Lansoprazole and Headaches: What Users Say

• JPa...
• August 21, 2020

For GERD "I began having GERD during this quarantine. My son, who is an MD, helped me work my way through the OTC remedies, getting little relief, until I landed on lansoprazole. I had a normal first five days, no GERD, then I became VERY ill. I had violent diarrhea for 18 days, nausea, cramping, loss of 7 pounds, headache... even went to the ER because I was feeling so badly. I took a list of my medications and no one mentioned the complications. No one considered the lansoprazole pill. I was told to eat a soft diet: rice, broth, potatoes, etc. I continued to take the pill a few more days, my weight falling, much gurgling, lack of interest in food or life in general, sweeping nausea, and running for the bathroom as many as 15-20 times a day and literally all night. I continued taking the pill until I ran across an article that listed my symptoms, though rare, as caused by the drug. Beware, I had a particularly bad reaction."

• Joh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 30, 2019

For GERD "It all started with heart palpitations, numbness on one side (I sleep on my side), bloody mucus in the nose, headaches, nausea, vertigo, and so on. My fam doc ordered ECG, stress test, etc. After 6-8 months of weekly/biweekly visits, embarrassed to go back to him since he started to think it was all in my head, I went to a random walk-in clinic where a young doctor called it out: silent GERD. Lansoprazole has worked after a few days, and I got reaffirmed that it was not all in my head, there was an underlying problem to my symptoms. After a few months, I stopped taking it, and that's when the heartburn started, so I went back on it. Lansoprazole may almost completely stop acid production or not work at all, so you really have to watch your dosing. At one point, I needed one 30mg in the morning and one in the evening. With it, I am able to eat whatever I want without having to worry about the aftermath. I'm talking hot peppers, sriracha, tomato juice, chocolate milk, etc. Good luck!"

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2022

For GERD "Terrible experience with these. I had overwhelming anxiety with irritability, just couldn't relax, crawling itchy skin, tension headaches, and really painful restless legs. I also had parosmia (weird, unpleasant smells). Was taking for two weeks, and in that time, I got worse and worse. Like everyone, I had zero idea that these would be the culprit of my symptoms. I basically saw it as a common antacid, how could it be these? But it was. Doctors really should be more aware and be up to date on medications they prescribe. Thank God the internet has real information from other users, as I would've just carried on taking them. If your symptoms are what I've mentioned, then stop, you're basically having a reaction on top of the other symptoms. I didn't seek guidance from a doctor as I wasn't up to talking and didn't want the stress of going through the whole appointment and waiting, as post-COVID it's pretty impossible to get an appointment."

• leo...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 15, 2022

Lansoprazole for Duodenal Ulcer "Started taking Prevacid about a month ago. Started off okay, working well enough, but at night it seemed to not be strong enough to last the 24 hours. I was initially on 30 mg, and I would take that just in the morning and night, now I'm taking it in the morning. Now I've been getting severe stomach aches, headaches, and nausea. Felt extremely weak, and the anxiety-induced body pain feels like I've had pots of coffee, with irritation so severe, I just can't take it anymore."

• Kil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 5, 2021

Lansoprazole for NSAID-Induced Gastric Ulcer "I started Prevacid because I needed something to coat my stomach while I took NSAIDs for back pain, costochondritis, and a slipped rib after I had my daughter (I’m small, and she was born big and took a toll on my body - had her when I was 40). It worked for taming the heartburn and indigestion but caused HORRIBLE constipation. I weaned off it, and constipation disappeared, and I had normal bowel movements almost immediately. But the acid rebound was AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL. I have been taking Pepcid and Tums as needed, but they are very short-term solutions. I also have had some weird brain fog/lightheadedness, nausea, headaches, fatigue. I wouldn’t recommend this. It wasn’t worth it in my opinion."

• 14a...
• August 2, 2011

For GERD "It works wonders for the heartburn, but I can't handle the side effects. I have awful diarrhea, vomiting, weight gain, headaches, nausea, and stomach aches. It's not the normal side effects, but I haven't had any heartburn. I'm probably in that >1% that has bad side effects."

• Nik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 15, 2023

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "I have chronic non-erosive gastritis with a lot of symptoms like painful active burping, cramps, and so on. I was prescribed 30 mg of Lansoprazole. I have relief overall from my painful belching, but side effects of cramps, muscle vibrations, tiredness, headaches, and joint pain."

• Azt...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 11, 2021

For GERD "I was feeling sick randomly, it would come on and then go again, no real reason, patterns, or dietary issues that I could find. I lived with it for about 2 months, then it started affecting my ability to actually enjoy myself for fear of constantly feeling sick. It got worse as I started with heavy, mucus-like throat, it was strange how the symptoms changed overnight, but they did seem to. My GP got me onto these tablets, and within 6 hours, I felt absolutely incredible, all of the ill feelings I'd had just vanished away. Don't get me wrong, they return occasionally - but this drug really puts them at bay. The only complaint I have is they cause really powerful headaches for me, paracetamol doesn't seem to touch the pain either. It's a trade-off I can live with, though, to be honest."

• eil...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 19, 2025

For GERD "I had severe reflux. Put on this 15 years ago. I hate it. It works, but I have headaches, dizziness, gas, sometimes lightheaded. Now almost 74, I do not see me ever getting off, though I have tried repeatedly and suffered greatly each time. I wish I had never started this or at least worked early on to substitute, if possible. My late husband was on omeprazole, which I tried, but it didn't work for me."

• hen...
• June 10, 2013

Lansoprazole for GERD "Took first pill yesterday, later on that day, I started feeling lightheaded and dizzy, and by evening, headachy. This morning, I looked at this site and saw that dizziness was one of the side effects."

• Anonymous
• March 5, 2008

Lansoprazole for Stomach Ulcer "I don't know if it helped my condition, but it gave me a mild headache 24/7. That was not an acceptable side effect for me."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 17, 2022

For GERD "Causes horrible headaches. Helps reflux but not worth it. Had to call out of work because side effects lasted so long."