I have stomach pain, loss of appetite and bloating after taking Prilosec. Why?

Question

Hello doctor,

Are loss of appetite, stomach pain, and bloating normal when taking Prilosec? I went to an ENT doctor for some chest and throat tightness, and they suspect acid reflux. I did not have these symptoms before taking the medication.

I feel like there is a weight on my chest with a sore throat. I also have a sour or salty taste in my mouth. When I wake up, I have a bad breath. So, the ENT doctor thought it could be acid reflux and prescribed Omeprazole. Since starting the medicine (about a week), I have had stomach aches, bloating, and appetite loss with tightness in my throat and chest.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Well, these are all side effects of the Prilosec. It can cause bloating, diarrhea, loss of appetite. However, pain is a rare phenomenon.

Symptoms of chest tightness do not seem to be due to acid reflux. Burning, sore taste in the mouth and throat, acid brash are common symptoms of acid reflux. If your symptoms have not improved with Prilosec, then it is unlikely that these symptoms are secondary to acid reflux. I think you should see a pulmonologist (chest specialist) for these symptoms.

I can suggest you some treatment for your chest symptoms, but I want some more information.

Do you have any change in the symptoms in day or night or any change in the intensity of season-wise symptoms? Do you have allergies, runny nose, cough, or sputum?

Answer 2

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

Well, it seems like allergic bronchitis or tracheitis. Both are parts of the respiratory tract.

I suggest you take tablet Kestine 10 mg (ebastine) at night time for a week, tablet Montelukast 10 mg (levocetrizine) in the morning. I have written the formula name. They are most probably OTC medicines, so you can purchase from a local pharmacy and start. Both are anti-allergic to a different method of action. This would also help your allergic runny nose symptoms besides chest symptoms.

You can stop Prilosec. Instead, you can take a capsule Esomeprazole 40 mg (proton pump inhibitor) half an hour before meals once daily for a week. If your symptoms did not get better after 72 hours of using these above medicines, I would suggest you some blood investigations to rule out food pipe (esophagus) allergies.

Gut related allergies are entirely different conditions altogether. Hence it requires a different approach. Since I feel that it is related to the lungs or upper respiratory tract such as pharynx, larynx, I am not suggesting any extensive workup. Capsule Esomeprazole is also an acid suppressant medication similar in class to Prilosec, but more potent and good side effect profile.

Answer 3

Hello,

Welcome back to icliniq.com.

The formula name of Kestine is Ebastine. If this particular brand is a prescription medicine then just write Ebastine and see what brands of this formula available in your country. Brand name of tablet Monteleukast is Singulair. I looked online for you but this yeild same results saying it is perscription medicine for both. Unfortunately the prescription we write is not valid cross country wise. So I advise you to meet your GP and ask for prescription.