Omeprazole and Anxiety: What Users Say (Page 4)

• And...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 30, 2019

For Indigestion "I have been experiencing extreme anxiety, depression, confusion, nausea, and muscle spasms for a while now. I have been visiting my GP and haven't been able to find a cause. I have just found this page and now realize that omeprazole may be the cause, I never thought it could be the cause because it seemed to help so much at first. Just hope stopping, I can finally get back to normal."

• Tir...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 19, 2021

For GERD "I’ve been on omeprazole for two years. First at 40 mg a day, then 80 mg a day. Recently, I’m having huge amounts of anxiety and depression, so bad it’s difficult for me to get out of bed at times. I can be driving down the road, and a huge rush comes over me like a massive hot flash, tightening of the chest, it only lasts for seconds. I’ve tried coming off of this medication, even weaning myself off, but the side effects begin to intensify when I do. I also have a hiatal hernia and IBS/GERD. No matter what you do, do not take this medication. I don’t know what normal is going to be like when I try to come off of it again."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 24, 2019

For Laryngopharyngeal Reflux "Omeprazole is highly effective in helping with reflux issues. No more agonizing sore throats and congestion in sinuses. However, I do feel it has raised my anxiety considerably, and brain fog is noticeable. I have also suffered from muscle twitching/jolts. All these symptoms started a couple of months after I started the omeprazole."

• MW2...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 13, 2022

For GERD "I got diagnosed with severe acid reflux in June of 2022 (a condition that I knew I had but just chose to ignore for a long time). They did a battery of tests and decided the best path forward would be to take omeprazole. I would say by the 2nd day I started having the side effects: severe brain fog, anxiety attacks, tingling in arms and legs, restlessness... it was awful. But when I told both my PCP and my gastroenterologist, neither of them connected any dots back to omeprazole, so they both added more drugs for me to take. This lasted for weeks. I thought I was going crazy, and nothing was helping to relieve the symptoms. So I eventually started looking online and found this blog, and I stopped taking it immediately. I printed out these pages to show both of my doctors so that when someone else complained of these things while taking that drug, maybe they will remember my case. It's been about a month now, and the symptoms have gotten much better, but they are not gone."

• Tri...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 15, 2021

For GERD "I started taking omeprazole 5 years ago for my GERD symptoms. Let me start with saying this drug is very effective at stopping heartburn. You take it once a day in the morning, and wham, heartburn gone. I was prescribed the 20 mg delayed-release pills. I took them almost every day for 5 years. However, over a period of time, I started to develop daily anxiety, brain fog, difficulty keeping my eyes focused on one thing, and mood swings. My mental quality of life really took a nosedive. I even had several panic attacks over the years. It never occurred to me that my heartburn medication could be causing these symptoms. So I tried everything... magnesium, CBD, exercise, getting good sleep, changing my diet, nootropics, went to a therapist, etc. My anxiety was the worst symptom. I was worried about driving my car, my daily activities at work, even going to the grocery store! I stopped taking this drug, and it is all slowly going away. Save yourself 5 years by not taking this drug!"

• Lil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 2, 2017

For GERD "Please read my review, it may help you. I was on ranitidine 150 mg x 2 per day for four months that failed to work. It was the most awful drug I think anyone could have taken. At first, my acid reflux at the time was so bad it was giving me sinusitis, panic attacks, sweaty palms, headaches, heart palpitations. When someone says acid reflux does not give you the above, they are talking rubbish, it does, and here's how I know. Ranitidine gave me insomnia and anxiety, it was evil, to put it politely. In desperation, I went to A&E and to the walk-in clinic. They said I must have a problem with my heart as it was beating so fast. Omeprazole works, and the best brand is LORAC, it is blue and white. Google it and specifically ask for it. xx"

• Man...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 21, 2019

For GERD "A few years back, I was having my first acid attack where I was nonstop belching and experiencing chest pressure relieved by burping. The doctor prescribed me a 2-week dose of 20 mg omeprazole. It worked like a charm, and I was able to go back to eating normal things. It’s been a few years, and for whatever reason, I had an attack again. I self-medicated my 2-week dose, as it had helped last time. Unfortunately, I only had a week of relief until the lump in my throat came back. This time I’ve been experiencing major anxiety as well as arm pain and constipation. Reading these other comments helped me realize I wasn’t crazy and that this is affecting me. I was also very nauseous one night. I am about 1 week into another 2-week course as instructed by my doctor due to the return of symptoms. I’m thinking I will stick it out due to the relief of my reflux."

