Omeprazole and Brain Fog: What Users Say

• SJa...
• July 23, 2021

For GERD "On omeprazole for 11 days, which 5 years ago & I had all side effects mentioned - anxiety, stomach pain, severe brain fog, etc. I had 3 trips to ER with heart pounding & racing, numerous tests to try to diagnose. It took 6 months to feel 100%. Upped nutrition & made my own rehydration liquid (coconut water, fresh oranges & lemons, etc). I used organic products when possible, wanted as few toxins in my body, exercised, increased vitamins & supplements (B12 & magnesium), and started yoga. Symptoms slowly decreased over the next 6 months - symptoms didn’t cease immediately after stopping. PLEASE don’t lose hope if you are still experiencing symptoms! Stay on a regimen of optimum nutrition & hydration & symptoms will slowly subside over several months. I feel like the poison got into every crevice of my body & invaded tissue & muscles, so took time to flush out. Do NOT let doctors tell you that it’s all in your head, that medication can’t cause these side effects! Wishing everyone hope for recovery & encouragement for a return to normal. It WILL get better:)"

• Dea...
• May 25, 2020

For GERD "I was left on this medication, omeprazole, for around 6 years by my doctor for stomach acid. I am from the UK, so although we have a national health service, it’s a common occurrence not to receive a sufficient level of care. Anyway, I managed to replace the benefits that these tablets did assist with by instead taking vitamins. I stopped taking it 5 months ago, and I cannot put into words how amazing I have felt ever since. Anxiety and depression have lifted enormously! I used to get anxious about the smallest things, such as driving my car or having a certain type of juice in the house. Just the daftest things ever. I’m sleeping better than I ever was. No brain fog, memory, and concentration have increased significantly. I cannot recall a time when my mood has been constantly high throughout my life (32). I truly believe these tablets severely impacted my mental health for all those years, so I strongly advise anyone either taking or thinking about taking them to not bother. Look into natural aids instead!"

• Asi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 10, 2020

For GERD "My acid reflux came back recently, so I went to see a doctor. She prescribed me to take 20mg omeprazole every morning. Three days had passed, and I noticed dizziness, inability to focus, my eyes couldn’t focus on one thing...they always dilated, diarrhea, fatigue, paranoia, anxiety spiked! I took it for exactly six days. My dad told me not to take it anymore, and we’ll soon be headed to the doctor. It works for some, but the reviews that I have been reading are exactly how I feel...if you experience any one of these symptoms, stop taking them immediately! I read that someone had seizures! I wish you all well and will be taking the natural way suggested...baking soda + water, apple cider vinegar, and ginger tea!"

• Don...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 3, 2020

For GERD "I started experiencing tightness in the middle of my chest with constant belching and a pinching stomach pain in my upper right abdomen. Dr. diagnosed me with acid reflux and put me on Prilosec OTC 20mg for 14 days. I just started taking the pills and man... my anxiety was 10x worse. I was anxious, heart racing, nauseated, stomach pain, brain fog, blurred vision and overall I felt like crying and just so awful. Please talk to your doctor for other alternative medicine. I don’t recommend taking these."

• Geo...
• August 29, 2020

For GERD "One night I had too much wine and woke up with stabbing pain between my breasts in the middle. I went to the doctor, got diagnosed with GERD. They prescribed me 40mg of omeprazole. I started taking it, and it helped; a few days later, the stabbing pain was gone. Then I started feeling rib pain and lower sternum pain. The doctor told me it was because of GERD. However, the more I took it, the worse it got. Three weeks after taking this medication, I was in horrendous rib pain all over my upper body, experiencing chest wall pain and could not move. I had to go to the ER, where X-rays and blood tests revealed nothing. I also lost a bunch of weight, had blurry vision, terrible brain fog, warm arms, swollen toes, insomnia, and horrendous body pain. I felt like I could not move. My stool looked like it came out the same way it went in, full of food junks, etc. I stopped taking it, and now a month off of it, the rib pain and all the other side effects are going away. I still have a tiny bit of pain left but feel better. Seriously, what is this medication? Avoid it if you can."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 28, 2022

For GERD "Evil drug!!! Do not take it. It took me over 4 months to get over the side effects, and I still have little lapses to this day, a year later. Not sure what they have done, but it's like they put my whole nervous system on overdrive. Horrible drug. Honestly, I'd rather let the gastric acid do the maximum damage than ever go through that again. Experiencing dizziness, brain fog, eye twitches, muscle spasms randomly all over, more noticeable on the left shoulder and arm. It made me nervous about everything. I was horrible to people, getting very aggressive over nothing, burning and itching of the skin, pins and needles in feet and hands, non-stop congestion, earache, waking up during sleep feeling like I'd stopped breathing. This is probably around half of what I went through, the list is endless."

