Pantoprazole and Fatigue: What Users Say

• Ann...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 28, 2020

For GERD "I took this pantoprazole for less than 24 hours, and I have to say it was not a good experience. I had heart racing, massive headache, an odd tingling sensation, shortness of breath, excessive fatigue, dry mouth, and anxiety. I’m feeling slightly better this morning, but woke up feeling dehydrated despite drinking my weight in fluids yesterday. I will say I had a reaction to another similar medication to this as well, which is why I switched to this one, so I don’t know if my body is just sensitive to these types of meds or what. I will never take these or anything like it again, and I’m surprised that they get away with saying reactions are rare when clearly that’s not true. I started taking a probiotic, and that has helped so far I think. Just hoping it didn’t do any long-term damage."

• Jen...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 7, 2018

Pantoprazole for GERD "I have both IBS and Gastritis. Protonix has been a complete game changer for me. Without it, I have chronic nausea, difficulties tolerating food, vomiting, low energy, and headache. My days were very difficult prior to being prescribed this med. I feel incredibly better."

• Lpe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 9, 2021

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "Can anyone tell me how long the side effects last from this medicine? I took it for 12 days. During the second week, I started waking up crying and feeling depressed every morning. I have more anxiety. I started having stomach pain, and one day I had severe nausea. Also, I was dealing with some loss of appetite, and that’s gotten worse. I also experienced brain fog and extreme exhaustion and fatigue, like I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I think that PPIs can be extremely dangerous for some people. How can a medicine that’s supposed to heal bring so much destruction to your body? Ugh. I want to figure out something natural to take."

• Car...
• March 7, 2014

For GERD "Pantoprazole helped with the acid reflux. My problem started four years into taking it. For months, I experienced flu-like symptoms such as muscle and joint aches, diarrhea, weakness, and extreme fatigue. After MANY tests were done, I was told that I was vitamin D deficient. I know that any meds that control stomach acid also block the absorption of vitamins and things your body needs. I stopped taking Pantoprazole and was put on prescription vitamin D. After just one week, I felt like a new person. I cut out foods that bother my stomach and cut my portions in half. I may have to chew a Tums once in a while, but I feel great. So watch how long your doctor has you on this drug. It took four years to have the side effects that I had."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 20, 2016

For GERD "I have been on 40 mg twice a day for 2 weeks. I can't shake this awful headache. Then a week ago, I woke up feeling as though I was hit with the flu. Body hurting all over, severe headache, restless, no energy, cotton mouth to the extreme, no appetite. Been so sick haven't even noticed if the medicine is actually working for what I am taking it for. Went to the doctor, tested me for flu, pneumonia, strep, you name it, and found nothing. Pain is unbelievable and continuous. Stopped taking the medicine yesterday and showing huge signs of improvement. I will stick to my bottle of Tums a day over that horrific pain. Not worth it. Heartburn is painful, but at least I can go about my day with it. This medicine I couldn't even get out of bed."

• had...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 1, 2019

For GERD "I also took pantoprazole for GERD, it caused me dizziness, fatigue, and when I was told to take it twice a day, I started getting a burning rash all over my body. It's been a week and I am still having side effects from not taking this anymore."

• Fuz...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 19, 2019

For Helicobacter Pylori Infection "Been on pantoprazole for about 2 months now. Have an almost constant headache with varying degrees of pain plus lots of burping. Hate this drug. Will be so glad to get off of it. Also extremely fatigued with no energy."

• Fay...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 26, 2020

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "Lots of negative experiences on here, but these drugs clearly work well for some people. Unfortunately, I don’t get on with any of the PPIs, and this pantoprazole one was the doctor’s last try. I get joint pain, fatigue, dizziness, and low mood with PPIs, but this one gives me abdominal cramps too. It does the job on the stomach issues but isn’t worth putting up with the side effects, so it’s back to the H2 blockers for me. A word of caution-take note of the warning on the drug info regarding B12 and magnesium malabsorption. I supplemented with these and felt better for doing so."

• Nur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2023

For Laryngopharyngeal Reflux "Horrible medication. A pulmonologist ordered this because he suspected reflux, and it made me feel fatigued and bloated, made me retain so much water, as well as caused anxiety and depression. I took it for three weeks, and my symptoms got worse. Within three days of stopping, all of these adverse side effects went away. Will not be using this again."

• DIM...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• July 21, 2022

For GERD "Was prescribed pantoprazole 9 years ago while pregnant. While this pill did eliminate my heartburn issues, it caused extreme fatigue, anxiety, depression, debilitating lightheadedness, muscle cramps, vitamin deficiency (D, iron, magnesium, and calcium specifically), and probably more issues that I'm unaware of. I've seen every doctor imaginable in the past 6 years: cardio, gastro, bariatric, ENT, ob-gyn, therapist, psych, regular GP, general surgeons, respiratory, sleep lab, you name it. Not one could tell me why I feel so awful all the time. Everything checks out medically, I have 0 issues besides needing to lose 40 lbs. I came across a thread on Reddit regarding anemia and PPI use, this opened up a giant rabbit hole for me. I started reading everything I could about this drug and didn't like what I saw. I stopped taking it cold turkey 4 weeks ago. I have never felt better. I finally feel like the old me again. I cannot believe this pill is what was causing my downfall for so long."