• Nan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 5, 2019

For GERD "I’m on day two of omeprazole 10 mg. My heartburn for the past month was just horrible. I lived on Tums. I notice stomach pain and shakiness and anxiety. A bit depressed too. My heartburn is better, but which is worse, the heartburn or the anxiety and other side effects? I was on Prevacid for five years until I was diagnosed with severe liver fibrosis. Not even a drinker or diabetic. I didn’t realize how good I felt off of that, especially with the anxiety, till it was out of my system. So I’m at a point of what to do now? Hoping these side effects will go away with time:/"

• Anonymous
• January 18, 2022

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "Been on this drug for 14 days now, it sure helped with my stomach acid. I felt relief after 3 days, but then I started having anxiety, headaches, diarrhea, brain fog, my eyesight was going out of focus. I literally have been calling off work because of this drug. Beware."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 6, 2022

For GERD "Horrible pills, they were fine the first couple of days, then on the 4th or 5th day, started to cause loss of appetite, dizziness, faintness, weakness, trembling, shakiness, a lot of stomach problems, anxiety, had swelling in my throat as well, and some days I can't get up because of it making me so sick. This is awful, and doctors should not allow us to take this! Worse thing I've ever gone through. I’m on my 15th day where I’m trying to lower my dosage to only 1 tablet a day to eventually go off them, hopefully I don’t get bad withdrawals."

• Lis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 6, 2019

For Indigestion "I've had heartburn for a while now that I'm 43 years old. Nothing serious, but it doesn't look nice. I'm originally from Russia, so I hoped that amazing American doctors with high salaries and exorbitantly priced pills would definitely solve the minor condition problem. Not at all! The second day of omeprazole, I felt more nervous than usual, but I thought it was just one of those days. Second day - sweating, panic attack, and almost burst into tears in a restaurant over bad American sushi. Could be funny, but third day - cooking dinner in the kitchen and crying! That all is not typical for me. I'm grateful for this site because I can repeat after one of the reviewers here - THIS IS POISON. I'm off omeprazole and not going back to the primary care physician who prescribed it. We paid $7 and insurance $100 for this garbage!"

• spk...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 7, 2020

For Duodenal Ulcer "I had slight burning pain in an area that my doctor thought was an ulcer or gastritis. It was radiating a bit to my back. Doctor prescribed omeprazole, 40 mg for a month, 20 mg for another month, 10 mg for the third month. Initially, it seemed to help, but I developed mild side effects that kept getting worse: flatulence, slight nausea, loss of appetite, tightness at the bottom of the rib cage, jitteriness, intermittent loose bowels and constipation, malaise, fatigue, increase in heartbeat upon moving, and toward the end, brain fog. I still had slight burning intermittently in the duodenum area. I’d planned to go off it soon anyway, but two days ago I realized that my life had become a misery and maybe it was the drug that was causing it! I’ve been off it for two days and I have improvement so far. If I had it to do over again, I absolutely would not take it for more than a month. Ridiculous drug."

• Ala...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 17, 2022

For Hiatal Hernia "Omeprazole did reduce and control heartburn symptoms very quickly, but the side effects that I suffered subsequently were eventually unacceptable, so I stopped taking the drug. These included constant feelings of anxiety, an arrhythmic heartbeat, and occasional dizziness. I changed my diet to reduce heartburn symptoms. Less fat, less bread, less sugar, less carbs generally. Smaller portions. More fruit and vegetables. Giving in to temptation usually ended with a need to take antacids."

• Mel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 5, 2019

For Stomach Ulcer "I was prescribed this drug as I was suffering from stomach pain while taking ibuprofen for a dental abscess. I took 3 doses over 3 days and then stopped it, as I was suffering from chest, shoulder, and arm pain, anxiety, tearfulness, raised blood pressure and pulse, and extreme heartburn, which I do not usually suffer from. I also felt extremely unwell. One week later, I am beginning to feel better, although still suffering from heartburn. This drug obviously does not suit me."

