Esomeprazole and Anxiety: What Users Say

• Bud...
• January 15, 2020

Esomeprazole for GERD "Omagh, let me start by saying I've only been on this for 14 days. Since then, I've been to nine doctor's appointments, 3 of these were different ERs because I was having heart/panic attacks! I'm 27 years young, healthy as a lark. Every doctor swore that this wasn't the problem, that I had nothing at all wrong with me - anxiety, twitching, sweating/freezing, very moody, VERY bad gas, sharp pains in chest and upper and lower back, abdomen hurting, confusion, foggy vision. This is insane. I had to figure it out on my own. Guys, I have never had any side effects from any medications. I have never ever felt this awful in my life. Just imagining me being as young and healthy as I am, what this is doing to others. Just know, your doctors/nurses will tell you that you're crazy and causing panic attacks and anxiety on your own. It's a lie. This medication was UNBELIEVABLY TOXIC for me. It did stop my heartburn 100%, but I'd rather have heartburn than $100,000 in medical bills."

• HWa...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2021

Esomeprazole for GERD "Thank you, thank you!! I thought I was going crazy!!!!! Massive anxiety attacks, high blood pressure, heart palpitations, massive headaches, worst cramps ever... so many ED visits, so many doctors' visits, ultrasounds, stress tests! My doctors thought I was a hypochondriac, that I was faking it... they put me on so many prescriptions! So I decided to go off all my medications. I have felt the best for the last few weeks until yesterday when I got heartburn, so I took my Nexium tablet... within 30-40 mins I was laying in bed so bloody sick! Blood pressure was up, headaches kicked back in, massive fatigue. So I googled and found this review pages! I have now chucked out my tablets and I'll find something else to stop the heartburn! Thank you, thank you!!"

• Pet...
• November 18, 2020

Esomeprazole for GERD "Glad that I have found this site. Got prescribed these meds from ER with suspected gastritis. Used them for 8 days (40mg x 2 times a day). Like everyone else, after 2 days' use, I was severely debilitated - the only thing I could do was to lie down all day, every day whilst using them. Got all the regular symptoms described by others - shortness of breath, anxiety attacks, palpitations, light-headedness, constant bloated feeling, etc. 3 visits to ER - nil issues found with heart, bloods/x-rays done all clear. Had gastroscopy done - all clear - nil issues at all - shouldn't have taken these meds to begin with. 5 days on after stopping them, I'm still feeling weak, anxious, and consistently burping/feeling bloated. Research has shown these effects (even for short-term use) can last up to 2 weeks - I've gone cold turkey and will never take these meds again. Previous to this, I never had these symptoms."

• RJN...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 17, 2019

Esomeprazole for GERD "I developed terrible GERD and acid reflux where I had chest pressure and the feeling of a giant golf ball stuck in my throat. I was started on Omeprazole for about a week with no improvement. I was sleeping almost sitting down because laying down made the chest pressure so much worse. I was switched to Nexium 40 mg, which I took for 2 weeks. I had terrible nausea, diarrhea, sweating, and anxiety every day. I also developed a fear of suicidal ideations. Fear of dying and fear that something would make me jump from my balcony. I had to lock all my sliding doors and I currently moved to my mom's house. I also had moments where my mind would not stop racing and I would be in a daze. Everyone was talking around me and I would not be present. I stopped the Nexium for 1 day already. The nausea has stopped and so has the diarrhea. I also have not had any dazed our moments today and my thoughts of dying were much less today. I also developed crazy depression."

• Nev...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 9, 2020

Esomeprazole for GERD "I have used Nexium on and off for several years. I didn't put 2 and 2 together until yesterday. My reaction to this drug has been horrific. Chest pain, anxiety, numb swollen tongue, arm and leg bone pain, bloating. I need to find a better solution because this drug is dangerous for me."

