New to forum...Need info on GERD, Protonix, and Palpitations

[Dakotah]

Hi,

Hoping someone here can help. I have been experiencing heart palpitations on and off for awhile. Doc has done EKG, echo, and I wore a monitor for a month - determined that I am experiencing PVCs. Seem to be related to my digestive system, as they typically occur after I eat. Was having symptoms of acid reflux also - gurgling in throat (not burps, I call the gurgling "gremlins" cause that's what it sounds like), regurgitation of stomach acid. I had a prescription of liquid Zantac doctor had given me previously and when I took that religiously, symptoms disappeared. Had given up caffeine years ago but also recently quit drinking all carbonated beverages and really watching what I eat. Went to doctor for recent flare-up of palpitations and he too thought they were related to acid reflux so he put me on Protonix in place of the prescription Zantac. Have been on Protonix for about 2 weeks.

I am still having palpitations after I eat (mainly first thing in the am and after dinner). But, the frequency of them has gone way down. I am thinking that maybe I just haven't been on the Protonix long enough for complete relief and that maybe my Vagus nerve is sensitized from my acid reflux problems and will take a while to "settle down".

Does this sound right? Does anyone know how long I should give the Protonix to work? Or, does it sound like it isn't working and I should ask my doc to put me on a different PPI?

The palpitations are very scary and I'd like to be able to get them to go away. I am also having some very irregular menstrual cycles and am trying to get that corrected as I fear I have a hormone imbalance. Also am on Synthroid for hypothyroid and have struggled with anemia in the past - all other potential causes of palpitations.

Just not sure how much time to give my symptoms a chance to go away. I'm thinking I should not panic until I get my hormones under control and give the Protonix more time to work. Any thoughts?

Thanks!!! Sorry so long

[Meridith]

I experienced heart palpitations for about 6 weeks. I also have anxiety with GERD. I was put on Nexium 2x a day and many symptoms have disappeared. The only time I have those bizarre heart palpitations now is when I eat chocolate (which is a huge GERD trigger for me) Maybe it will just take some time for the Protonix to work. I thought I would never get relief and it has been a long journey but I feel better now. I still take Nexium faithfully. I hope you feel relief soon.

[NancyH]

Protonix is not as strong PPI as other like prilosec or nexium but you need to give these drugs at least 6 weeks before you can tell they will work for you. I took free samples of Protonix for 3 weeks but it didn't seem to help, so the Dr gve me 6 weeks of free nexium and it took 4 weeks to even see the flame go down to a flicker as far as the burn goes. So he wants me on it for another 6 weeks and then maybe switch over to Protonix as a maintenance med. I've has constant 24/7 severe heartburn since August and the endoscopy showed mild Barrett's and yet I still am not completely rid of it and I try to stay away from all triggers which is all foods right now, I eat rice, cereal w/non fat milk, yogurt, I puree my veggies til I can learn to slow down with my eating, I eat on the run and now I don't eat hardly at all so I'm learning to eat small meals instead of shoving down a big meal. I did get palpatations for awhile to but I also have anxiety disorder so it is mixed.

[cfiarson]

You should take Prilosec. I was on protonix, but my dr. switched. Prilosec works immediately.

[trebor]

Hi,
I'm new to forum. I have suffered from heartburn for many years, treating it with Tums and various acid reducers. Recently I started taking Prilosec OTC, and the results were immediate and excellent. Having finished the prescribed 14-day course, I stopped and the heartburn returned. I have re-started taking Prilosec and intend to stay on the regimen long term. Does anyone know if there are problems taking this medicine long term?