Dexilant and Cramps: What Users Say

• Pet...
• February 12, 2012

For GERD "This medication after using it for a month plus has ended me up in the emergency room for severe chest pains, dizziness, high blood pressure, occasional diarrhea, tightness in the chest, cramps, and muscle aches."

• SCF...
• June 28, 2016

For GERD "I've had severe acid reflux for 15 years. Tried every PPI out there. Several years ago, I was prescribed Dexilant 60 mg once daily. I thought it worked very well. Then, adverse effects came in, such as leg, hand, and feet cramping. I developed headaches, and my magnesium level is at 0.5, critical at this point. I was hospitalized two days ago with severe muscle cramps in my back. Thought it was kidney stones. I have not been able to move freely, and my quality of life has changed dramatically. I have been prescribed Valium 40 mg a day to be able to sleep and move around. If someone had told me that this drug would cause these effects in the future, I PROMISE you I would never have taken it to start. There is a dependency issue too."

• ria...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2017

For GERD "I had an endoscopy. Thank goodness it's not an ulcer or H. pylori. Since diagnosed with mild gastritis, but then the doctor gave me Dexilant, domperidone, and Gaviscon. It's compulsory to take Dexilant every day for 2 weeks, but then I had nausea all day, diarrhea 3-4 times a day, my body getting weak and no appetite. It's getting worse in the office due to the side effect. After 10 days, I stopped. I could not take it anymore, although the nurse asked me to continue it. The day after, I could eat without having nausea anymore. I don't even need to go to the bathroom every time every day. If you experience the same thing as me, STOP it because your body has rejected it and caused weakness, body aches and cramps, nausea, diarrhea. Trust me."

• Gra...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 25, 2019

For GERD "Be careful! Not everyone can take Dexilant, my husband got critical in the ER. First, he started passing blood through stool, then no stool, just passing water, and cramping, became deathly sick before I remembered the doctor had changed his medicine to Dexilant. I don’t think he would have lasted much longer if he stayed on it. He was on it for 21 days, every day he got worse. I stopped all acid reflux medicine and will start him back on Protonix next week. Dexilant was like poison for him. Be careful."

• Rel...
• February 24, 2020

For GERD "I was prescribed Dexilant by my gastroenterologist to treat possible GERD, and once I started taking it, I experienced some side effects: gas, dizziness, cramps, liquidy stools, and more seriously, an inflamed gallbladder. Had to have my gallbladder removed, and for three weeks after the surgery, still had all the other side effects. I decided to stop taking the Dexilant after discussing this with my pharmacist, and since then, the watery stools have subsided and the nausea has almost gone. I wouldn't recommend Dexilant to my worst enemy!"

• Crz...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 22, 2016

For GERD "I have been taking Prilosec for years, but noticed that lately it doesn't seem to be as effective. I went to a new GI who gave me samples of Dexilant to try. I took one 60 mg pill yesterday afternoon, and in the middle of the night, I developed horrible muscle cramping in my lower back and legs that had me in tears. I couldn't get out of bed all day today, and when I finally got up and ate a little bit, I developed painful abdominal cramping and explosive diarrhea. It has been going on for hours now. All of this after one dose! I rarely ever have problems with side effects of medications. I will NEVER take this stuff again! I just wish I had tried the doctor's samples for a few days before I picked up the prescription."

• Jc ...
• February 17, 2016

For GERD "I was prescribed Dexilant for a possible ulcer, which caused nausea. It may have helped the nausea a little, but not much. After taking it for a few months, I got severe diarrhea and cramping. I was not able to leave my apartment or go to work, the diarrhea was uncontrollable. I have never had diarrhea this bad before. I realized it was probably Dexilant causing the diarrhea and cramping today after searching on the Internet for side effects. I doubt it is anything other than the Dexilant. Hopefully, the diarrhea and cramping will subside fairly quickly."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2016

For GERD "Kinda ran out of room, so this is a 2nd post, hope that's ok. Anyone suffering from cramps, diarrhea, bloating, emergencies after taking this medication should read: I have gotten a dairy allergy after using this medicine. I would highly recommend total withdrawal of dairy if you have had a similar experience. I've been dealing with these side effects for 10 months and tried various things. I assumed it had just aggravated my IBS as symptoms slowly subsided, yet after a vacation with too much rich restaurant food, symptoms (3 a.m. emergency waking, constant cramps, etc.) returned. Only after total removal of dairy am I kind of back to normal. I am able to access medical cannabis living in Canada, which can drop 4-6 movements to 1-2 a day."