• Mic...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 14, 2021

For GERD "My daughter was put on these for 14 days. I’ve never seen someone change so dramatically. By her last day of taking them, she was pacing her room saying she felt like she was going to die and that something bad was going to happen. She has never suffered with anxiety before or panic attacks. Brain fog, shooting pains in her head, can't stop crying. It’s been 4 weeks since she stopped these, and she is really struggling. She is taking extra vitamins and eating but is desperate to know how long this is going to last. She has gone from being an outgoing girl to not leaving the house. Any advice appreciated. Her doctor has prescribed antidepressants, but she’s reluctant to take these as she has never needed them before."

• Fam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 13, 2021

For GERD "I've been taking this pill for 3 weeks. Started to feel dizziness, headache, and lightheaded. Loss of appetite, chills, tingling, brain fog, and feels like being drunk all the time. Has been hit hard. Off the meds for 3 weeks. And still feel woozy and drunk. The meds haven't worn off yet. Anyone know what to do at the moment?"

• Jac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 12, 2021

For GERD "Took 40 mg once a day before breakfast. Noticed some anxiety on Day 5. By Day 11, I was completely exhausted. I had brain fog, weight loss, nausea, blurry vision, and extreme anxiety. It has been 3 weeks since I quit this medicine. Brain fog has subsided, however, anxiety keeps coming and going. Hang in there, stay tough. This medicine will take its course and time to wash out completely from your system. I am hoping to fully recover in the near future. Exercise and stay positive."

• tob...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 18, 2021

For Hiatal Hernia "DO NOT TAKE UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES!!!!! I have lost 7 months of my life to this drug. I was at a loose end and wanted everything to be over!! I went from a man enjoying his life to a severely depressed and unhappy person. The omeprazole prescribed for my heartburn, unknowingly to me, gave me crippling anxiety, depression, dizziness, brain fog, feeling like I was going to blackout constantly, helplessness, crying.. you name it!! I stopped the Omeprazole 4 days ago and wow, I feel like a new man back to my old self! No depression, no anxiety... WOW!! Please avoid this awful drug at all costs!!!"

• J R...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 7, 2021

For GERD "Absolutely awful, dangerous, one of the worst experiences of my life. It is finally time to share my story in hopes it helps others not go through this. I waited until the nightmare was 100% over and that garbage was out of my system. I was prescribed 80mg per day of Omeprazole on June 11, 2021, and took that amount daily for 7 weeks. In late July, I had severe mental fog, insane anxiety, near-impossible ability to drive, often felt like I would pass out driving. This nightmare continued for exactly 2 months after going cold turkey off that garbage. 2 months of being terrified to drive, feeling awful, hugging the berm, going under the speed limit, fearing for my life. If your doctor tells you there are no side effects with this drug like mine did, they are full of you-know-what. Please think of alternate solutions. This can wreck your life and others, literally. Big Pharma won't want you to know that. I highly recommend you do not go through this and find healthy solutions."

• sum...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 10, 2020

For GERD "I suffer from extreme chest pain related to GERD-induced esophageal spasms. Omeprazole is the only medicine that I've been given that can even come close to alleviating my reflux and therefore my pain. The problem though is that this medication makes me so sick I can hardly function. It causes nausea, dizziness, brain fog, muscle fatigue, and eventually leads to a kind of painful swelling lump feeling at the base of my throat that can be highly distracting. It's horrible but so is the chest pain from reflux. So, when the pain gets unbearable, I take the Omeprazole and stop when it makes me sick (usually around day 8 or 9), then I quit the medication until the chest pain again becomes unbearable. It's a vicious, awful, horrible cycle between pain and illness. If you can avoid this medication, do!"

• Kee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 4, 2020

For GERD "I've given by my MD this worst medicine! 2 weeks consumed it. On the 10th or 11th days, I feel brain fog, my upper and lower back feel so painful. Anxiety got higher. It has been a month already since I stopped it, the side effects are still in my body. Seriously, whatever PPI kind of medicine... Do not ever take it."

