to PPI or not to PPI...need advice - Acid Reflux / GERD Message Board

moesciphish · 06-02-2006, 03:50 PM

Ok.. I've come to realize that my body does not like PPI's... when I have taken Aciphex and Protonix.. I get horrible anxiety and several other side effects... almost an anticholinergic effect... btw, I did read somewhere that ranitidine is an anticholinergic... so I'm wonder if these other PPI's are as well... so anyway, I'm pretty sure this is what's causing it, because the first time I took aciphex, I felt like I was tripping... so much so that I drank several beers on it and they had NO EFFECT on me... also, I had been having horrible anxiety, loss of memory and concentration, and strange sensations in my body, like my arms were on fire at times and shakiness (all which seem to be listed as anticholinergic like symptoms)... I attributed it to just general health anxiety... but the minute I stop taking the protonix... the anxiety drops about 75%... I can atleast concentrate on things and don't feel like I'm about to fall over or my head doesn't feel like pins and needles... PROBLEM IS though... after going off it one time, just for one night I layed down flat and woke up with a horrible pain in my esophagus that hurt like crazy when I swallowed for about 2 days... like horrible erosion... so I went back on the protonix.. and boom, back came the side effects, but the erosion pain went away... I recently went off it again because I just started a new job and couldn't function right when I was there... so I have some nexium that was given to me by my GI and I'm debating on even trying them since I have had the same reactions from both Aciphex and Protonix... I've been off them for 1 night and am now sleeping with my head tilted up by pillows and am probably going to raise my bed... any suggestions? I know the PPI's aren't supposed to be used for a long period anyway because of risks of cancer... but I also have Barrett's high up in my esophagus (not lower though, go figure) and reflux could be even worse for it and make it pre-malignant... so *** should I do?

aswander · 06-02-2006, 03:58 PM

Try the Nexium. Though, like any other PPI, it doesn't work for everyone, both by Yale ENT and UPenn Gastro swear by it. They have both told me it's "better metabolized" by more people than the other prescription brands.

I"m sorry to hear about the negative side effects you're having with Aciphex and Protonix. If there is one thing that this message board has made very clear, it's that these drugs seem to help/and be tolerated differently by everyone.

Are you on 1 pill or 2 pills a day? Do you have GERD, LPR, or both?

dorisnflau1 · 06-04-2006, 10:18 AM

Moesciphish,
I too had the same experience you have. I was onZantac for about 3 weeks, and the one day I was off, I felt a horrible erosion type of pain aong the upper esophagus (close to the collar bone area) when I woke up the next morning that I ws so afraid, then I put myself on the med again. Now I am on Nexium and am so afraid to go off the med , worrying the same thing would happen again. You'd mentioned you have Barret E at the upper side. How did you get diagnosed? I too have major discomfort at the upper esophagus but went through 2 endos****es and the doc did not find anything. Will there be a chance they miss something? I think the PPI helps me interms of the trouble swallowing sensation, But I always have a specific area on the right side that is constantly a bit painful. Like as if everytime I swallow, there is a nod on the right side and the swallowing is borken up into 2 phases. I wonder if all these are related to muscle or nerve since they cannot find anything.

moesciphish · 06-04-2006, 12:57 PM

My GI saw the barrett's during my EGD... thing is, he didn't see anything else, but my EGD was about 3 weeks after being on PPI's, so it might have healed by then... after going on the PPI again, my symptoms cleared up (the burning) after about 2 days... I went off it and I'm actually doing ok with just eating bland food , eating many small meals a day, and sleeping upright with pillows. My reflux I think is mainly due to my possible gastroparesis. I still have chest pain though... I've had cardiac workup which ruled out the heart, so I'm at a loss.. I have an appointment with a neuro tomorrow... so tired of going through doctors...

oh and if you had an endoscopy, I serious doubt they would have missed anything, so I wouldn't worry...and I'm surprised your GI hasn't set up a Manometry test for you.. sounds like you might have nutcracker's esophagus or something.. I know several times when mine was bad I would get HORRIBLE esophageal spasms, they feel like someone grasping, squeezing, and twisting your esophagus... alot of people confuse them for a heart attack

also Asi... I'm not sure what I have... I think I might have LPR (though I'm guessing I have to have GERD to have LPR), I say this because of the high up Barrett's and I noticed I coughed alot in my sleep and would always have to clear my throat alot, when talking or just whenever... I never knew those were symptoms of LPR before coming to this board. I always attributed them to smoking... but I am now more than a month free of smoking and still have that problem...

dorisnflau1 · 06-05-2006, 09:57 AM

Thank you for your advice. You were right, my doctor actually has ordered a manometry plus impedence test next week on me. I guess I just have to live with tubes inside my nose for a day or so. Have you had it done before? How bad was it? I am quite nervous about it.