Yes, it is definitely possible.

About 7 days into taking 40mg Omeprazole I started experiencing fatigue and chronic headaches, went to hospital and they could find no cause, is it possible side effect of the drug?

You may want to talk to a gastroenterologist about trying Pepcid and Rolaids instead of a PPI, along with diet, probiotics, meditation.

I have a chronic migraine and can’t take NSAIDS because I have Gerd. Anytime I take PPIs, the migraine worsens. What can I do to relieve myself of the two disturbing conditions? Please help

I cannot give anyone specific advice but can tell you that sometimes PPI drugs such as pantoprazole trigger a headache regardless of when you take it. I would ask your doctor about trying famotidine (Pepcid) with Rolaids instead of pantoprazole, if your condition allows it. Another option is to try a different PPI such as dexlansoprazole (Dexilant).

I have chronic migraines. The doctor has prescribed pantoprazole 40mg before breakfast and im experiencing horrible migraines. Sumatripan doesnt help this type of migraine. Can I take:
– 20mg in the morning and 20mg before to bed, instead or
– can I take the entire 40mg before dinner?

Please, please I need help.

I have no idea.

So why do PPi’s cause joint pain? It always happens to me…….Does it go away in time?

No, I haven’t. I would ask your doctor.

I was taking 40mg of Prilosec for reflux, gastritis and duodenitis and it had not effect. My doctor said to take 80mg a day in divided doses. Not sure yet if it’s helping but it has lowered my blood pressure to very low levels (90/60). I also take just 5mg of Lisinopril for hypertension. Have you heard of PPI’s lowering blood pressure? I was on the 40mg for 4 weeks and will be on the 80mg for another two. Will still need to taper off?

I would ask your doctor to check your vitamin B12, D and magnesium levels. Also ask about using Pepcid with Rolaids and a probiotic like Florastor instead of a PPI.

Hi, I have noticed that I am getting pins and needles sensation, as well as numbness in my head and face since I started taking Nexium. This is getting worse with time. I have only been on it for a few days now, but the same thing happened a month ago when I was treated with another PPI (+ antibiotics) for h. pylori. Are other people experiencing such pins and needles feelings? Do you suggest that I should get off Nexium and PPIs? If yes, what do you suggest to take as an alternative for acid reflux (which BTW started for the first time only after my h.pylori treatment, and is worse at nights). Thanks!

Yes, it worth exploring alternatives to Prilosec with your doctor but not because it causes gastric cancer. On the contrary, Prilosec (omeprazole) is used to treat Barrett’s esophagitis which can lead to gastric cancer.

I have been taking Prilosec OTC daily for 4 years. I recently stopped because I read articles about it causing gastric cancer. What are your thoughts? Should I concern myself with this.

Sorry, but this is not my area of expertise.

I have been having a chronic cough dry, orange urine, stomach pain, ever since I had a sexual experience with an unknown person. After several months of a no of test and medication, my doctor put me on omeperazol. My last test showed that I have low white blood cell and protinuria. My doctor thinks that it’s just dehydration but has now order throat examination for the cough and more blood test for two weeks. I’d like your opinion on what you think this might be. All my sti result showed that I’m negative. However, it showed that I reacted to hep A and B, but my doctor said it was immunity even though B said it could be a reinfection. Also, I’m having headaches stomach pain and diarrhea style stool with the med. I would love your opinion.. thanks

I would ask your doctor about it.

Can gas cause a stabbing like pain in your chest because I had an ekg and everything was fine but if that’s the cause can I take simethicone to help with gas? Or what do you suggest Dr.?

It can do both

Yes, you can.

Also, can I take my sumatriptan with the protonix PPI?

I’m already a migraine sufferer and just started taking this medication. The next day I got a migraine but not sure if its because of the med or not. Does it increase the frequency of migraines or just make them worse when they do come? Thank you.

No, there is no obvious medical reason.

I am on 40mg once a day Prilosec and have been getting headaches since I started taking it in the morning. I recently switched to taking it at night and the headaches stopped. Is there a medical reason for this? Thank you
Allen

It is possible that Prilosec is the cause of your symptoms, but I would consult your doctor and ask about taking a probiotic.