• YLa...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 12, 2018

Esomeprazole for GERD "My doctor prescribed Nexium 40mg after an endoscopy result that showed I have hiatus hernia and gastritis. The next day, I woke up feeling terrible, with stomach discomfort and burping the whole time. I never had these symptoms before taking Nexium. By the evening, my whole body felt weak, I couldn't sleep, had anxiety, and heart palpitations. The next morning, things were slightly better, but because I didn't know it was the effect of the medicine, I continued taking it. By the evening, I felt like I was dying. The next morning, I was admitted to the hospital for an IV drip. I stayed a night, and the doctor said it could probably be a viral infection. After discharge, I took Nexium again. True enough, the whole attack happened again. I didn't take it today, but the side effects are still there. Hopefully, they will go away soon. It's unbearable. This drug has done more harm than good for me and is not helping at all."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2018

Esomeprazole for GERD "Absolutely awful drug... I took it for 3 days. Yes, it worked by removing the incessant burning. However, the side effects were horrific and take quite some time to get rid of. Day 4 chest pain out of the blue lasting for several minutes ended up in the emergency room. ECG normal. Lethargy, anxiety, terrible stomach cramps, diarrhea, back pain, limb weakness, neck pain and cramps, swaying... This drug is SO toxic. It took a week or two for it all to subside."

• chu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2021

Esomeprazole for GERD "I have taken Nexium a few times in the past and didn't realize that it was causing so many side effects until recently. I went back on it last week and started having terrible shakes, anxiety, nervousness, I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. I stopped taking the Nexium after I knew that's what was causing my mood changes and anxiety. I had the same symptoms a few summers ago from taking it. I will find something else for GERD, Nexium is not worth it. I'm just wondering how long this anxiety will last? It's not going away in a few days as it did before. UGHHHHHH"

• chu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 25, 2021

Esomeprazole for GERD "I have taken Nexium a few times in the past and didn't realize that it was causing so many side effects until recently. I went back on it last week and started having terrible shakes, anxiety, nervousness, I felt like I was going to jump out of my skin. I stopped taking the Nexium after I knew that's what was causing my mood changes and anxiety. I had the same symptoms a few summers ago from taking it. I will find something else for GERD, Nexium is not worth it. I'm just wondering how long this anxiety will last? It's not going away in a few days as it did before. UGHHHHHH"

• Fru...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 1, 2018

Esomeprazole for GERD "So I was taking Nexium 40 mg. I took it for a month. It didn't really work. I kept taking it thinking that maybe it takes time, but all I can say is it made my anxiety worse! Every morning my ears were ringing so loud, and my head felt fuzzy. I hated that feeling! I would feel chest pains as well. My GI doctor said that was from heartburn, but honestly, I knew it was the Nexium. I still keep taking it like a dummy because people I knew had a great experience with this med. In the end, I threw them away. Everyone is different, and this for me was just toxic. Try it out and see how it goes. It works for some people."

• Max...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 15, 2021

Esomeprazole "I took Nexium 40 mg for 3 weeks. At the beginning, it was fine, my acid reflux was fixed, but side effects were terrible, such as depression, anxiety, tremor, diarrhea, back pain, and general feeling of sickness. Dizziness during the day. This is my 3rd day off from Nexium 40 mg, back pain is gone, but still feeling dizzy from time to time. Does anyone know how long these side effects last? Thank you."

• Jam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 29, 2021

Esomeprazole for GERD "I couldn't figure out what was going on with me - I had extreme apathy (apathy is when you lack motivation to do anything or just don't care about what's going on around you), which is very unlike my character. I was struggling with GERD, just short-term for unknown reasons, so I decided to try the 14-day Nexium course of treatment. I stopped at day 11. I could not stand the mental health effects it had on me. It brought back my anxiety and panic attacks full force. Why is this not discussed more often? No, none of you are crazy. We can't all have the same issues and be brushed off by the medical profession. I am a registered nurse and will never endorse this medication."

