PPIs causing anxiety and depression?

Hi Noelle3, can I ask which ppi you are taking? I have had lots of problems with nexium through the years.Not on any now by the way. Barry

Hi Barry, I'm taking Nexium.

Hi ed@mtl, are you taking any other PPI instead of Nexium?

Hi Barry, I tried two others before Nexium. I started on Omprazole which gave me really bad headaches and made me feel awful. Then was put on Lansoprazole. I can't recall if it caused side effects, but it didn't control the reflux so I was put on Nexium which I believe is the strongest.

The thing is that none of them have really worked anyway, so all I'm getting are the side effects!

I even tried Ranitidine but it gives me insomnia. The only thing left I think is the old fashioned Tagamet, but as it's a H2 blocker like Ranitidine, it too may cause insomnia. I'll be seeing my GP on Friday and see if she has any bright ideas. The thing is she seems amazed that the PPIs aren't working! If this forum is anything to go by, it seems like a more common problem than she realises.

Omeprazole made me incredibly anxious and often depressed, more so than my LPR did on its own. My internist insisted the medicine was not the cause, so he put me on Lexapro (20 mg). It didn't seem to make my LPR any worse, but I didn't take it long term, just for a month or two. When I finally saw a GI doc, he switched me to Dexilant, and the psychological issues went away. The Lexapro went in the trash.

Barry, the consultant (registrar) advised my doctor to prescribe Ranitidine because the PPIs weren't helping that much and secondly because I have Osteoporosis and there is a small risk of fracture with them due to not being able to absorb enough bone essential nutrients like calcium etc.

I didn't stick with the Ranitidine for long and only at 75mg twice per day and even at that low dose they caused problems. Can you remember what your initial side effects were on them and how long it took for them to subside?

By the way, congratulations on getting your Nissen re-do. I was following your journey on other threads. Hope you're recovering well.
Take care.

Hi Noelle, I was taking 150mg of ranitidine twice daily,one in morning and at bedtime.The first 3-4 weeks a lot of wind,burping,and stomach upset and trouble sleeping but it all settles down into the second month.I have found similar effects from all ppis and h2 blockers,they take weeks to settle.
Definitely stronger effects from the ppis,i can only assume they deplete your body from certain vitamins and minerals.Ive had b12 and folic acid deficiencys in my past which was very unpleasant,also hard to get diagnosed.Doctors just don't believe you! Barry

Hi everyone. I am new here. I was just diagnosed with GERD. I have maintenance for my asthma - Seretide spray (had it when I was toddler and resurfaced when i was in the 40's), i have allergic rhinitis and sinusitis (have Avamys spray). I am allergic to crabs, squid, shrimps.

I had few episodes of stomach upset and acid reflux before but those were easily relieved by Kremil S or Gaviscon. Last July, I was rushed to the ER due to allergic rxn to squid. After that, I was very choosy already with what I eat and at sometimes get panicky eating outside because I wouldnt really know if it has shrimp paste or anything that would make me allergic to.

One night, I just noticed my voice got hoarser and hoarser until i almost lost it. It got relieved by just taking Bioflu and hot calamansi juice (its a kind of lemon; i am from the Philippines).

Everything was okay, although i noticed that there were time that i feel my throat got constricted and will just take antihistamine. Then i noticed it got severe, i would still take antihistamine since my sinuses were acting up also. Went for consult since one time, i was so edgy and attributed it to sinus infection. The doctor put me on Zithromax 500 mg for 5 days.

On the 8th day after Zithromax, after taking breakfast with coffee and had my usual Claricort, i felt my throat constricting again. I rushed to the ER and was informed that everything is okay, i am just panicky and this could be nasal drip and GERD. I was so anxious the whole day. I even went to the mall with my husband but went instead to visit a clinic at the mall and still was told okay. The doctor however referred me to see an EENT which i never did.

