it give only mild if any relief. It is very painful.
lda76
11 July 2022
This happened regularly to me when I took the 1/2 orange- 1/2 blue-green capsule. Switched back to the generic white capsule and does not happen anymore. I also am scared from when I had the heartburn so badly so I try to make sure I do not take it on an empty stomach and also with a glass of water.
mrd232
11 July 2022
I'm so happy I found this discussion. I have been taking the E91 20mg green/cream Aurobindo capsules for about 4 months now and my heartburn has gotten out of control. Burping up acid, waking up with a sore throat, radiating chest pain, etc. Pepcid is barely helping and taking frequent pepcid has reduced my serum iron levels. Eliminating caffeine, acidic foods, fried foods did not help at all. I also have ADHD and thought the heartburn might be the result of the low dose stimulant I take. NOPE. It's these stupid capsules. Looks like I will need to call my pharmacist and see if I can get the tablets instead.
Emmielou72
20 April 2022
I take the green and cream fluoxetine 20mg capsules and within 20 minutes have horrible burning sensation and pain in my oesophagus.the pain and burning is so bad I skip days before I have to take them now
erinbogart
4 April 2022
So glad I found this thread. I’ve been taking fluoxetine for more than 20 years - just in the last several years I started to get this problem. Even when taken with a ton of water the pill seemed to get stuck in my throat and open up causing horrific acid reflux. Burning like acid - almost went to the ER. I read through this whole thread and in summary it looks like its worth it to check what generic manufacturer is making your fluoxetine. AURBINDO seems to be the link and problem with the acid reflux. Ask your pharmacy or another pharmacy to only fill your fluoxetine with TEVA or SANDOZ. My pharmacy only has Scie-gen so I’m going to try it and see. Other suggestions were to switch to a tablet; make sure to only drink with cold, cold water as warm can cause it to dissolve to soon causing the acid recluse.
If you are reading this now because YOU ARE IN ABSOLUTE MISERY - try 1 tsp of baking soda mixed in a glass of water sipping slowly for some relief. Then call your pharmacy and figure out how to switch the manufacturer you are taking. Please comment here on what manufacturer you are taking that is causing the problem and which manufacturer you switch too. I feel like this has done serious damage to my throat/espohagus - I now have to take 40 mg nexium daily and even with that this pill stuck - massive acid reflux deal still happens.
erinbogart
3 April 2022
So glad I found this thread - I have been having problems with severe heart burn after 20 mg fluoxetine tablets - I take 2. I already DO drink a ton of water and many times it still happens. It is the absolute worst as someone else mentioned feel like battery acid! I’m definitely going to talk to my pharm about a different manufacture or trying tablet form.
lda76
4 March 2022
I, too, experience extreme heartburn- feels like my esophagus is on fire- when I take Prozac in the morning and also drink coffee. I have recently tried taking it at night with some water and it works for me. It does not seem to affect my sleep either:)
Sushada
4 March 2022
I'm so glad I ran across this post. I've struggled with heartburn for many years now and didn't dream that it could be from the Prozac (I seldom eat rich foods and drink minimal sodas and caffeine.) When I first started taking it, I didn't have any problems. About 10 years ago I started taking the 20mg white tab (Aurobindo) and I've had heartburn ever since. I didn't put two and two together. Recently, I've done some looking into it and ran across this post! I used to take the capsules, (can't even remember what they looked like). But this post has made me realize that it could be the tab so I'll go to the pharmacist tomorrow and ask what my options are. Has anyone had relief from heartburn with changing from the white tab to other brands?
lda76
10 Jan 2022
I just upped my dosage for Prozac and now take an orange and blue capsule. My entire esophagus burns for hours. Today it has lasted all day long. Eating or drinking does not help or further hurt it. Almost feels like spasms now. I’m a little scared- it can’t be good on the inside if I’m hurting this much!
TRIPLEOG60
1 Jan 2022
Thank you for posting this problem. I have had the exact same problem. Another member described the same results from a 40mg generic Prozac that is a blue capsule with A 107 on it. My pharmacist changed me to two 20mg from another drug company and i burn NO MO!
Mishatrend
1 Jan 2022
It isn't heartburn. The Prozac is getting stuck in your throat and hurting your esophagus. This happened to me often before I realized how to prevent it.
Drink cold water before taking the pill so your throat is lubricated and it doesn't stick. Then drink a whole glass of cold water when you actually take the pill. Never dry swallow. Always drink lots of water immediately before and after. Never use warmish water. This will completey solve the problem.
TRIPLEOG60
1 Jan 2022
Pills NEVER get stuck in my throat. The terrible burning starts 45min to one hour after I take THE BLUE A 107. I told my pharmacist and he changed me from THE BLUE 107 or whatever the number is to two 20mg capsules made by another drug company and I haven't had a problem since. It is so nice not to have to deal with that blue capsule. I swear there's battery acid in it.
Lizhassell
22 Dec 2021
So glad I found this thread! I’m laying in bed right now wondering if I need to go to the hospital. The fire in my throat is unbearable almost! It even escalates when I swallow, it feels like fire being pushed back up my throat! I need relief so bad!
TRIPLEOG60
10 Jan 2022
You probably should go to ER. They have something called a GI cocktail. They put lidocaine in it to stop the overwhelming pain and gaviscon and maalox I think. I overdosed myself on pepcid complete. I get migraines when I take too much of that stuff. Anyway I told my pharmacist and he substituted fluoxetine 40mg with fluoxetine 20. I take 2. I made sure the 20mg was made by a different drug company. I have had zero problems with my stomach burning since then. I can even get up and eat a small bowl of cereal and take it with no problem with burning. Another thing you can use for severe burning is baking soda mixed in a little water. That helps for a little while.
TRIPLEOG60
20 Dec 2021
Just checked my prozac pills and they are BLUE A107!! Thanks to everyone that has responded to the original post. This pill has made me more than miserable about 6 times over the past 18 months. I thought eating alot of protein was the answer but tonight I ate plenty of chicken salad and it still caught my stomach and esophagus ON FIRE! Anyone interested in a class action lawsuit against the manufacturer? This can cause ulcerations in our esophaguses that take years to heal.
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- Prozac uses and safety info
- Prozac prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prozac (detailed)
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