• Tam...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 5, 2022

Esomeprazole for GERD "I only got prescribed Nexium yesterday due to intense chest pressure/heartburn caused by the bacteria H. pylori. I took 2 doses at the hospital, one when I got home and one when I woke up as instructed by the doctor. The side effects are scary. I can’t get out of bed. I have zero energy. I keep throwing up. I have insane chills, I am either freezing or hot. And the worst of them all…ANXIETY. I can’t even catch my breath. This is the worst I’ve almost ever felt. I called the doctor, and he said it’s possible that the pill is doing this and to take Omerpradex instead. I hope this feeling will go away fast because I have never felt so ill before!!!"

• Jan...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 15, 2019

Esomeprazole for GERD "I was taking pantoprazole in October, and it helped with the acid reflux. After taking it for a week, I started having burning in my arm, shoulder, legs, and stomach. But like a crazy person, I kept taking it. I started having anxiety, and I started losing weight - 18 pounds within one month. But eventually, I got myself off of it and started taking Nexium, and it did not work either, I started losing patches of my hair. I started researching both medications, and they both were in the worst pill list. I’m now taking Zantac 150, hopefully, this will work."

• Eso...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 28, 2022

Esomeprazole for GERD "Omg, I am so glad I found this website!! I took Nexium 20mg 24hr for 2 weeks, then my GI put me on 40mg, and after taking it for 1 week, I thought I was going crazy with all these horrible side effects such as anxiety, muscle twitches, bloating, belching, insomnia, heart palpitations, and much more!! Ended up in the ER, did an ultrasound and bloodwork, and nothing came up, so they must have thought I was faking it. It raises my blood pressure, makes me so fatigued that some days I couldn’t even get out of bed. My mouth and eyes were so dry, brain fog, and confusion…. Just HORRIBLE!! I’m so glad I went on here and found all these reviews, I will stop taking it!"

• Ger...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 10, 2021

Esomeprazole for GERD "I took this 20 mg twice a day as recommended by my doctor, and within 4 days I had palpitations, insomnia, extreme anxiety, dizziness, nausea, and pins and needles in my neck and legs. Worse was at night when trying to lie down, when there would be pressure in my head and chest, and violent dizziness and nausea. I had two weeks of only sleeping 2 hours a night and peaked with 2 successive nights of no sleep and a visit to Accident & Emergency. Suddenly realized it was the tablets and stopped them, effects slowly going and sleeping at last."

• RMM...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2021

Esomeprazole for GERD "Please be aware that this medication can cause anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts. Supposedly, it is a rare side effect, but I don’t have any allergies, and I’ve never reacted to a medication like that before. When I was 19 years old (now 28), I had major stomach issues. I was diagnosed with gastritis and given this medication. I will never forget how it made me feel. I never want to feel like that again. I stayed up all night crying and staring out the window, wishing I could just leave this world. I’m normally a very happy and content person. I will never ever take Nexium again. My doctor was able to give me another medication that made me better, but I can’t remember what it was called. I only remember Nexium because of how horrible it was. The best way to describe it is Nexium made me feel like I was going crazy."

• Che...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 21, 2016

Esomeprazole for GERD "I took Nexium for all of three days. In that time, I found it to be extremely effective in managing my reflux/stomach symptoms. However, within a day, I noticed severe anxiety surfacing. I take Aropax (paroxetine) for depression, and this is not on the list of medications that are counterindicative. I do note that being magnesium deficient is, but my doctor would not care enough to know that I have always had this deficiency. I do not normally suffer from headaches but began to have gentle pains in my head, getting worse over time. The head pain and anxiety lasted as long as the effect on my stomach, which was a number of days after I stopped taking the medication."