When i went to see our company doctor, she put me on Nexium and Claritin. My throat still feel dry and constricted but all doctors told me i dont have any wheezing sound and my breathing is normal. All doctors advised me to just relax. I think this is better said than done.. Only those with GERD can understand what I am going through. At this time, i have not experienced any upset stomach, just dry throat, palate and stomach until i had camote (sweet potato in the Philippines; a root crop) as subtitute for rice. That is when I had two very restless nights.

Last Tuesday night, i went again to the ER because I had this feeling of wanting to burp but cant and this feeling of something being stuck in my throat and the doctor told me its GERD and bilateral maxillary sinusitis - i had Waters x-ray. Changed Nexium to Pantoloc plus Gaviscon chewable every after meals and prescribed Augmentin 625mg 3X a day for 7 weeks and Nasathera 3X a day..She also gave me Xanor to calm me down. My ECG at the ER was fine. By the way, i am overweight and hypertensive. I have been taking Twynsta 80/10 for more than a year now. I have Grade 1 diastolic dysfunction also. I slept well that night.. No epigastric pain.

Wednesday morning was great.. by midafternoon i had again that feeling of something being stuck in my mouth. I had a very restless night, i cant really describe how my stomach was acting.

I went this time to see a gastroenterologist. She changed by Pantoloc to Dexilant. She prescribed Xanor to me 250mcg at bedtime or as needed. I was able to sleep Thursday night but had to be up early because we are going home to the province.

When I got here yesterday, the symptoms were up again, i had to take Xanor 250mcg at 4pm to keep me calm as i was also finishing reports. Regurgitation is back and I think i was only able to sleep for 2-3 hours. My stomach is still acting weird and my mouth/saliva is so sour/acidic. I was able to sleep another 2 hours this morning - its November 2 here already and its 2:25Pm now.

Most of my friends cannot understand- they think I am just over acting to a lot of things that is why my stomach acid is also over acting. My boss even told me that it is purely psychological. My sister can relate to what im feeling though because she had gallstones before. she underwent surgery to remove her gallbladder about 4 years ago but still experience GERD. My mother has gallstones but because of her age, the doctor didnt advised to have her gallbladder removed. My other brother had his gallbladder removed also a few years earlier than my brother.

What makes me panic is the feeling the my throat is closing. I had the same feeling when i had an allergic attack. I lost weight already since the allergic attack and because of this GERD i also dont feel like eating. My gastroenterologist told me that GERD suppresses appetite also. but i think its more of the PPI's fault plus being anxious and all.

This is a very lenthly post i know. I just want to write down everything that i experienced. By the way, with Nexium, i also experienced tingling of the upper lip and feeling of body malaise and dry mouth and dry palate and anxiety attacks.

I am scheduled for an endoscopy on the 15th by the way. Maybe i will even have this moved earlier so that based on the results proper medication can be given.

Thank you all. I really appreciate this site. I wonder if there are other Filipinos here too.

Hi Migz,

I am currently in Negros Oriental but actually working in Cebu.

Sure I will.  Two of my siblings had their gallbladder removed already.  My sister can identify what im going through but she's in Bohol right now assigned as a social worker.  My mama also has the same "sickness".  My sister and I just communicate through text.  Since Im now home for a vacation, may mama has been introducing me to a lot of herbal medicine.  From what province are you from in the Philippines?

do you have allergies also?  GERD and allergies are cousins i think and post nasal drip as well. hehehehe.  My GI has prescribed me Zanor for my anxiety attacks.  I was really scared at first, good thing i came across of this forum and it has opened my eyes to a lot of things about GERD. 

The feeling of your throat closing is just a "feeling".  I have been to the ER 3X because of that feeling.  I thought i was having an allergic attack after having eggs for breakfast and coffee and beef strips (c/o Jollibee..hehehe). I am never allergic to eggs! Im only allergic to squid, shrimps, crabs.  I can even eat green mangoes and bagoong. It was just a panic attack but the throat discomfort didnt go away and its been 3 weeks now.

Especially if you're from the province, there are limited data about GERD.  My cousins are even suggesting I go and see and "albularyo" (faith healer or a "medicine man".)  The reason perhaps is because most if not all of those with GERD also experience panic attacks/anxiety attacks.  My cousin's husband got well after seeing an "albularyo".  The treatment comprised of some "oil" being rubbed on the stomach and a list of foods to be avoided.  The price asked back then, about two years ago was 163.00 US dollars in one visit.