• Ddm...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 11, 2020

For Barrett's Esophagus "So I was prescribed this medication by my GI doctor after having an endoscopy and colonoscopy in July. He said I have Barrett’s Esophagus. I have never really realized I had heartburn very often, and if I did, I would just take a few Tums. I started on this omeprazole in August. Since that time, I have started having side effects of stiff joints, brain fog, dizziness, extreme anxiety, and heart palpitations. I ended up in the ER a few weeks ago because I honestly thought I was having a heart attack. My potassium was high, which has never been an issue before. After researching to try to figure out what was going on, I came across these reviews and, boy, let me tell you, it sounded just like me! This stuff is just awful! I don’t know what to do because I know I’m supposed to be on it, but everything you research as an alternative med for this seems to have the same effects! Needless to say, my GI doctor thinks I’m crazy because he’s never heard of these symptoms happening! Think it might be time to find a new doctor!"

• lul...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 19, 2020

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "I had a positive test for the Helicobacter and got told to take 2 loads of antibiotics (metronidazole and clarithromycin) along with omeprazole. I have felt so ill with all of this meds, but I carried on to finish the course to eliminate the bacteria. I finished the antibiotics on Tuesday, the 18th of August, but got told to carry on with my omeprazole twice daily. This tablet made me feel so ill with chills, dizziness, lack of appetite, brain fog, confusion, heart palpitations, tingling in my arms and legs, adrenaline at night, so I used to be woken up with my heart racing for no reason, insomnia, very emotional, low mood, my skin completions has gone yellow/pale, and a knot in my throat. I stopped taking this because of the side effects, and I hope by reading all the comments on here that the symptoms will go away and hopefully will get better soon."

• Swi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 1, 2020

For Indigestion "Omeprazole caused extreme anxiety, feeling like my life is a struggle, panic attacks, weight loss (10 kg in 5 weeks), palpitations, chest and arm pain on the left side, brain fog, weakness and chills in legs and arms, dizziness, nausea, general fatigue, numbness, flatulence, joint pain (hip) after gentle walks, forgetfulness, fear of eating. I have stopped cold turkey after having come across reviews of Omeprazole and Protonix, which I took as well. Took Omeprazole for 2 weeks, got these symptoms, told the doctor who changed the med to be pantoprazole (Protonix). The last 2.5 months or so have been the worst of my life so far, it has taken a toll on my family and work life too. The doctor thought I might need antidepressants given all the anxiety, but after around a week or so of stopping these, I am starting to feel a bit better. So, I am not going to take anti-anxiety related meds. It is a vicious cycle, PPIs cause depression, and then you take depression meds that are difficult to stop!"

• woo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 21, 2020

For GERD "I had chest pains, thought I'd pulled a muscle, so took ibuprofen, which gave me terrible indigestion. I went to the doctor's, he gave me omeprazole. It worked wonders for about 3 days, then I started feeling sick. My body felt like it was shocking, I was cold, couldn't sleep, and I had terrible brain fog. I stopped taking it for 2 days, but heartburn was awful, so I started taking it again. I was prescribed 20 mg twice a day, so I thought I would just take one tablet in the morning. I was okay the first day, but by the second, all the horrible symptoms were back. I've been back to the GP, and he has given me Cimetidine instead. This was great for the first day, but by day 2, I felt so ill again. These meds are awful."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2021

For GERD "Was put on 20 mg of this for about 2 1/2 months after experiencing intense daily heartburn and acid reflux. I had taken it before for only a week, and it helped, so the doctor prescribed it again. I have never felt what has been happening to me before. I stopped in May, and it is now the end of September. Anxiety, shortness of breath, joint pain, brain fog, and inability to focus my thoughts. Feeling unable to control my thoughts. Nausea, discomfort, fear, and hopelessness. When I first stopped, symptoms would be gone for a few days, then back. Around August, I would go weeks without symptoms, but about a week before my period, they would start coming back. Began seeing a functional medicine doctor who provided me with vitamin D, a trace mineral supplement, and iron, which I started taking in August. So afraid this is going to happen for the rest of my life, and I am a single mother. Any other woman experience an uptick in their symptoms around their period? This is a terrifying way to feel."

