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Cymbalta and acid reflux?

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Posted 2/5/2008 3:33 AM (GMT 0)
I am new on the boards and I hope this is the correct place to post about acid reflux and medications. This is my third month on Cymbalta, 60 mg daily. Lately this month, I have noticed daily heartburn that doesnt really go away after taking extra strength tums. It is not really after eating, it could be several hours after or before even. I drink cokes about everyday, which obviously aggrevates it. My question is, occasionally I notice water brash at night (wakes me up) and I have been belching a lot. Along with the belch is the burning acid that comes up in my throat. Does anyone think it is more the medicine or is a diet switch more important? I am gainging weight too, because of the CYmbalta. But it does help my chronic back pain and depression, so I am not complaining there.

 

Posted 2/5/2008 6:19 AM (GMT 0)
I take the same dosage of cymbalta and I have Gerd. The only difference was I was documented with GERD years before I even started the cymbalta. The only thing I can say is that the medication didn't make it worse. However, that doesn't mean it can't. I guess the simplest thing to do would be to start with simple diet changes and go from there.
Posted 2/6/2008 4:29 PM (GMT 0)
Hello acidic, and welcome to healingwell. I am glad you have found us, as this is a great place for information and support. When it comes to GERD, yes, medications CAN make it worse. I am not saying that Cymbalta is making it worse, but there is always a possiblity there. Also though, changing your diet is most important in getting a handle on your GERD. Try changing your diet, cutting out all the things that are bad for your GERD. If that doesn't improve it, you could ask your doctor if he feels there is any connection between the Cymbalta and GERD. In my OPINION, I'd say there isn't a connection, but I am not a doctor. Again, welcome aboard, and please, do stick with us!
Posted 10/12/2008 10:00 PM (GMT 0)
I have been taken cymbalta for 2 years and have terrible gerd and weight gain. What other anti-depressant is there that won't cause these side effects?
Posted 10/12/2008 10:56 PM (GMT 0)

acidic,

Welcome to HealingWell and the Heartburn/GERD forum.  We are glad to have you join us.  This is Kitt.

There could be a link between antidepressant and reflux disease. Therefore, if you take antidepressants and are suffering from frequent acid reflux/GERD , your antidepressant medication could be contributing to the symptoms you are experiencing.

The type of antidepressant that has been most commonly linked with GERD is known as Tricyclic antidepressants .

Tricyclic antidepressants include: Amitriptyline, Amoxapine, Desipramine, Doxepin, Imipramine, Nortriptyline, Protriptyline, and Trimipramine

I took Nortriptyline for many years and had severe heartburn but no reflux at that time.  I am on Cymbalta but I was already having the heartburn and the GERD was dx in the ER.  The reflux developed about about 2 years ago.  I know what I can eat and cannot eat close to bed time.  I am like doghouse, I had the GERD sx before I was started on Cymbalta.

Gerd2, the only med I have heard of that rarely causes weight gain is Wellbutrin.  Now remember I am not a professional.  My pdoc told me Cymbalta would not cause weight gain but I gained a lot of wt on this med. 

Great questions and very concerning to many members.You've come to the right place to find people that have a good idea of what you're going through. If you have an questions for me please just email me.

Again a warm welcome

Kitt

Posted 11/25/2008 2:06 AM (GMT 0)

This is my first time on HealingWell, a forum that has been a tremendous help to my daughter - thank you.  :-)

I hope I've posted this to the right place.  Regarding Wellbutrin and heartburn - here is my story:  To help me stop smoking, my Dr. prescribed Wellbutrin, but unaware of the generic issues of this drug, I accepted a prescription for Budeprion instead.  The very first day, I developed hiccups, burping & nausea.  Because of my commitment to quit smoking, I gave the drug another 10 days to see if I would adjust.  I never did and have been suffering every since (1 month).  I've never been so uncomfortable for so long.  Ironically, the only time I am comfortable is when I sleep - no reflux at all!   I just stopped drinking tea and coffee and started on Prilosec and there's been a slight improvement.  I have quite an appetite; in fact, eating small amounts of food all day long is what helps most, but I'm headed for a major weight gain if this continues.  The only good out of this is that I never started smoking again regardless of these problems and my anxiety!  Any thoughts on what could be the link between heartburn and anti-depressants?  Any ideas on how to get past this?   Thanks.

Posted 11/25/2008 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
I have GERD, but its been extremely well controlled for several years, without meds. A few months ago, I began taking Zoloft. I have to wean off it because it caused such horrible diarrhea, but I also developed a benign irregular heartbeat. I'm realizing that its because the zoloft seems to have flared up my GERD, and my esophagus is irritated, and that can irritate the vagus nerve, which can cause the irregular heartbeats. And I have been burping like there's no tomorrow! I'm just now putting 2 and 2 together and realizing that its the zoloft (an SSRI), that is causing the GERD flare up.
Its really sad to think that I finally found a drug that will help with my depression, but I can't take it because of those GI side-effects.
Sometimes these initial symptoms resolve after a few months, so be sure to give it time enough. But for me, its been about 4 months, and its just getting worse.
I'm curious.......are you able to take things like NSAIDS and aspirin? I can't. I also have IBS. I wonder if we just have really sensitive GI tracts??
Posted 11/25/2008 2:41 PM (GMT 0)

Good Morning My Shadow,

I have GERD too and ever since I started on AD years ago I have had heartburn. I was switched to Cymbalta and it was after that my regurge started.

