I have been on Nexium for the last 6 years until last month (May 2005) where I got a Lap Nissen surgery where they make 5 little holes in your stomach and go in and reshape the valve(...in laymen's terms). The surgery takes 2 hours and requires about a week at home afterwards.
Now, I have no more reflux and finally said good-bye to Nexium and the vicious circle of "I want to get off this stuff" and then "I just can't deal with the pain anymore" and go back with Nexium.
Nexium gave me: the confusion, the dizziness, the foggyness, the time/space withdrawal, a few episodes of heart racing at 130 bpm for up to 10 hours during the last episode, increased blood pressure, buzzing in the ears... wow that's just too much. The worst is that most doctors don't know about it and think that we are nut jobs, but change Docs until you get someone who will listen and help you the way you deserve to be helped.
After 30 days off of Nexium, my blood pressure went down, I have a clearer mind, no more heart racing episodes, no more unjustified nervousness, but I still get some lightheadedness and hope that this is still a B12 deficiency issue that will eventually correct itself. (Anyone dealing with the constant lightheadedness, I'd like to hear about it).
Nexium does cause anemia due to malabsoption of B12 and / or Iron that causes nerve damages after long term use.
Unfortunately Nexium in my case was the only medicine that helped me with my reflux (I had / have Barrett's) and even though I tried Parriet, Zantac, Prilosec, Protonix, etc... nothing else worked.
One thing that I suggest to explore about the cycle of Nexium (stop it and then be forced back on) is to google about "Nexium Rebound withdrawal" where it is suggested that after coming off of Nexium there is usually a rebound or worst episode of reflux after a few days off the drug. Some sites suggest to decrease dosage to one pill a day to one pill every other day and so on...and after that, see how it goes. The issue is: coming off Nexium, which in my opinion is a necessary poison, shouldn't be done without consulting with your doctor because you do not want to cause more damage to your oesophagus in order to aleviate the side effects of the drug.
Anyway, after 30 days off the drug, I surprised myself laughing again and that feels pretty good.
Keep looking for doctors who will truly help you with your GERD by acknowledging that the multiple side effects are real, so you can find the best approach for you (if such doctors exist...)
Have you ever asked this question to youself during your PPI medication?? WHY CANN'T I STOP THIS MEDICINE?? DO I NEED TO TAKE THIS FOR EVER?? IS GERD NEVER CONTROLLED BY OTHER MEANS, PRIOR TO THE INVENTION OF PPI MEDICATION ???
nexium, prilosec etc are good for only limited time 3-4 weeks. If you take these medicine for long time, then your digestive system get affected. This acid suppression medications increased an enzyme called 'GASTRIN' in your blood level.. so when ever you try to stop this medication, your acid level increases much much higher than normal.. so eventually after 3 or 4 days you will be back to this medicine again.
Is there any way to work around to stop this medicine?? I did this after a painful process. First try to downsize your medicine intake gradually for a month. After that use some natural GERD medicines like licorice (DGL), slippery elm, chamomile tea etc.. DONOT GOTO ANY OTHER MEDICINE LIKE ZANTAC, PEPCID and even TUMS. they have the same effect.
Initial 2 weeks will be really painfull and many time you will try to go back to nexium. but try to control your symptoms by all means except those medicines.
This kind of acid rebound will be in your digestive system from 2 weeks to one month depends on how long you took this PPIs before. If you overcome the next two months with the alternative natural medicines, then you are free..
good luck...
-bala //Just my opinion. I am not a Medical Doctor//
So, let's hear more about this alternative way of fixing the "OH MY GOD IT'S BURNING EVERYTHING" feeling.. I'm really interested..
Over the last few years I've developed alot of mental, and physical issues that range from tired to angsiety.. (well how ever you spell it) and from what I'm reading, Nexium, my internal lifeline, may be a direct cause.. Wow..
Who would I talk to in regards to this kind of treatment, or lifesaving alternative. I like that word, Lifesaving.. Seems like it on the Nexium.
Bala, I really agree with everything you are saying. But it would be really hard to put into practise. If I miss just one tablet the throat is sore and the cough chokes me. Someone told me they had read a report that if you eat nothing but grapes for 3 weeks you will be cured. Don`t know if its true. Anyone else heard this ? Vanessa.
