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Lansoprazole and GERD

Anyone hear ever been prescribed Lansoprazole to treat acid reflux / GERD?

I was prescribed Lansoprazole about a month in a half ago. I started taking it the first two weeks but then noticed some unusual symptoms. First and most importantly, my acid reflux seemed to have worsened at times. I would have burps were I could taste the acid (sour taste) and feel my throat burn. However more alarming I started having weird sensations in the left side of my body, stomach, side, and chest. Sometimes it wrapped around to my back. At times it was tightness/discomfort, at other times it was more of an ache / dull pain, and other times it was more of a quick sharper pain. I did some googling and noticed I'm not the only one having these side effects so I stopped taking the medication. Within a few days the symptoms seemed to have subsided. However recently GERD has started bothering me again, especially if I eat certain foods so I decided to take it again. Probably not the smartest thing to do before talking with my doctor, but I wasn't sure if the medication was really the issue. Now I'm having those same symptoms again.

To make a long story short I'm wonder if

1) Are these side affects dangerous, meaning they could case harm to my body
2) Are these normal side affects while adjusting to the medication? How long should it take to adjust.
3) Should I continue taking the medication or stop and consult my primary doctor?

If anyone else has had similar experiences that would be useful too.

Additional information:

I tried taking over the counter Prilosec OTC, but had similar symptoms. I was taking Ranitidine before and it was hit or miss, sometimes it was effective, other times it was not.
8 Responses
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620923 tn?1452915648

  Welcome to the GERD forum

So sorry you are stuck dealing with these symptoms nad side effects of the meds.
May I ask what you mean by " If I knew what else to take I would but with a hernia".....I also have a hiatal hernia and I was on PPI's for years and they stopped working for me so I was put on a H2blocker.....and it works great!

I also avoid my triggers....if you are not sure which foods are your triggers keep a journal to see a pattern.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Problem is the doctors deny the side effects are associated with the medication. I'v tried it. They act like its all in my head. However, having been on PPI for years now I can assure you that I have ALL the side affe cts that you mention here. If I knew what else to take I woulod but with a hernia, and a govt that will only give operation's as a last resort I am stuck with it.
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Avatar universal
I'm back on Ranitidine as the side affects of Lansoprazole were unpleasant and just as bad or worse as the GERD. When I stopped taking Lansoprazole I had bad symptoms for a few days but they subsided. However since then my Acid Reflux / GERD has been more or less what it was before starting Lansoprazole. Some days its worse than others.

I've also read about the negative side effects of PPI drugs. Its a double edged blade because my GERD symptoms can be bad at times but the Lansoprazole side effects were just as bad at times.
Helpful - 0
1806721 tn?1554333407
First of all, you are not supposed to wean it off until you are completely symptom free.  Second, if you are taking a delayed release pill, you need to take it at 24 hour interval.  If you take one in the AM one day and PM the next day, it will lead to rebound reflux that you described.  Third, when you wean it off, you need to wean it off slowly. Take Prevacid as example, if you start from 30mg qd, then step 2 is 30mg odd days and 15mg even days, step 3 is 15mg per day, step 4 is 15mg odd days and Zantac even days, step 5 is Zantac every day, step 6 is Zantac odd days and antacid even days, step 7 is antacid every day, step 8 is antacid as needed.  You need to make sure there is no acid rebound every step of the tapering process.  

I'm told to stay on PPI for at least a year when I will get another upper endoscopy.  My GI won't let me taper until confirmed healing of ulcer, atrophic gastritis, metaplastic changes, etc.  How long you need to be on PPI depends on the findings from your endoscopy.  Take care & feel better!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal

  What happened with meds??  i noticed same complains with meds and read where most OTC or PHx r bad for you or symptoms of reflux increase 10 fold when u try to go off.
on the other hand…if u don't tke meds…the acid can cause barretts espohgus.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for the feedback. I've stopped taking the medication for the time being as the side effects were bothering me. I go back to my doctor the first week of August to hopefully find an alternative. Thanks.
Helpful - 0
620923 tn?1452915648

  Hi and welcome to the GERD forum,

As Flycaster stated we are not medical professionals....but I will say this, he is right call your Dr anytime you have a side effect from a med call your Dr ASAP....

  Let us know what you find out.
Helpful - 0
63984 tn?1385437939
You should, in my opinion, consult with your doctor.  None of us that I know of are qualified to give the advice you are looking for, and will just muddle the water of knowledge if we reply.  Hope that helps.
Helpful - 0
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