Dexilant and Gas: What Users Say

• Anonymous
• November 7, 2012

For GERD "My Dr. prescribed this after 80mg of Nexium stopped working, but after a week of Dexilant, I'm stopping it because of the awful flatulence and abdominal pain starting about 12 hrs after taking it. So glad to get validation here that others have had similar problems since the patient info says this only happens for a small amount of users."

• kdb...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2013

For GERD "Dexilant seems to work better than Prilosec for me, although my symptoms wax and wane. Some days I feel good, other days, I can tell the medicine isn't working well. Not really sure how that is possible since I take it at the same time every day! I do get horrible gas and diarrhea and always end up stopping the meds for a day or two. However, I recently read that Kefir could help with acid reflux, so I started drinking it. It prevents the horrible gas and diarrhea that the Dexilant causes. One glass a day, and I am good! Now I can take the medicine daily as prescribed and hope that it resolves what is causing my GERD. I highly suggest the Kefir for those not tolerating the medicine otherwise."

• Gas...
• August 13, 2013

For GERD "I've had issues with GERD for a long time and have jumped between a few different medications. First, I started with over-the-counter medications like Prilosec and worked my way along to Nexium. When that failed me, Dexilant was prescribed. For GERD symptoms, Dexilant has kept things well controlled. I've been on it for almost 2 years now. However, during that time, I've experienced a significant increase in gas and abdominal discomfort. Although I've uncovered lactose intolerance and a mild sensitivity to gluten, I still exhibit symptoms, so I'm starting to suspect that Dexilant may be contributing. If it turns out that reducing my intake of Dexilant is the culprit, I may have to choose between well-controlled GERD or Irritable Bowel Syndrome-like symptoms."

• Anonymous
• January 31, 2011

For GERD "Works great for the heartburn. Received a sample from the doctor and took it for 10 days, no problem till day 9/10. Started with terrible abdominal pain, gas, and diarrhea. Still have diarrhea about an hour after I eat and first thing in the morning. Stopped taking the medicine about 5 days ago. Will have to go back to the Protonix and deal with the breakthrough heartburn. The difference between Protonix and Dexilant is that Dexilant has a short-acting and long-acting medication in it to prevent breakthrough heartburn."

• Mrs...
• September 19, 2011

For GERD "I started taking this after it was recommended by a second GI doctor who performed an endoscopic ultrasound in an attempt to determine the cause of my chest pain (recently diagnosed as nutcracker esophagus). I had been on AciPhex for years with excellent results, but Dexilant has been giving me a host of symptoms. My acid reflux has returned, and I have developed severe diarrhea, gas, and bloating that is resistant to all anti-diarrhea medications - both OTC and prescription. Hopefully, I will go back to AciPhex next week. I don't think I can stand this much longer."

• Rel...
• February 24, 2020

For GERD "I was prescribed Dexilant by my gastroenterologist to treat possible GERD, and once I started taking it, I experienced some side effects: gas, dizziness, cramps, liquidy stools, and more seriously, an inflamed gallbladder. Had to have my gallbladder removed, and for three weeks after the surgery, still had all the other side effects. I decided to stop taking the Dexilant after discussing this with my pharmacist, and since then, the watery stools have subsided and the nausea has almost gone. I wouldn't recommend Dexilant to my worst enemy!"

• KyK...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 15, 2016

For GERD "I was prescribed this for GERD caused by gastroparesis. After 1 week, I developed severe abdominal pain, diarrhea, gas, and vomiting. I also felt short of breath, anxious, and dizzy. I stopped this medicine and will never take it again. I would not recommend this medicine to anyone, ever. Wish I could give it a 0."

• Anonymous
• November 2, 2011

For GERD "I have been taking Dexilant for over a year now. I had many of these symptoms for a few months with the gas and bloating, but after a few months of taking it, that has all gone away. I did not have diarrhea or vomiting, but some constipation. I am wonderful every day now unless I don't take it even one day, and then I am miserable again with the heartburn."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2016

For GERD "Dexilant caused diarrhea, IBS, dairy allergy. I was prescribed it for severe heartburn, hiatus hernia, stomach inflammation, and it helped a lot. I stopped taking Dexilant 10 months ago due to severe diarrhea, cramps, nausea, bile, waking in the middle of the night with cramps, and half-hour painful diarrhea, constipation combo, awful cramps, gas. From what I've read on this thread, I'm not alone. I hate to tell those who recently started this that have had these issues with Dexilant, and 10 months off this poison, and I'm still suffering. I now have a dairy allergy. Only after removing dairy from my diet are my severe symptoms relieved. I eat any dairy, and I'm sick again for 2-3 days. Existing IBS is worse than before, now a daily struggle."