• Jac...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 19, 2021

For GERD "Was put on 20 mg of this for about 2 1/2 months after experiencing intense daily heartburn and acid reflux. I had taken it before for only a week, and it helped, so the doctor prescribed it again. I have never felt what has been happening to me before. I stopped in May, and it is now the end of September. Anxiety, shortness of breath, joint pain, brain fog, and inability to focus my thoughts. Feeling unable to control my thoughts. Nausea, discomfort, fear, and hopelessness. When I first stopped, symptoms would be gone for a few days, then back. Around August, I would go weeks without symptoms, but about a week before my period, they would start coming back. Began seeing a functional medicine doctor who provided me with vitamin D, a trace mineral supplement, and iron, which I started taking in August. So afraid this is going to happen for the rest of my life, and I am a single mother. Any other woman experience an uptick in their symptoms around their period? This is a terrifying way to feel."

• SCR...
• February 27, 2019

For GERD "This medication at 20 mg was enough to relieve the symptoms of GERD, but for months, I started to suffer with symptoms I've never really experienced - anxiety, major lack of concentration, brain fog, aching on days where I had done no physical training. I have come off the medication for 2 weeks and already started feeling better, and the side effects have disappeared. I have changed my diet to combat the GERD effects, although this hasn't completely solved it, I also take a good multivitamin now. The medication was not worth the side effects."

• Nig...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2022

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "This drug gave me some of the worst experiences of my life. I was prescribed this drug (15 mg twice a day) for mild acid reflux/gastritis symptoms. The side effects of this medicine are awful. Depression, anxiety, panic attacks, chest and back pain, shaking, burning sensation in arms and back. My vision went blurry, and I had severe brain fog. I felt like I was about to die pretty much the entire time with chest racing and strong heartbeats. I couldn't sleep and would wake up pretty much as soon as I fell asleep. I stopped taking these tablets 3 weeks ago, and still I am not right. I can feel the cloud of these tablets slowly lifting. I would not take these tablets again."

• Ara...
• November 25, 2021

For Stomach Ulcer "After 2 months of using this drug, I had symptoms of fatigue, brain fog, confusion, and loss of appetite, and I felt that I was not alone at all, along with depression, severe anxiety, and muscle spasms. This drug is awful, and its side effects can last for months, even months, even after quitting. Avoid it if you can. It ruined my life."

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 16, 2021

For Indigestion "Took this medicine for 8 days. On the third day, started to feel awful. Brain fog, high anxiety, and depression. Blurry vision and a tingly feeling in hands and feet. I have now been off of it for 5 days and feeling like I’m losing my mind. I can’t work. I’m going to check my B12 levels tomorrow to determine if I am deficient. I hope this passes or eases up soon because I can barely even sleep. I thought it was a reaction to my first vaccine (Pfizer) until a friend told me omeprazole did this to him as well. What an awful drug. I’d recommend an all-natural remedy over this any day."

• har...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 6, 2022

For GERD "I've been on this drug for a few years now for acid reflux. I've never felt completely well since I've been on it and wondered why my life had spiraled downhill. Thought it was just an age thing, so I just kept taking it. Now reading these reviews, I know why I haven't felt well now. I always have acid reflux and feel it in my throat, so that's why I always have taken them. In the last few weeks, I have felt really rough with it. Nausea, daily aches and pains in all my bones, anxiety, which I have NEVER suffered with, sinus and filled ears, numbness and tingling in my arms, brain fog, which worried me a little as I work with dementia patients. Still, I didn't think it was omeprazole doing it. I feel sick every morning after taking it, so I didn't take one this morning and have felt completely different today, fingers crossed. I'm going to try a small amount of diluted bicarb and natural things from now on. It just goes to show how these drugs and similar can pull your life to pieces."

• Ddm...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 10, 2021

For Barrett's Esophagus "I keep trying it because the doctor says I “need it,” but since I’ve taken it, it’s just made me feel like complete garbage. I didn’t even know I had reflux until I had the endoscopy done. Well, I had Barrett’s, even worse than regular GERD, but nonetheless. Ever since taking it, I have had dizziness, been overly anxious, brain fog, some muscle pain, and just exhausted. I had an undiagnosed autoimmune disease, so I was chalking it up to that, but I don’t think that’s the case at all. As soon as I started taking this is when I noticed. The only good thing it may have done is lowered my %EOS, but I can’t even say for sure if this is why. I don’t know, but this sure has me just stuck with what to do. I would recommend trying something different if you can and not taking this. Not to mention the long-term side effects-yuck! Scary stuff!"