The only setback i have is insomnia.  I plan to buy the wedge pillow so that my head will be elevated when i go to sleep.

Take care.

Pie

- i think im pre-menopausal also; im hypertensive; asthmatic and got allergic rhinitis and perennial sinusitis.

Post Edited (Pie_Filipina2013) : 11/2/2013 4:15:48 AM (GMT-6)

The 2 meds that had the least side effects for me were Dexilant and Pepsid. I actually haven't had any side effects while taking Pepsid. While I no longer need it, my wife uses Pepsid with very good results.

Take care,
Bill

I've been taking Nexium on and off for 1 1/2 years. I've suffered from anxiety for a good part of my life, but I swear this drug added fuel to that fire.

The connection was not glaringly clear until I started taking Nexium long term. Previously, I would take it for a week or two, then jump off. Recently, however, I took it long term - I was on it for a good 10 - 12 weeks.

My anxiety seemed to be getting worse and finally culminated in full blown panic attacks. Recently, I ended up in the ER because I honestly thought I was having a heart attack.

Yes, Nexium knocked out my heartburn, but I'd rather have heartburn than crippling anxiety.

And, of course, because was on it for a good 12 weeks, stopping cold turkey is turning out to be a fun experience, what with all the acid rebounding - gas, bloating, stomach ache, nausea, loss of appetite.

Count me as one of the ones that would say that Nexium can contribute to anxiety, especially if you're already prone to it.

Yes. Stopped taking Nexium cold turkey 9 days ago. It's been rough on my stomach. No fun at all.

Nexium also seemed to push up my blood pressure. So, I suspect maybe a bit of a magnesium problem, so I am supplementing daily with magensium citrate, along with the occasional epson salt bath and a spray-on magnesium oil.

My anxiety is MUCH more manageable now.

I had a tragic experience with PPI drugs. about 13 years ago I started taking Aciphex. about 3 months after I started taking it, I started experiencing horribly debilitating anxiety and chronic panic attacks. The anxiety effect did not set in immediately after I started taking Aciphex, so I didn’t put the two together as cause and effect. The problem got so bad I was sleeping only about 3 hours a night and was becoming suicidal. I wound up taking a 4 month medical leave of absence from work. Meanwhile the doctors told me that it was very important to keep taking the PPI’s and my other drugs as they didn’t believe they had anything to do with the anxiety. The only thing that counteracted my anxiety symptoms was powerful and highly addictive benzodiazepine drugs. I had all kinds of medical tests and the doctors could find nothing. The doctors all told me my medications had nothing to do with anxiety. Finally a few months later a friend told me to stop taking all the prescriptions I was taking at the time. …All off them, all at once! Within a day or 2 the anxiety stopped. By process of elimination, I figured out that the offending drug was Aciphex. A repeat exposure confirmed it. Any attempts at taking other PPI’s produced similar problems. It subsequently took a couple of months to get off the addictive benzodiazepine. Fortunately I can still take H2 blockers.

I now feel a moral responsibility to tell others about my horrible experience. When I first had the anxiety reaction to PPI’s, there was nothing on the internet to help me figure out what was going on. The experience cost me dearly in other ways too extensive to go on about here. It was quite simply the worst experience of my life. I was in living hell. It took me several months to recover from the situation.

Fortunately for me, with H2 blockers and dietary changes, my GERD symptoms are not as bad as they once were and are pretty much under control. However, in the meantime, I have discovered I have the same severe anxiety reaction from other drugs including gabapentin, azithromycin, and diet drugs containing amphetamines. I absolutely have no idea what these drugs have in common, but I have learned to immediately trust my recognition of an anxiety reaction when it occurs from taking a prescription. Otherwise I am anxiety free and pretty much a happy person who enjoys life. I take no anti-depressants or anything like that and I feel blessed that my experience with PPI’s is now a distant memory.