• LPR...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 7, 2022

Esomeprazole for GERD "I was diagnosed with laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR) in 2018, in my mid-40s. This surprised me because I had zero problems with reflux in my life, and in fact, never experienced heartburn ever. The doctor advised I take Nexium for my LPR, as well as abruptly cut out caffeine. The result was disastrous. I abruptly developed a crippling anxiety, depression, and anhedonia (lack of ability to feel pleasure) problem, about a week later. I never had any of these conditions prior to taking Nexium and cutting out the caffeine! After about a few weeks, I tried quitting first the Nexium and then later bringing back the caffeine. A few days after doing both, my psychological condition rapidly improved. However, at the time, I attributed my issues to being from caffeine withdrawal, and not the Nexium. Wrong! I ended up being given Nexium again for something different, and the anxiety started to return! I quickly quit it, and went back to normal. If it makes you feel anxious, quit it now!"

• Xer...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 22, 2019

For GERD "This medicine is toxic. After weeks of stopping my medication, I now have: 1. Muscle twitching 2. Nerve problems 3. Back, leg, and shoulder pains (although my leg and shoulder pain have decreased) 4. Weight loss (I managed to recover my lost weight) 5. Vision problems (although I think it has something to do with a wrong prescription for glasses) 6. Anxiety/Panic Attacks. I do not recommend taking this drug. If you want to reduce your stomach acid, I recommend Gaviscon and other antacids. NEVER USE PPIs."

• Anx...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2021

Esomeprazole for GERD "After having heartburn, my doctor just automatically prescribed this to me. Let me tell you something! This is the worst thing I could’ve put in my mouth. My anxiety was off the roof! I ended up in the ER because I thought I was having a heart attack. I’ve always suffered from anxiety, but this time it’s worse. Burning palm sensation, weird sensations in my brain along with pressure. My vision feels foggy and blurry, and I have arm and leg pain, and depersonalization. The list goes on. It’s been almost a month, and I’m still suffering. I feel terrible. I wanted to quit my job and stay in bed! Although this may work for others, it can have bad effects on some. Use with caution!"

• Dee...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 17, 2022

Esomeprazole for GERD "Was put on this medication for GERD, took it for 5 days. I do already battle anxiety and depression, and since taking these meds, my anxiety and depression have gone through the roof!!! Felt suicidal and am now booked into a psych hospital. None of my doctors took me seriously when I told them that that was the effect it had on me. Stopped taking it for 3 days, and anxiety decreased. Was forced to take it again yesterday, and I ended up not being able to sleep and woke up with anxiety again. I wish doctors would do more research on these meds and not just simply follow the leaflet on side effects."

• Nin...
• January 4, 2018

Esomeprazole for Helicobacter Pylori Infection "It is good medication, as it helped me. It was 14 days of treatment, but its side effects, if they were strong for me, I suffered from anxiety, agitation, and tachycardia. But when the treatment was finished, the symptoms disappeared gradually."

• Efo...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 18, 2022

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "I'd taken this in the past but didn’t realize it could’ve been why I’d been having so many awful symptoms. This time I was feeling better when I started it, so I definitely noticed. I was having super bad fatigue, it was hard to get up in the morning or make it through the day, anxiety and racing thoughts, hair loss, diarrhea, generally just feeling super awful and unwell. I stopped taking it last night and actually felt like I could wake up today. I’d had to switch to caffeine pills, and those stopped working, I was worried I’d have to get back on Ritalin for fatigue before I put it together and realized it was this, and I’m glad I did."

• Roe...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 19, 2021

Esomeprazole for GERD "I have really bad GERD, been dealing with it for years, peptic ulcers, bleeding ulcer, and hiatal hernia. I’ve tried my fair share of medications for this problem. I stopped using the meds a couple of years ago and have been in agony with heartburn for a year now. I caved and got the Nexium off-brand at Costco. Literally, less than a month in, and my anxiety is INSANE. I’m so tired, jittery, and anxious. I already have anxiety and depression, so this just made it flare up and go nuts. I am stopping it tomorrow and going to speak to my doctor about finding something that will work, so I don’t live with the chronic heartburn, but also so I don’t have to take stuff that gives me severe anxiety. This sucks!"