Panick/gerd/gallstones/need info. Is anyone taking Nexium? (Esomeprazole)

[flowers4eden]

Last year I had a laproscopy done and when I woke up, I was hyperventilating. Ever since, I have been getting panick attacks. I hate taking medication though and I think because of the panick, I am nervous to take any meds at all. I was put on paxil and it made my crazy (shaking,sweating,nauseaous,etc.)
and ever since I do not take medication. I was put on another pill for panick but it just sits in a drawer and I continue to have panick attacks.
Next I started getting heartburn and alot of burning in my stomach. I was diagnosed with gerd or acid reflux. I was put on zantax and then pantaloc. I still get alot of heartburn and acid though and I have no idea what to eat anymore. I have been told what not to eat and that is just about everything but what can I eat? Anyway, now I am supposed to start a stronger med called Nexium or Esomeprazole and I stare at the pill but am afraid to take it. Is there anyone who is currently on this medication that can tell me how its going for them?
About 2 months ago, I had my gallbladder out because I had gallstones and nausea and when it came out, they said it was inflammed.
Seems like alot of things wrong with me when before last year I never had any problems at all. My docotors are treating me separatly for each thing (my nausea has gone since the gallbladder removal) does anyone think that maby all this stuff is somehow connected? I keep[ thinking this but why would my doctor not get it? Am I the only one with all these problems at the same time? Any info would be greatly appreciated!
         thank-you
        Dawn!

[Kate E.]

I have had a problem with reflux for about 15 years.  I have been on a variety of medications.  I have been on Nexium for about a year now.  I see great improvement.  I still have the ocassional chest pain and reflux, but I am very satisfied.  The doctor said Nexium is one of the few medications that have been proven to help repair damage due to reflux.  I also have a problem with anxiety and depression (as a result of years of worrying about the chest pains).  I am also on Effexor.  I have been on it for about three months.  The first month was hard because I had to start on a low dose and build up to the appropriate level for me.  I am experiencing a few side effects (fatigue and sexual); however, the doctor assures me they will go away very shortly.  I am a lot calmer and relaxed (sometimes too relaxed), but it is better than what I have been experiencing with the anxiety.  I can't say enough about the Nexium--it has really helped me.  I have had no side effects from it.

[catseye]

I started having reflux symptoms like 2 months ago - hurt swallowing, burning stomach, etc...they put me on protonix...was only on it for 3 days...made me feel really weird so i stopped taking it - it made me feel like i couldnt breathe...like my heart was racing...now i am on nexium - it seems a little better. It does help to control the reflux...and it is helping with my esophogal pain too, even though ive only been taking it like 5 days. I get afraid to take it though...for like 2 hours after i take it i am a nervous wreck...i keep thinking that my heartbeat is too fast, or that i cant catch my breath...but i think these are just psychological symptoms and that the nexium isnt really causing these side effects - I've also been having a problem with anxiety reccently...for about 2 months also...so i think that is why i hate taking the nexium. i just get nervous about any meds. i hope that i can stay on it long enough to get rid of my stomach problem...ive never had any stomach problems before now (or any anxiety problems). despite the fact that i totally bug out sometimes i refuse to go on medication for my anxiety - i keep hoping it will go away. my main anxiety seems to be taking medicine honestly - so i really dont want to take any more!

[kajo]

HI. I TRIED PAXIL BACK IN DECEMBER TO TAKE THE EDGE OFF OF WHAT WAS GOING TO BE A DIFFICULT HOLIDAY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. ONE WEEK ON IT AND I THOUGHT I WOULD DIE. ABSOLUTELY HATED IT. FELT COMPLETELY OUT OF IT, DETACHED. WONDER IF IT WAS A COINCIDENCE THAT IT WAS PRECISELY AT THAT TIME THAT I STARTED WITH HORRIBLE NAUSEA AND VOMITING. HASN'T STOPPED EITHER. NOW I AM IN SEARCH OF A NATURAL WAY TO TREAT GERD. TRIED PRILOSEC, NEXIUM, PEPCID, AXIFED (SP.?) AND TAGAMET. I WOULD QUITE FRANKLY RATHER VOMIT EVERY DAY THAN FEEL LIKE I DID ON THESE MEDS. ALSO, UNLESS YOU WANT TO DO THIS FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, YOU ARE DOOMED. THESE MEDS REDUCE OR STOP ACID PRODUCTION, SO CONSEQUENTLY WHEN YOU STOP THEM YOU GET AN ACID REBOUND EFFECT AND YOUR SYMPTOMS GET WORSE. TERRIBLE CYCLE. WENT TO A NATURAL STORE AND GOT SOME PAPAYA TABLETS TO AID IN DIGESTION, AND YES, THEY DO WORK. I AM ALSO CONSIDERING ORANGE PEEL EXTRACT. SOUNDS WEIRD, BUT IT IS A PROVEN, NATURAL, SAFE WAY TO TREAT THE SYMPTOMS OF GERD. SUPPOSEDLY VERY PROMISING RESULTS FOR MANY PEOPLE. THERE IS ALSO A PRODUCT CALLED ACID EASE BY PREVAIL THAT LOOKS OPTIMISTIC TOO. WHILE I DO REALIZE THAT MEDS WORK GREAT FOR ALOT OF PEOPLE, I AM DEFINATELY NOT ONE OF THEM. GOOD LUCK.