• tum...
• February 13, 2011

"I don't know what to call my symptoms. It felt like I had a horse outside and inside simultaneously kicking my ribcage really hard. I was supposed to have had an endoscopy, but the nurse woke me after I had been asleep for less than an hour, and I could not return to sleep, so being thirsty, I drank water, therefore, I could not be put under anesthesia. I am a bit gassy, but so far, I haven't had serious side effects. Let me put it this way: not only did the chest hurt so bad I thought I was having a heart attack, but the acid backed up into my throat on a different night, waking me up out of a sound sleep and feeling like I'd just had a spoonful of sulfuric acid. I was living in fear of this awful pain returning. It was so horrid it made me throw up, and I never throw up. So I've been on the Dexilant about a week now and haven't noticed any side effects I can't live with. My doctor says it will heal my stomach lining, which he believes to have become irritated based on the symptoms I described to him. The chest pains have not come back, and neither has the burning acid in my throat, so maybe, hopefully, it's working."

• Jja...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 17, 2020

For GERD "I moved, got stressed, was started on this, wasn’t really doing much. I went to Zantac, it did better. Then I was put on antidepressants and the trouble began. Worse, so they gave me this drug as the others weren’t working. Then they told me to double it, I felt horrid, gas, muscle pain, it doubled my mental health state. Since then, I’ve had iron issues, stopped the antidepressants as I was so constipated I had to do enemas all of the time. That didn’t solve the problem. My GI doctor said, 'Take Gaviscon, whatever you need on top of it.' Well, I stopped growing hair on my legs, I’m so bloated, nauseous since I have been on meds. I’ve tried to stop the Dexilant, but it comes back worse, the stress from the bloating, muscle pain, dry throat, nausea. When I go to the bathroom, it feels like squeezed, dried air and no relief feeling. Frail and exhausted, this drug makes me dehydrated and sick. Be careful, and not easy to get off."

• Lyn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2019

For GERD "About 18 hours after taking it for the first time, I had terrible gas pains, cramping, and diarrhea. I was hoping this medication would help better with my GERD, but I definitely won't be continuing to take it."

• Sar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 10, 2021

For GERD "I was coughing all the time with GERD. My throat was sore all the time. Wasn't able to eat anything. If I was eating, then it would stay in my stomach for hours and hours. I had gas, vomiting, shortness of breath, and going to the toilet again and again. Then, after trying all the medicines, my family doctor sent me to a specialist who prescribed me Dexilant 30 mg once a day in the morning on an empty stomach. After taking it for about a week, my cough was gone and I began breathing normally. I was feeling like a million dollars."

• Did...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 25, 2022

For GERD "I had severe reactions when taking Pantoprazole, so my doctor put me on Dexilant. After taking one capsule, I felt very spaced out and not with it. Then my left arm started feeling numb and funny, and I got a bad headache and my joints hurt. But then I got pain and gas so bad it puts pressure on the vagus nerve and feels like you're going to die until you release the gas buildup. Looks like my body just can't handle any sort of PPIs. Also, a terrible taste of chemicals in the back of my mouth and lips for a very long time."

• Bri...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2018

For GERD "I take Dexilant 60 mg every other day. Then every other day I’ll take Nexium x 2-20 mg capsules to offset the monthly cost of $295. Now (Dexilant) is lasting me 2 months with the added cost of Nexium @ $22 for 42 pills. It actually works pretty well this way. I’m only blessed with the mild case of wind (farts and burps). Every once in a while I may get the squirts. All that I can deal with. Been taking this kind of mixture of meds for about 3 years now."

• LL2...
• October 12, 2017

For GERD "I had a bad experience with this drug. I have taken Zegrid for years and felt like I may need something stronger. My doctor gave me Dexilant 30 mg samples to try. I experienced nausea, body aches, stomach pain, gas, and excessive burping. On second thought, I will keep using Zegrid! After one day of stopping this medicine, my symptoms went away."

• Anonymous
• September 8, 2010

For Erosive Esophagitis "Worked quickly, but within a short time developed extreme gas problems, and then 5 days of diarrhea and had to stop Dexilant. No more diarrhea or gas, but heartburn and burning is back."

• Anonymous
• March 28, 2011

For GERD "I used to experience a lot of gas due to GERD but not since I've been taking Dexilant."

• Tra...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 10, 2018

For GERD "This medication has helped tremendously with the burning in my stomach and IBS. The only downside is it causes gassiness."