• dxb...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 10, 2022

For GERD "Was prescribed 40 mg of Omeprazole for 'possible' GERD. A few hours after the first dose, I felt hot flashes. Over the next few days, the hot flashes/face flushing with tingles and sweats ramped up, followed by severe anxiety. On day 4, I had a massive panic attack out of nowhere that lasted 2 hours. I normally don't get anxious, so this feeling was definitely not me. By day 5, I was having anxiety, panic attacks, sweats, hot flashes with face tingles, but add in complete loss of appetite and bad insomnia with night sweats. I really thought something very serious was going on with me. I went to the emergency room, and they ran several tests that all came back fine?!? They said it was general anxiety disorder. A week before I consumed this poison, I was a totally normal happy person. I took it for 3 more days, not making a connection until I Googled Omeprazole and was blown away by all the people having very similar reactions. I have been off it a week. Anxiety has subsided, but symptoms still remain."

• SLa...
• July 5, 2021

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "I had severe nausea and hunger pains, started taking Prilosec OTC, began to slowly help, and my stool became a little off. The doctor said gastritis/GERD, 40 mg omeprazole prescription, 30 days' worth. Within a couple of days, it went downhill, every trip to the bathroom was terrifying, had strange-colored stool, strange texture, was so much undigested food and mucus I thought I had something else and was dying. Not to mention the anxiety this medicine gave me was horrifying, would have insane panic attacks before bed, and every time the side effects hit, I would nearly have a stroke, my heart was racing so fast with nervousness. Various places in my stomach would burn and throb at various times, pain in my lower right abdomen and behind my ribs. I would have a sharp pain through my ribs and back that felt like all my organs were being destroyed right in front of me."

• Sar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 30, 2022

For GERD "I’ve been taking omeprazole on and off for years. When I first started taking it, I was on it for maybe over a year, then stopped. Then would just take it on occasion if I had symptoms. I started taking it again recently as I had symptoms of pressure in the middle of my chest and heartburn. The doctor told me I should be taking it every day for at least 3-4 weeks. I have been suffering from heart palpitations on and off for years and anxiety, and now I know why! When these side effects started getting really bad all of a sudden, I was taking these every day, and recently I looked up these reviews. I’m so glad I did. My anxiety has been through the roof, and heart palpitations are back again! Doctors always told me heart palpitations are not the meds and could be from gastritis and GERD! I’ll definitely be doing the natural cures now I’ve seen of baking soda in water and apple cider vinegar with water, and the occasional Rennie tablets!"

• PR1...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2021

For GERD "Taken omeprazole 40 mg once a day for GERD for 16 days, and I felt my anxiety got worse on the 14th day! I felt like every little thing could make me anxious. On the 2nd day I stopped the medication, my anxiety got better from a whole day of anxiety, going to around 20 to 30 minutes for the entire day. On the 3rd day I had much less anxiety. I hope stopping this medication gets rid of my anxiety completely. Though it made me cough less, it's not worth the side effects. I will try to take natural remedies for GERD."

• Mik...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 30, 2019

For GERD "Just found this site today, and I agree omeprazole has made my heartburn go away, but the dizziness and worse than usual anxiety has got me saying no more. I barely drank very much alcohol, and the next day had a hangover way worse than I should have, and every morning I'm nauseous for 2 or 3 hours, so I think this stuff is no good. Zantac 175 seems to do the acid trick, so guess I'll stick with that."

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2019

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "I mean, I completely won’t knock omeprazole. It works. This is my second time dealing with gastritis and my second time taking omeprazole for it. Yes, omeprazole has side effects, and I know it’s from the drug because it’s been the same feeling both times. (Slight chest pain, trapped gas, dizziness, slightly elevated heart rate upon motion, and general unwell feeling). However, when compared to the worst side effects I get from gastritis (no appetite, constant nausea, cannot eat, I get severe anxiety that comes with it), the ones from the omeprazole definitely don’t seem so bad. I take it until I’m eating normally again and my stomach has healed, then I discontinue it. Usually about 3-4 weeks. All I can say is, yes, the side effects suck, but everyone’s different. My grandmother has been taking it for years for GERD and has zero adverse effects. Give it a shot, the worst it can do is not work for you."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• January 13, 2022