• Dam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 20, 2015

For GERD "I was given samples of Dexilant from my doctor. I was recently diagnosed with GERD. I had mucus in the back of my throat so bad I couldn't eat anything at all. I could hardly drink water without it irritating the acid in my throat. The Dexilant worked like a charm, I could eat, and I had no side effects. Then, after a week of use, I started getting bad cramps in my legs. They just recently spread to my entire body. I went to the ER yesterday morning, they told me I had tardive dyskinesia. I stopped taking all my medications a week ago, and the cramps are still here. I was given Benadryl in the ER and was told to continue use for 10 days to see if the reaction goes away... I'd rather have the diarrhea than constant muscle spasms."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2016

For GERD "Dexilant caused diarrhea, IBS, dairy allergy. I was prescribed it for severe heartburn, hiatus hernia, stomach inflammation, and it helped a lot. I stopped taking Dexilant 10 months ago due to severe diarrhea, cramps, nausea, bile, waking in the middle of the night with cramps, and half-hour painful diarrhea, constipation combo, awful cramps, gas. From what I've read on this thread, I'm not alone. I hate to tell those who recently started this that have had these issues with Dexilant, and 10 months off this poison, and I'm still suffering. I now have a dairy allergy. Only after removing dairy from my diet are my severe symptoms relieved. I eat any dairy, and I'm sick again for 2-3 days. Existing IBS is worse than before, now a daily struggle."

• Can...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 20, 2016

For GERD "Dexilant caused diarrhea, IBS, dairy allergy. I was prescribed it for severe heartburn, hiatus hernia, stomach inflammation, and it helped a lot. I stopped taking Dexilant 10 months ago due to severe diarrhea, cramps, nausea, bile, waking in the middle of the night with cramps, and half-hour painful diarrhea, constipation combo, awful cramps, gas. From what I've read on this thread, I'm not alone. I hate to tell those who recently started this that have had these issues with Dexilant, and 10 months off this poison, and I'm still suffering. I now have a dairy allergy. Only after removing dairy from my diet are my severe symptoms relieved. I eat any dairy, and I'm sick again for 2-3 days. Existing IBS is worse than before, now a daily struggle."

• Lyn...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 27, 2019

For GERD "About 18 hours after taking it for the first time, I had terrible gas pains, cramping, and diarrhea. I was hoping this medication would help better with my GERD, but I definitely won't be continuing to take it."

• 35...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 4, 2017

For GERD "This seemed to control my stomach discomfort. I don’t have typical reflux symptoms, but have been on PPIs (Nexium) for 5+ years because it helps control the pain in my stomach. I switched to Dexilant because I was still uncomfortable on Nexium. Immediate side effects were mostly cramping. After being on Dexilant for about 6 weeks, I started feeling brief, strange sensations all over my body. It felt like pin pricks, or a zing here or there in my arms, hands, legs, face, or scalp. Two weeks later, those sensations have intensified. Instead of lasting a few seconds and going away for a while, numerous sensations occur again and again. I am scratching even though it doesn’t really itch. I stopped taking the drug as a result."

• Rob...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 18, 2022

For GERD "I started Dexilant 60 mg daily after 20 years and plateau on Protonix at 40 mg and tried Prevacid for a few months. I had an EDG and found to have Barrett's that’s non-dysplasia. At first, Dexilant was a miracle drug, wow, it really works. After 6 weeks of taking this, I developed such severe doubled-over abdominal pain with diarrhea, some vomiting, and severe leg cramps. I also had new severe dizziness and heart palpitations. I had to stop and go back to Prevacid. All of those side effects had resolved. I went back to Prevacid since this doesn’t cause those side effects. I decided after a few months to re-trial Dexilant, omg, I thought I had to go to the ER. I had such severe abdominal pain I could hardly stand up. It’s too bad that Dexilant truly helped my GERD but not at the cost of those side effects. Never again. I know it helps others, just not me."