Lot has been asserted about PPI ( Nexium ) in this thread along with some H2 Blockers. Every humanbieng is different chemistry. There could be many reasons of ONE treatment bieng suitable to ONE human bieng and THE SAME treatment may not suit to THE OTHER indvidual. But frankly and generally PPI's are doing very good job in changed life style in comparison to non availiability time.
But the big question is what next if PPI stops working. Other question is " Has the doc care fuly studied the case and given PPI".
In my opinion doc's main interest is to make fast money. And PPI is the best possible fastest relief he can provide to patient in case of acidity/gerd. So this medicine is in full demand.
One day I took my friend to GERD DOC for acidity and abdomen pain. Doc looked at him for 2 min and prescibed PPI. I asked him why cant he prescribe Zentac or other mild drugs as my friend was not having any chronic GERD. Doc replied " If we have sword why should we use the knife."
Vanessa I know just what you mean about the cough, etc. For a whole year my doctor treated me for asthma which we finally discovered was a result of the reflux. That's why she put me on the Nexium. But then I started having the anxiety, muscle pains/aches, fatigue from that so I switched myself to the Prilosec 20mg and I take that twice a day (once in the morning and once just before supper). So far that seems to be better than the Nexium but if I miss just one pill I get the hearburn and feathery throat feeling and cough. I talked to my doctor about licorice but she did mention the increased blood pressure and several other side effects, so I decided not to try that at this time. I also read the drinking diluted apple cider vinegar helps reflux/heartburn but the side effect of that is it can rot your teeth if you're not careful. It's very discouraging when you feel miserable and meds and herbs make you have other side effects too. My doctor said she might send me for some testing where they insert a tube through your nose into your stomach and you keep it in for 24-48 hours and they measure your acidity but that doesn't sound like a Wow I Gotta Have That Fun Test kind of thing to me so I told her I'd prefer to hold on that right now. Keep in touch everyone. I'm glad I'm not alone in these problems.
Hi Tess. Thanks for the reply. This is a great site for discussing our problems. I can`t believe they were treating you for asthma for a year before they diagnosed GERD. I initially started with a chronic sore throat for 7 weeks, before they gave me an endoscopy and found I had reflux. I never associated the heartburn with the sore throat. Thats 2 years ago and now even though they have increased my dose to 30 mgs at morning and 15 mgs at night of zoton (prevacid) if you are in America I still have the cough. Also I feel like I have the acid in my sinuses. My nose won`t stop running in the morning. The side effects you have must be awful. I don`t seem to get side effects from the meds. As I have said in another post, I am having a gastroscopy soon. This involves a camera inserted down the throat and into the stomache and upper intestine. I am not looking forward to that !!!! My brother died at 33 years old from eosophogal cancer and he had heartburn all the time, so you can imagine I am really worried. Please keep intouch and keep this wonderful site operating everyone. Vanessa
Hi: I have been on Nexium for about a week now, and while it's working very well on my GERD, I think it's messing with my head too. I'm definitely having trouble focusing and last night I had the most unsettling dreams. I haven't had nightmares for years, but this one was really weird. Any similar experiences out there?
Hello everyone i am new to this forum, but not new to the disease. I manage a health food store, and have heard and seen results of yogurt, and other holistic remedies. But I am also familiar with prescriptions, mostly Nexuim. I have a friend who was a rep. for this drug. They have told me wonderful things about it just like MOST of you as well. There are side effects to all medications but in the end getting a handle on the main problem is the goal?? My friend was telling me that Nexium has a free trial for new users and people that already get it, so...I just thought i would let everyone know. With the high costs of meds every little bit helps. I have another friend who has migraines really bad, so her dr gave her a med called...reltax..it was like $200 to get it filled i mean come on!!! So here is the link for the Nexium offer go for it you want.