[kime]

Although I share your concerns about depression and taking anti-depressants I must give you a hand for deciding NOT to take them or any kind of medications like that....I had been on Paxil only 3 months when i decided I could not "feel" anything anymore..i stopped taking them "cold turkey" and if you have never been thru pure hell I can assure you that I have been!!..This has been the one thing that almost caused my death..I had been on several of the anti-depressants discussed here and ALL of them are ADDICTING and VERY DANGEROUS...No matter what the doctors tell you about them not being addictive and how much they will help you!!!...When you decide after you feel better and think you can stop taking them you better think again!!..I am going into my 3rd week of withdrawl and I am getting better, however, I feel like I have a long way to go still...But thru this I have become stronger and I vowed to tell everyone I can about the Paxil DANGERS!!..The reason I came to this forum was to find out about gallbladder troubles and when I saw a couple of comments about how good these anti-depressants are I had to give you a WARNING about them...I live with so much **** everyday coming off of them it would take more pages than are available here to tell you about it...The one and only thing you can be sure of is that there is a God who can get you thru anything you are going thru if you will just ask...God is with us everyday and waits to hear from us...Please talk to him and ask him to help you....I can promise you life is always going to be hard no matter what, but is we would only seek him first it WILL get better....take care and feel free to email me if you wnat to...

God bless!....kime

[Greyeber]

Hi,
I was on zoloft ....not because I was having panic attacks but because I was having dizziness...they thought was related to anxiety....which later found out it was an inner ear problem due to sinuses....but Zoloft was awful....I had no control over my body ,had terrible panic attacks, my head jerked, my legs hurt so bad I couldnt go up the stairs and I was only on it for 4 days and I quit cold turkey which I wouldnt advise any one to do because I dont care what they say they are addicting...you have to go gradually off of them.....I had withdrawl  symptoms for a week after and I am still having problems.....my legs still hurt I still have head ticks every now and then and my stomach is messed up really bad now.....they dont have any idea what is going on ......but if you look up zoloft and withdrawl you will find many who are suffering....I am the same way as you...terrified to take any medicines because of zoloft....
I hope you get to feeling better....

[Pugie]

Wanted to let you know that I am currently taking Nexium. I have constant abdominal pain, N/V, diarrhea. Stuff like that and at first they thought it was Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Now they think that my Gallbladder is the problem and I may as well get mine taken out (I hope). At any rate, they put me on the Nexium as soon as they thought it was the Gallbladder because of the possible excess of bile acid I'm assuming). Anyways, I don't have any side effects from it and to be frank I don't think that it is doing anything. I do not have acid reflux or any stomach problems.
Now addressing the panic attacks. First of all, you had a serious allergic reaction to the Paxil which just means you don't want to take that again, but if you look carefully it is chemically different than the other antianxiety medications. As a matter of fact they are in two medication categories. Paxil is considered both for depression and also given for panic attacks although there are many othere medications that can be used for that. So do not be scared to take other medications for the panic attacks. Panic attacks can be very serious and can cause serious health symptoms. It can also worsen any gastrointestinal symptoms that you have. Please seek the counseling of your psychiatrist for the best solution. And don't give up hope! Good luck!

[QuizzicalQ]

Before I had my reflux surgery to correct my gerd, I took Nexium, Protonix and Aciphex. I didn't have any side effects with Nexium or Protonix, but the Aciphex caused horrific gas/bloat/nausea. Those drugs worked miracles for me! I do not like taking pills and also hesitate to take my anti-anxiety drugs when I experience panic. I understand your feelings, but taking those pills will be beneficial in the long run. Remember that the anxiety pills prescribed today are usually not much stronger than .05, so don't worry about addiction or feeling zombie-like. All they do is take the edge off. Good luck! Q

[Baseball_Mom]

Hi - I take 2 Nexium a day to control my heartburn/acid reflux.  I don't have any side effects from the medication and I'm allergic to alot of things.  In answer to your question, all of your symptoms are quite possible related.  Hopefully your doctors will pin point exactly what the problem is.  Don't be surprise if they can't give you an answer and tell you that you must have IBS.  This is what happened to me.  Anyway, best of luck to you.