Should I take an alternative
I have been on Lansoprazole for over 6 years, my joints are stiff and aching, coincidence?
Question posted by lindyloulabel on 23 June 2012
Last updated on 9 June 2023 by PirateHarry
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5 Answers
I'm also a sufferer of pain from Lansoprazole. Tried stopping. Reflux rebound so horrible I thought I would die. These proton pump inhibitors are poison. They reduce the production of acid but do nothing to treat the root cause. Money makers for doctors and drug companies. I hate them.
Think this is a side effect and having some exercise might help, but it is the medication that is causing it. I would lower the dose or switch to a different ppi or try to stop taking it. I got terrible side effects and within two days of not taking it anymore they all went.
Are you getting exercise? The body gets stiff even when well as an aging process. If you add a med to this and don't get exercise and have some pounds to drop, you aren't going to move well anyway. Is any of this a complication?
Hello lindyloulabel & welcome to the site. I am giving you a link below that will give you the side effects of the med you are taking. Muscle pain is listed as a side effect that should be reported to your doctor. Lansoprazole is a proton pump inhibitor, & so are most of the other ones you are thinking about. It is usually given to people that stomachs produce too much acid. I personally take omprazole. I would love to get off of it & have tried with a doctors help by taking it evey other day & using maalox inbetween, but unfortuneatley, it didn't help me enough, so I am still on it. I don't like taking it because of the risk of femur, hip & backfractures. I am on Forteo for my severe osteoporosis, & have had many fracture already, & really shouldn't be on a proton pump inhibitor, but have no choice at this time. I would have erosions of the esphogus if I didn't take it from the constant heartburn.
So, I guess it's an individual answer for each person. Some will tell you it has caused all sorts of other problems, but I have never heard of some of them. Infact the other problems I hear about like sinus problems etc... I had already before ever starting the proton pump inhibitor from alleriges. I would have a talk with your PCP about the pain you are having. You don't list any other medical conditions or meds that you take or your age. Could you be getting some arthritis? Just my thoughts... Mary
https://www.drugs.com/lansoprazole.html
Hi Mary,
You have the same problem I do with the Omeprazle only I have so many many other affects from it... such as sinus problem so bad (I went off the omeprazole and it disappears) shortness of breath, muscle pain, gout in my toe, hoarseness, cough and I am just plain miserable when I am on 20mg a day... I stopped it on my own after 12 years just a few months ago but the heartburn, just as you said, comes back with a rage! I am taking it every other day now but still experience every so often during the day, the burning in my chest. I do not take any kind of bone supplement/medications but do not have fractures either. I seem to be getting better with the burning by making sure I drink green tea either hot or cold and also I am taking a probiotic which was suggested to me by our vitamin shoppe. Let me know your feedback on my remarks here okay? You sound like me except for my complaints above.
Thanks a bunch,
Anne
Thanks Anne and Mary, your replies were very helpful. I also have Asthma and had my gallbladder out last August. I have been to the Doctor and am currently being tested for Rhumatoid Arthritis... I have had various blood tests in the last few months, I feel like I'm hitting a brick wall. I try and keep fit but at the moment my feet and back are so painfull. I will let you know how I get on, I go to the Doc's on Monday. By the way... I'm 52. Thanks again.
You are welcome lindyloulabel, & hope you get the answers you are looking for at your doctors appointment tomorrow. To Anne, yes, I have severe osteoporosis, & lots of other problems, but NOT from taking the omprozole. I also havd ulcers that were bleeding quite a few years ago, & horrible GERD. The only thing that seems to keep the GERD at bay is the Omprozole or one of the other proton pump inhibitors. It's a catch 22 for you it sounds like. I already had the allergy, asthma, & sinus problems before ever starting on Omeprozole, & have all my life, so I know that's not causing those problems in me. But who knows! Meds can cause all sorts of different problems for diferent people. I dont like taking the proton pump inhibitors, but it seems if I don't I get erosions really bad. I have tried everthing available too. I found that Gaviscon is a really good one to take for heartburn.