• Dis...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 24, 2016

For GERD "I've been on Protonix for 2 weeks and feel awful. I have high-pitched ringing in my ears, headaches, a lot of fatigue, and constantly feel like there is a lump in my throat that is very uncomfortable. I just feel beat up and wiped out! Saw Dr., but she found nothing. Didn't look down throat very well, though. Hate not knowing if it's Protonix, but worried about stopping it to see."

• Dev...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 7, 2021

For GERD "I started taking this once daily for GERD for a total of 30 days. On day 1, I felt like the room was spinning, but that got better after the first day. Every other day since then, I’ve experienced very low energy, brain fog, and exhaustion from the smallest physical activity (and I’m a very active and fit person); these sensations have led to panic and anxiety. I went to my doctor, and a blood test came back normal; the doctor said the symptoms I was describing weren’t related to this medication, but I didn’t remember feeling this way prior to taking these meds. I’ve experienced ringing in my ears, a bloated belly, and sugar cravings. My GERD is gone, but if it comes back, I will ask my doctor for an alternative option for treatment."

• can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 18, 2017

For Stomach Ulcer "Hopefully, it will cure the ulcers and torn-up stomach caused by antibiotics due to infection from a kitten bite. The side effects are awful: tired, burps, insomnia, fever, headaches, loss of appetite, belching, bloated, fatigue, drowsiness, tired feeling, and stomach upset. I'm on other medications, and my depression is worse, but not sleeping or feeling well adds to it. Not sure if it's connected, but I have so many canker sores on my tongue, my throat hurts."

• jam...
• December 6, 2017

For GERD "My gastro prescribed me 40 mg of pantoprazole once a day with Itropride. Tried it for 7 days. It gave me relief and feels like I'm totally healed. However, it gave me severe constipation, which resulted in hemorrhoids. It gave me a headache and fatigue as well. He then changed it to ranitidine, but it does not help at all. He then gave me Dafflon for my hemorrhoids and got healed. I will not try this product again."

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 23, 2022

For Erosive Esophagitis "I have been on pantoprazole 20 mg for 14 months. All has been great up until this point! In the past week, I have had terrible weakness, confusion, headaches, muscle/joint pains, blurred vision, and fatigue. I nearly passed out this evening, so I went to the ER, and they said that everything checked out fine. I will be tapering off this medication starting tomorrow!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 15, 2022

For Laryngopharyngeal Reflux "I was given pantoprazole for silent reflux. I took 40 mg in the AM. After 5 weeks, I developed a horrible cough with white mucus. I was fatigued and dizzy, passed out. Requesting blood work discovered my kidneys were compromised. I have been off of it for 1 week, my kidneys have improved, and I’m feeling better, but still have a metallic taste, and my tongue is white. I wonder if I will ever feel better. I believe it’s a toxic drug for me."

• Big...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• September 11, 2022

For GERD "I have been on Pantoprazole for almost 3 years. About 4 months after starting Pantoprazole, I started becoming very fatigued and light-headed, but I continued to take it because it helped tremendously with my GERD symptoms. In the past 3 weeks, I’ve become very nauseous and dizzy after taking the medication. Today my new primary doc switched me over to Nexium, and I finally feel relieved of all the bad stuff that Pantoprazole was causing!"

• Tom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2021

For GERD "Had the flu for almost 4 weeks, then the doctor examined my mouth and said I have a throat infection and gave me some antibiotics and paracetamol for headache along with pantoprazole. After taking it for 3 days, I started getting angular cheilitis and dry mouth. Then I thought it might be because of vitamin deficiency. After finishing my dose, a week later I started having terrible dizziness, malaise, body aches, dry mouth, and a burning sensation in my tongue... then finally came the rashes. Does anybody get rashes after taking pantoprazole?"

• Ari...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 6, 2021

For GERD "Went to a doctor because of stomach pain. My own diagnosis is gallbladder/gallstones; he said no, no other explanation and prescribed me pantoprazole. I took it because he knows better; he is the doctor. Took it as soon as I got the meds; unexplainable - belly pain got worse the next day, feverish, lower back pain, anxiety, emotional roller coaster, fatigue, dizziness - it was ugly. It was a very ugly experience! You think you get better taking meds; this is the only medicine that I took that made me feel worse. By the way, I was prescribed 40 mg for 30 days. I took it for 8 days; the original pain location got worse when I was taking this to the point that I wanted to go to the hospital. Also, the pain location changed; I wish I had figured it out earlier. I thought I was going to the hospital kind of pain during the 8 days. I have no idea why he gave me GERD medicine. I didn’t complain of any heartburn. I will try to see if I still have any pain in a week and find another doctor."

• Lin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2021

For GERD "Terrible experience. Brain fog, fatigued, heart palpitations, chest tight from muscle spasms. I quit last week and am feeling better after a few days. Noticed a big difference, still have symptoms too, though. It will take a while before it gets out of the system. Watch out for this."

• Joe...
• March 13, 2021

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "Horrible experience. Over a month later, I have spinning, dizziness, fatigue. It did the job, or is still doing the job, and I'm still sick. Don't recommend."

• You...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 2, 2021

For GERD "Horrible. Whole body hurt, fatigue, and brain fog."