Hello. I was experiencing mild to moderate heartburn (mostly at night) several times per week and so decided to try a 14-day course of Prilosec OTC. Halfway through I developed bad bloating, terrible gas, mild diarrhea and mild nausea. Since I didn’t connect these symptoms to the Prilosec I finished 13 of the 14 days before stopping. I have been off for two days and feeling somewhat better although still have bad gas and lighter than normal colored soft stool/diarrhea. My question is if indeed these symptoms are due to the Prilosec will they resolve themselves since I am no longer taking it and what might the timeframe be? Thank you.

Omeprazole and other proton pump inhibitor (PPI) drugs used to treat ulcers and heartburn do increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, but it does not appear that they do that by causing calcium deficiency.

Can omeprazole cause calcium deficiency and if so, can it be serious enough to cause tooth loss, bone density problems, effect finger nail hardness and the like?

I get a headache with just one pill of omeprazole if it’s 40 mg., prescription. I do fine with the 20 mg. over the counter, store brand. Try 20 mg and see if that works. I take it for duodenal ulcer flare ups, and stomach pain too when I have those.

Almost any drug can cause a headache, including the PPIs. You may want to ask your doctor about using H2 blockers, such as Zantac along with antacid if needed since it may not cause a headache.

Whenever I take any Proton Pump Inhibitor, within an hour I get a horrible headache. A feeling like I can’t think clearly, I’m dizzy and I get very nauseous. I’m on Lexapro too and occasionally take Klonopin. But the aforementioned symptoms are literally the moment the medication is absorbed. I am a chronic migraine sufferer too but this headache and symptoms
Feel different.

Yes, omeprazole can cause headaches, as can other drugs in this category (PPIs – proton pump inhibitors). Zantac with antacids, such as Tums, Maalox, or Gaviscon can help relieve gastritis without causing a headache. Vegetarians are more likely to have vitamin B12 deficiency, which can contribute to anemia, headaches, and other neurological symptoms. So, it is very important to have your vitamin B12 level checked (and it should be above 400, not 200 as laboratories indicate) along with vitamin D and RBC magnesium. Taking oral vitamin B12 may not be enough – some people need regular injections. The same applies to magnesium.

I know this is an old post so I may not get a response, but I recently started taking Omeprazole to treat a relatively minor case of gastritis. I’m only 18 and went to the gastroenterologist a couple weeks ago for the first time due to back pain when I ate. To begin with, my doctor really wasn’t really sure what could be the cause, because it’s such an atypical symptom and the only one I have ever experienced. I remember first having this back pain, where it feels like whatever I swallow is traveling down my spine, in late elementary school. It’s extremely uncomfortable but does not happen every time I eat, or with certain foods. To find the cause, I got an endoscopy and found that I have gastritis. I was told the main cause for people my age is taking too many medications with aspirin in them, and although I have always been relatively susceptible to headaches, I usually try to stay away from headache medications. Personally, I feel that it is more due to high stress levels. My blood pressure is usually normal, but the last time I took it my systolic (?) number was 134. Anyway, I started taking 40 mg of Omeprazole twice daily two weeks ago, and have had a headache everyday since. To make matters worse, I am slightly anemic and a vegetarian. This post was kind of all over the place, but if you have any advice for me whatsoever I would very much appreciate it!

Yes, your experience is not at all unusual. Fortunately for you, the side effects appeared quickly and you were able to make the association with omeprazole. In many patients the deficiency in magnesium and other vitamins and minerals happens over time and they do not realize that it is due to omeprazole or a similar drug (PPI – Nexium, Protonix, etc).

I am curious about the association with omeprazole and migraines.

I am 62 years old and have had migraines of all types – with/without aura, aura alone, numbness, aphasia, etc. – since I was a pre-teen. I rarely have a bad migraine now, although a few times a year a have visual/aura migraines without headache. I have taken magnesium daily for years, as it helped me noticeably when I used to have monthly (at least) headaches.