I was diagnosed with gastritis/gerd/two duodenal ulcers/ibs earlier this year. I had been treating my body poorly for 10-12 years, and found myself blacked out on the bathroom floor with severe abdominal pains, and the sudden inability to process anything even resembling food. After spending the night in the ER pumped full of morphine (thank god for a private room and the cartoon network), I was given instructions to follow up with a GI, where I was prescribed nexium. It has worked pretty well for a while, though I have had 4 subsequent episodes where I blacked out and ended up in the ER. After the last ER trip, about a week and a half ago, I was given 7 days worth of protonix, which seemed to work wonders. Having run out of the protonix, I am back on the nexium, and well, its not working, at all. I just made a 3am run to the local drug store to pick up some mylanta. I agree that the nexium does seem to have some sort of depressive psychological effects, and at one point was even prescribed a tricyclic antidepressant (desipramine) by the GI guy (who I dont care much for). When I asked him why the antidepressant, the only answer I was given was "its just something we give people in your condition, I dont know why it works". After reading this thread, I am thinking this is something that doctors are aware of, and are keeping the true reasoning behind it from their patients. It sounds a bit paranoid I know, but sometimes things just dont add up.
I am going to make an appointment with my GP, and request that I be put on the protonix for a while, but I really dont think these drugs are treating the cause, just the symptoms. I'm tired of feeling like crap all the time, I'm tired of having to pass up social engagements because of it, I'm tired of the doctors processing me like a head of cattle instead of treating me like an ailing human being.
On a related note, has anyone noticed a huge increase in metabolism since starting any of these medications? I am eating 6-8 mid-sized meals per day, and still needing more at some times. My weight has stayed pretty much the same (+/- 5lbs or so) through the whole ordeal. Not that I mind all the time I get to spend reading now, but I dont like being chained to a toilet 90% of the time. I'm too young for this crap (29).
I am sorry to here things are not going so well for you. I would recommend seeing a new doctor if you are not satisified with the one you currently see. Maybe a diff doc will have the answer for you.
Hello. I am new here and just kind of going around on health sites.
I have recently started taking Nexium to try and help my acid reflux (which I've had basically most of my life) and cure any ulsers I may have. I too have had side effects. Including of course, stomach ache, diarrhea, and a bad headache three days in a row....
The headache is gone but I still have this strange tingly, bubbeling, numb sensation on the left side of my head...I am also often a bit dizzy...I have this sensation right now and it's hard to focus on typing. It's making me a little worried as I don't know if this is another side effect or something else. I also have these two little pink spots on the back of my neck, sort of under my ear, on both sides in the exact same place. What the heck is that?!
Nihil, I agree with your that acid reducing drugs treat the symptoms, not the root cause of the disease. If you neutralize your stomach acid, you will not digest food as well. That could be why you feel hunger and the need to eat more. Maybe others on this site have had some experience with this. I wish you the best in finding alternatives to these meds. I was on them for years and don't miss them.
I'm sorry that you're having such weird side effects with Nexium. Have you tried alternative PPI therapy?
I treat almost everyone in my practice with Nexium because I've found it to be safe and effective (unless managed care denies it). I must tell you, that I've never heard of such weird side effects from this medication. Are you taking any other medications? EffexorXR ... definately ... but Nexium, weird.
Are you taking a multi-vitamin? Are you eating regularly?
If Nexium is really the root cause of these types of side effects - I'd be very interested to know. I'd consult your physician for a CBC, FLP, ALT, BUN/CREAT, Fe+, H. Pylori stool sample, and a liver/kidney panel. Also -- if you have a family history of diabetes, I'd run a HgA1C to test your sugars (i've found a lot of patients with the lack of energy to really be diabetics).
it takes usually 5 days to achieve maximal bioavailability of this class of drugs. Any side-effect type symptoms sometimes can dramatically reduce once a steady state is achieved.
The debate over H. Pylori is a very contentious one. 2 things to note -- some physicians believe that everyone with GERD (or NERD) symptoms should be tested and treated for H. Pylori, while others feel that the ammonium cloud that it produces in the stomach actually protects some individuals from being symptomatic.
Additionally -- because H. Pylori is considered a pre-cancerous condition, by law, you're required to treat it if you find a positive result.
Congrats to you for looking into H. Pylori! I have many patients who simply don't have any insight into their own disease state.