You have a good point.  Do discuss it with your physician.

Welcome to HealingWell and I am so glad you found us.

This is a great group and they are very wise.

Stick with us

Kitt

Posted 11/26/2008 2:32 AM (GMT 0)

Kitt and CathyA - thanks for your comments.  CathyA - I'm so sorry GERD is keeping you from using an AD that works for you, but hopefully through trial and error you'll find the one you can tolerate.  And yes, I do think we have sensitive GI tracts because I can't handle anti-inflammatories, aspirin, or naproxen either.  Still, I can't believe there's a medication out there that could totally mess up my system in a matter of days.  To go from no problems at all to continuous burping, upset stomach, etc. is a mystery to me. 

During those four months, have you taken any Prilosec/Prevacid, etc. or had an endoscopy? 

Posted 11/26/2008 1:14 PM (GMT 0)
Hi MyShadow,
I've been toying with the idea of taking some Nexium samples I have, but I know it will give me an incredible headache. With Thanksgiving coming up, I didn't want to risk feeling bad......so I might try it after that. Pepcid doesn't do anything for me.
As I've been weaning off the zoloft, my GI tract is going even crazier! Yesterday I had so much gas, it made me feel sick. I've been trying to add probiotics, and I think they are causing some problems too. (can cause alot of gas in some people).
Our GI tracts CAN change quickly. I also believe that some drugs can have a really bad fairly permanent affect on our intestines. I actually think that my IBS was in part caused by antibiotics. Our GI tracts are incredible complex organs, and I think modern medicine can actually cause more problems than they help. I read on one forum that a person who had taken an SSRI developed IBS with it, that never did go away after stopping the med.
But I also know that some things just take time. When I was on Wellbutrin, I had problems with my esophagus too. Try to eat nutritiously, cutting back on carbs and sugar.
Its funny you mentioned having a bigger appetite. I've actually experienced that on PPIs, as have some other people I talked to.
MyShadow, may I ask if your male or female and your age?
Posted 11/27/2008 3:33 PM (GMT 0)

Hi CathyA ~ and Happy Thanksgiving!  Hope this day finds you well enough to enjoy the festivities.  As I'm in the midst of cooking, I'll have to be brief, but I wanted to let you know that I am female and in my fifties.  (Seems like every year that passes, some new issues are there to greet me.  confused  )  For now, my biggest issue is to be a non-smoker.  Too bad that everything I'm trying to do to accomplish that is making me feel worse!  But I thank you for your suggestions on things to eat/not eat.  And yes, antibiotics can wreak havoc with the GI tract - my husband developed IBS and is now using Activia and acidophilus tablets; both are helping tremendously!

Posted 9/29/2009 12:01 AM (GMT 0)
I took Cymbalta and had horrible acid reflux.  I had to stop taking it.  I have taken several other antidepressants with the same results.  As a result of the constant acid reflux, I now have barretts esophagus.  I have quit taking antidepressants because of the acid reflux.  There does not seem to be any antidepressants that do not cause acid reflux.  I have taken many medications for the reflux while taking antidepressants without any favorable results.  Any information or ideas would be greatfully appreciated.
Posted 9/29/2009 11:15 AM (GMT 0)

Hello and welcome to HealingWell,

I was on Cymbalta for over a year and I am also on Priolosec.  Most of the time the Prilosec covered my reflux.

I am sorry to hear you have problems with the AD's and reflux.

There could be a link between antidepressant and reflux disease. Therefore, if you take antidepressants and are suffering from frequent acid reflux/GERD , your antidepressant medication could be contributing to the symptoms you are experiencing.

The type of antidepressant that has been most commonly linked with GERD is known as Tricyclic antidepressants .

Tricyclic antidepressants include: Amitriptyline, Amoxapine, Desipramine, Doxepin, Imipramine, Nortriptyline, Protriptyline, and Trimipramine.

My GERD started when I was on Nortriptyline many long years ago.  It started as severe heartburn.

Right now I am off AD but still noticed I had reflux on Saturday.  Hope this info helps you in some small way.

Again welcome,

Kitt

Posted 10/10/2011 6:07 PM (GMT 0)

I have never written on a forum but struggled for so long with Cymbalta, Prilosec and GERD that I won't go into a long story.  I had  endoscopes, made all of the diet changes, allowed 3 hrsafter eating before bed , etc,etc. My husband came up with the idea that maybe it was the Cymbalta, vitamins, calcium, etc. I was taking before bedtime.  Lo and behold, he was correct! Now I take my Prilosec 1/2 hr before dinner and other meds sometime during the day. Voila! no more nightime reflux and my esophagus feels normal. I guess "nothing before bed" means meds too!!--and I can now have coffee and a glass of wine again!

Posted 7/30/2012 8:51 AM (GMT 0)
I've also been having acid reflux and heartburn with Cymbalta. This is going to be my second week on it. I don't like the taste of antacids and I prefer not to take more meds, although I have taken at its worst. I found that eating ginger candy relieves my symptoms faster than any of the antacid medications I've taken (including Rx antacids). And it's natural! I hope this helps! Now if I can only get rid of my occasional annoying headaches :/
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