It tastes sort of funny because it gets all fuzzy in your mouth, but it does help with the heartburn. Give it a try if you haven't yet. It coats pretty well, & may help you alot. I surely hope so. It's a miserable feeling having you breakfast, luch & dinner, coming back up to haunt you every day, & can cause lots of damage too. Good luck with this... Mary
Hi Mary,
Is Gaviscon a liquid? Actually, I will look it up to get more info on this as I know this Omeprazole is causing me not to be able to walk well due to aches in my muscles so bad and my lower back aches... Went to neurologist and back doctor and both say nothing wrong with my back at all! I am 2 days now without the Omeprazole and my muscles are vaguely beginning to feel somewhat better but my back is still a problem. What do you mean by "erosions"? I have not heard of this in heartburn or esophagus. I am interested. I need to post a question on this website but not sure yet how to do it so I need to check that out also.
Thanks for all your feedback!
Anne
Well I have been to the doctors and he said my RA results were fine, he gave me some Ibuprofen, he also said that the lansoprazole would not give me these symptoms!!
So still at square one.
Linda
Anne, Yes, Gaviscon is a liquid, but very thick & one of the more expensive ones, but I found it really works well in coating. What I mean by erosions are like small sores they see when they do a scope & look down your esphoegus into the stomach. The acid backing up to your throat causing what is termed heartburn acturally does 'burn' little sores or sometimes holes in the tissue. It is very uncombfortable... Mary
Linda, so sorry your doctor didn't find out what is causing your pains.Be areful with the ibuprophen as it can cause your tummy upset too. Most all NSAIDS bother me. Make my stomach hurt terribly. I hope you get some answers soon. I agree with Karen you need expercise, but we haven't even discussed this much yet. Would like to get to know you better. Keep posting & maybe you will hit on something that fits your symptoms that your doc is missing... Mary
Hi Mary
I know I should start exercising, I can't find anything I want to do! I need to get motivated, I just feel so tired and theres always something that hurts/aches. I start coughing with anything energetic, I'm on my feet a lot at work, so my heels hurt even when I wear cushioned shoes! I think I just need shooting... ha!
Linda.
Well, that would do the trick all right, unless you just got wounded & then more pain! Yikes! Wishing you to feel better. You might try doing or startin out with yoga. You can get the DVD's & books at your library. Just a thought. It's mostly stretching & works wonders for sore stiff aching muscles... mary
Hi Lindylou,
So sorry your doctor made a flat statement that it is not the drugs! The doctor told me the same when I took Lipitor and it almost killed me until I went off of it. Now research is proving more and more that statin drugs cause lots of side affects to some people. The PPI drugs are also a new drug. My muscles are still hurting from the Omeprazole but not as much and all the other problems I had are going away such as coughing, nausea in the morning, bone aches, urinary tract infections, etc. so I know it was the PPI med. I am slowly weaning myself off of them as I went cold turkey but decided the acid reflux was too bad and also I do not think it is good to go off suddenly after 12 years and now I take 2 zantac a day, 1 in morning, 1 in evening and take the omeprazole every (down to this dose) 5 days. I will be talking to my GI doctor soon to see what he says.
My suggestion to you is what I am doing for exercise as the ladies are so right YOU MUST EXERCISE THOSE MUSCLES... I am going to swim exercises which is so soothing and wonderful!!! I could not walk before I started due to the meds but between cutting down on the PPI and water exercising, I am able to walk for a distance now. I do need something to hold onto such as a grocery cart, etc. since my muscles are still somewhat weak. I am going twice a week for 1 hour of walking class (in the pool) and 1/2 hour on my own before the class. Please try it. I think it will help.
Anne
Mary and Anne,
Thanks for your suggestions, I will definitely look into both. The only thing is I can't swim!! But I have been thinking on those lines. As I said earlier, I need to get motivated.
Linda
Hi Lindyloulabel,
I do not think this is a coincidence at all. I think it is definitely a fact! I have been on Omeprazole for 12 years and I have all kinds of problems that go away when I stop taking it. But I do have a problem with heartburn when I stop the med so I try it every other day. The aches go away a bit but worse than the aches, I have had a shortness of breath which sent me to the hospital. My lungs were fine after being on prednisone but then the shortness of breath came back... long story short, I stopped the ompeprazole for a few days, the shortness of breath goes away and my aches (even the gout I get) lightens up. Then I have to take it again and it all starts up again. So the only way to find out is if you stop the medication (let the doctor know but they will not believe you, I will bet)... these meds are PPI's and they stop the production of acid being released in the body... I think our bodies need some acid. This is my opinion only. If you find something to help your problem other than what you are taking, let me know okay?
Good luck,
Anne
Related topics
Further information
- Lansoprazole uses and safety info
- Lansoprazole prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Lansoprazole (detailed)
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