For Indigestion "The worst experience of my life, this drug. I was prescribed 40 mg per day. Was completely healthy all my life. No issues. All was OK for a few weeks until I started getting sensations of what I now know as anxiety. Tinnitus started then, and I started to feel I had constant kidney problems. Went off these cold turkey, and then the symptoms escalated. Severe weight loss over a 6-week period to the extent I had a biopsy. Could not eat solid foods for about 4 weeks. Kidneys were under huge pressure and had 4 antibiotics for infection. Jolting out of sleep at night, body tremors. Depression, never had anything like this in my life. I am now just over 6 months off of these toxic substances and am almost back to myself. The weight stayed off, but I can eat healthily now. I upped vitamin intake. I have researched this, and whatever these contain seems to work on the whole system - to the organs of the body and neurologically as well. Horrific and avoidable experience."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 20, 2021

For GERD "Omg, where do I even start? I got an endoscopy, and the doctor said I have acid reflux and H. pylori. I was prescribed omeprazole (August 2020). It was okay for the first few weeks, then out of nowhere, I started belching nonstop, and I still do to this day. It caused me heart palpitations, headaches, brain fog, anxiety, depression, extreme weight loss. I stopped it and started taking anxiety medications. Everything is all good, then I just, 3 days ago (December 17, 2021), I wanted to try it one more time just because I had heartburn and acid reflux very badly, and it worked good the first day. 2nd day, same symptoms, never again in my life. Ever. Now we all know the reason why we all have the same problems. I went back to my GI doctor several times complaining. What did he do? Upped the dosage. OMG, never again."

• Fir...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 24, 2022

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "My dose is 40 mg twice a day for 10 days for H. pylori along with Pylera. Ok for the first 5 days, then lightheadedness and just got worse from there on with brain fog and anxiety. Changed to pantoprazole 40 mg twice a day at day 8 of Pylera. It is now the 5th day since I stopped the pantoprazole and Pylera. I have had an extreme exacerbation of my anxiety. Triggered by little things, even just the telephone ringing or a text message pinging, my heart beating very hard. No appetite. I get up from the chair and walk around and have to sit down to rest until my heart stops pounding, then can't get up to answer the phone because my heart is pounding again and tingling arms and legs. I was sure it was all the meds I took as I have no anxious feelings, just panicky symptoms. Doctor said I need Lexapro. This is not the same as my anxiety in the past, and I am already feeling better, so I think all the meds are wearing off at last. I thought all the negative reviews were fake until now. Not worth the side effects."

• Geo...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 8, 2022

For GERD "Do NOT take this medication! I've been on it on and off for a while, but recently I've been on it full-time due to having to take antibiotics and other medication which affected my GERD. They do work for GERD, but at what cost? I've got awful insomnia, dizziness, muscle cramps, feel shaky, and extremely anxious. It's no coincidence. I mentioned to my GP about bone fractures and long-term use as I have osteoporosis, she just said, well, people are on them long-term! What an answer. They don't care. My mother was also on omeprazole and kept getting pneumonia, I again mentioned it to her GP about the connection with PPIs and pneumonia. He said he had never heard of it, but she can stop them. She did and never got pneumonia again! Slippery Elm is very good and a natural herb, try it, guys, what have you got to lose? We have to manage our own health, I'm afraid. Doctors are too busy. I have given it two as it did help with GERD, but it also comes back when you stop it, never again."

• Sil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 8, 2022

"I saw a GP because I was worried about shortness of breath and a sensation of a lump in my throat. Based purely on this, I was prescribed omeprazole. Worst thing I have ever done. A few days on omeprazole, I developed severe reflux, heartburn, and a throat red raw burnt by the acid coming up at night. Saw another GP who switched me to pantoprazole 40 mg (to treat the symptoms I believe were caused by omeprazole). After a few days, my throat was so burnt I thought I had throat cancer. Saw another different GP who upped my pantoprazole to 80 mg and recommended a FODMAP diet. Heartburn is improved, providing I eat a bland diet (potato, bread, more potato, more bread...), but I am unable to lay down to sleep as the acid comes prickling up. Abdominal pain and tingling. Heart palpitations. Extreme anxiety and panic attacks. I'm living in a nightmare because of omeprazole. I truly believe I should never have been given it. Going back to GP to beg for a referral to a specialist."