That said ... yes ... you're absolutely right (in regards to not testing for H. Pylori). Many of my colleagues believe it hinders or helps (depending on whom you talk to). The normal course of treatment (depending on your insurance) is an Amoxil-based anti-biotic (usually TriMox) and a PCN-based anti-biotic (usually BiaxinXL) + PPI therapy. The problem also arises that many patients are treated with the therapy and they are still symptomatic (sometimes even exacerbating their current symptoms). Prevacid makes the PrevPak which is easy to use (but very expensive) and the treatment is roughly 80% effective (depending on the individual & exposure to previous anti-biotic treatments/resistance). I believe that Nexium & AcipHex also have indications for H. Pylori eradication (much cheaper for cash paying patients and usually only 10 days of therapy needed). One other contentious point is the fact of growing anti-biotic resistance to this standardized therapy. The PrevPak works for the majority of people, but unfortunately I've found myself treating patients with 3 or 4 different rounds of treatment to eradicate the bacteria. It's a very tough call.
Additionally, many theorists believe that H. Pylori is a result of poor sanitary conditions and/or poor preparation of food. Therefore, patients of asian decent almost always test positive for H. Pylori. Specifically, in Japan, stomach CA is the leading cause of death ... as it was in China & Korea in the not too distant past. I must conceed that I'm unsure about the efficacy of any herbal medicines -- but have found that some are actually poisonous to American patients (when I was in residency, I had a patient who nearly died by using herbal supplementation from an asian-herbalist). As I've mentioned in previous postings, the huge downfall with any "diet supplement" is the fact that the claims on the bottles do not have to be evaluated by the FDA (thanks to Ronald Regan in the 1980's) ... and often are completely unsubstantiated. There lacks a lot of peer-reviewed research on the efficacy & tolerability of "supplements" (an easy example appeared in one of the most recent issues of the New England Jounal of Medicine which discussed how echinacea is completely useless in the treatment of the "common cold" when tested at different stregnths & types).
On another point, I'm unsure of a pH monitoring test that derives 24-hour pH in the stomach itself. The BRAVO test is the one that a lot of GE's are using this test which measures intragastric pH in the esophogus. Additionally -- ENT's can sometimes use a pH test where pH is measured at the LES junction as well as at the top of the esophogus. the FEAS test is one that I often see -- which is the easiest one for detecting reflux. For more about pH control with medication, the only concrete study that I've read which tested all of the different PPI medications was a study by Philip Miner, MD at the OK Center for Digestive Research. It's a pretty interesting study. I don't know how they got people to participate .. but .. there it is.
good luck & health ... let me know if I can attempt to answer any other questions you might have.
I started to have acid reflux when I was about 16. My past doctor put me on Nexium and I've been on that ever since then, I'm 18 now.
I was shocked to find these posts on Google, searching for Nexium side effects. I've been feeling the groggyness, forgetfulness, dizziness, and racing heart/anxiety related symptoms building up ever since I started taking this, but I blamed it on being a vegetarien at the time.
In June, I stopped being a vegetarien because I was getting so dizzy I'd black out for a couple of seconds or fall over in a dizzy spell. But, eating meat and getting more protein didn't seem to help... now I'm seeing that the Nexium might have a part in this.
And now I've actually had anxiety attacks because of my racing heart/weird stomach cramps. I'm thinking of printing off all these posts and giving them to my new doctor (who is a lot nicer and understanding). Thanks!
I am so happy to have found this message board today. My google search definitely paid off!
The information I just read makes me realize that I, too, should stop taking Nexium. I was diagnosed with acid reflux more than a year ago after a visit to the emergency room with severe back pain. I had experienced heartburn very often and did the usual "prop my head up" when in bed and avoided many foods that seemed to aggravate the condition. Well, as many other people have said, Nexium appeared to be the "wonder pill" as I no longer had the heartburn and could eat foods without any problem.
I've been concerned that I have continued to take it with no plan to stop. My doctor has continued to give me new scripts for refills so I took it every morning, as directed. I really think that the "fear" of getting the dreaded heartburn back is the only reason I've not looked into no longer taking it.
With a recent occurrence of a bout of vaginitis, I've been doing some research on the possible causes. Today I found, in only one site, that a possible side effect of taking Nexium could be vaginitis. No literature I read when I first started taking it nor in the past year has mentioned that at all.
As of tomorrow (I already took the purple pill today) I will stop taking it. I'll look into the plan to stop it gradually to see if that is necessary. I can manage heartburn again if I must and/or try something that is less problematic.
I will continue to read the posts here. It's good to see that not everyone wants to take medication "just because" it is prescribed. We need to ask more questions and do more research as medications are prescribed.
