GERD medication side effects

[cas1]

I've noticed some people posting here are questioning other problems that they are having and want to know if their problem is related to their GERD.  My suggestion would be to check if your symptom is listed as a side effect of the medication you are taking.

I have personal experience with Prevacid and it's side effects.  It didn't dawn on me right away that my problems were a side effect of the Prevacid.  I suffered with severe stomach pain, low blood sugar, and dizziness and thought they were all GERD related not medication related. As soon as I stopped the Prevacid, my other symptoms went away.


Here is where you can see the Prevacid side effects (pages 25-26): http://www.tap.com/showpi.asp?PI=ppff

Nexium (go to the bottom of page "Important product information):
http://www.purplepill.com/

And the Protonix side effects are here (pages 13-15):
http://www.fda.gov/cder/foi/label/2000/20987lbl.pdf


There are a LOT of side effects on these lists.  Sometimes I wonder if the cure is worse than the problem????

[Concerned lady]

Here are some GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS that anyone can try (if they & their docs have no objections). If you find that these "tips" help (after a 2 week trial), then, you could slowly, slowly, wean off acid blockers (if safe to do so).

If you try this, keep using the tips, even after you're off the acid blockers, until you are well for 3 months. Then, if you really want to, you can slowly wean off the "tips", and see what happens.

Keep being monitored by your doc, for safety sake:

Some GASTRIC REFLUX TIPS (without acid blockers):

Please check with your doctor, first, before trying these tips to be sure they are safe, in your particular situation.

GER=Gastro-Esophageal Reflux. (Gastro=stomach. Esophagus=food tube.)

LPR= Laryngeal-Pharyngeal Reflux. (Larynx=voice box, containing the 2 vocal cords. Pharynx=throat, above the larynx. The larynx is above the trachea/windpipe.)

Reflux=acidic or alkaline stomach material that backs up into the esophagus (food tube), causing any of these problems (at least): VCD/Vocal Cord Dysfunction/Laryngospasm attacks, cough, voice problems, asthma, globus (feeling of lump in throat), constant need to clear throat, much extra throat mucus, worsening of sinus condition, sore throat, laryngitis, voice problems, pre-cancerous conditions of throat &/or esophagus, etc.

SOME GER/LPR CONTROL THINGS WE DO, that we learned from the excellent book: STOMACH AILMENTS AND DIGESTIVE DISTURBANCES, by Michael T. Murray, N.D. See page 9, References, in my website: http://cantbreathesuspectvcd.com   and, also see GER/LPR info on page 5, and on LINKS page.

PLEASE READ THIS GREAT BOOK. It may possibly be bought on-line, from Michael T. Murray

[Barend]

From what I read here, I consider my self lucky.  My side effects were severe itching, rashes and hives.  It took me some time, and several visits to a dermatologist, before I got onto this.  The dermatologist did NOT make the connection. Barend

[weiwei]

Yes,I saw dizziness and lightheadedness is the side effect of the Protonix at the first beginning, but I'm not so sure if my symptom begins after I started the medication. I a little agree with another one's post that may be this is nature of erosive esphagitis or reflux.

My primary doctor said it is not because of the medicine. I also have many tests of cardiology normal. And my primary doctor let me try Myczone(forget the spelling) for she guessed ear infection may cause dizziness too. I tried that and not help at all.
For my Gerd, she seems at her wit end and scheduled me to see a Gastroenterology doctor in two weeks.
And for my dizzness, necksoreness, she wants me to have a scan.
She said all these may be becasue of stress. I don't agree, for now I'm not in stress since I started medication.

I refer myself to a neorology doctor to find further about why such wired dizziness and lightheadedness.
I kind of think these symptom are related with Gerd. I didn't have these at all before.

If somebody finds more about this or solutions, I would like to know it. My email address xiaowei.***@****

Thanks

[marygold]

yeah, I've been reading up on those. I'm on Nexium, and even went through the physician only website for Nexium. I have had many different side effects with different medications. I can't remember all of them because I was on so many, but I had one that I was on for 3 months that made me nauseous for the entire 3 months before braving the doc again. I should have stopped the meds before the whole 3 months, but my doc was getting frustrated with me, so I tried not to see him. He made me feel like a whiner and just wasting his time. So I learned how to be tough. I agree that reading the list of side effects, while intimidating and scary, is beneficial. That way you know what to watch for and you won't be so likely to pass something over that may turn out to be serious.