Recently, I went on a course of omeprazole for 3 months. During that time, I noticed an increase in confusion, and difficulty finding words. I was worried that I was beginning to become senile. Then I read the side effects more carefully, and realized that “confusion” and “magnesium deficiency” were listed, and I thought two things: 1st, that the symptoms had begun at around the same time as the medication, and 2nd, that the confusion “felt” very similar to the kind of aphasic episodes I had had when I was younger – though much milder, thankfully. (Difficulty finding words and concentrating, vs. sounding like a drunk crazy person).

I stopped taking the omeprazole, and the symptoms disappeared within 2 days. It’s been several weeks and I have not noticed any search for words, any difficulty remembering words, or any saying of the wrong words. That had been happening multiple times a day.

I asked my GP about this – haven’t had a headache doctor in years as I haven’t had many problems since menopause. She was not aware of any link. But I kept thinking – it FELT like the blurry, stupid, word loss episodes, I know magnesium helped me, and if this lowered my magnesium…..?

Have you heard of anything like this?

It is possible that you and Danielle are having headaches due to reflux. This is relatively uncommon without obvious reflux symptoms, but irritation of the nasal passages by acid at night could be contributing to the headaches. To avoid having to take PPIs such as Prevacid, Prilosec (omeprazole) and other you can try different probiotics and a reflux diet, particularly avoiding caffeine.

Yes, it is possible that omeprazole causes anxiety and it is possible that domperidone is a safer choice – ask your doctor about it.

Danielle, I have exactly the same problem! I took them for a couple of months when I did the PREVpac and now I have the headaches just as you describe. I’m frustrated! I have seen a nurologist and she has booked me in for an MRI. I have Done a CAT scan, but they found nothing with that. I have been taking Hawthorn tea which has mitigated the headaches a lot. I think the heahaches are something to do with nurtients, the vascular system, or toxins.

Currently,Im on omeprazole and domperidone for my GERD.I stopped taking domperidone as there are few articles written on it about cardiac failure.now,whenever I take omeprazole,i have this anxiety attack,my chest feels tightened.is it one of the side effects?

I stopped my PPIs a month ago and soon after I stopped them I started waking up every day (for a month now) with a dull and constant headache throughout the day. The headaches range from a 1-4 on the pain scale and they feel like they are occurring in the front of my head throughout the forehead and temples. They are not migraines though.

Once I realized going off the PPIs was the cause of my headaches I started taking them again in hopes of stopping the headaches but it has not helped. I am wondering what I should do now to try to make the headaches stop?

I have experienced chronic headaches once before when I tried to stop taking my PPIs but I didn’t realize the headaches were caused by stopping my PPIs so I went to the doctor and he said maybe the headaches were caused by allergies so he put me on a daily dose of Flounase and Zyrtec and surprisingly this solved the problem and I no longer had headaches…..that is until recently stopped my PPIs and now I am still taking the allergy meds but they are not helping with my headaches.

You can ask your doctor to check your RBC magnesium and vitamin B12 levels, although neither test is very accurate. For B12, we also check a related test – homocysteine level – if homocysteine is high, then you need not only vitamin B12, but also folic acid (500 mg) and vitamin B6 or pyridoxine (25 mg) and this combination can help migraine headaches. 50 mcg of vitamin B12 in a multivitamin may not be enough. Taking 1,000 mg sublingually (under your tongue) may be enough, but in severe deficiency, injections are necessary. 800 mg of magnesium is usually sufficient.

You can ask your doctor to check your vitamin B12 and homocysteine level (high homocysteine indicates B12 deficiency, even if B12 itself is normal), as well as RBC magnesium, which is more accurate that the regular, serum level. A recent study showed that if you have high homocysteine and take vitamins B6, B12, and folic acid, your migraine headaches may improve. This seems to apply mostly to those who have migraine with aura.

I have chronic migraine and can’t take NSAIDS because I have gastritis. I take Prevacid daily and i didn’t know that it could make migraines worse! I have found that it’s difficult to discontinue Prevacid and I’m glad to know about using the H-2 blocker. However, even if I want to, I may not be able to discontinue Prevacid if my stomach pain is unbearable without it. How would I know if I need a magnesium infusion and/or injection of vitamin B-12? I take 800 mg of magnesium daily and get 50mcg of B12 in my multi-vitamin.