Pantoprazole and Chest Pain: What Users Say

• Eva...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 3, 2020

For Stomach Ulcer "The doctor prescribed this drug to heal my stomach after having nausea and no appetite. After taking this drug, I have experienced really bad side effects which have affected me so much. Depression and extreme crying, anxiety to the point of having chest pains and a tight chest feeling, joint pain, pins and needles, fever, gas and bloating, extreme nausea and no desire to eat, abdominal pain, brain fog, weakness and tiredness, insomnia, headaches. This has made me go to the ER thinking something serious was wrong with me. Being off of this medication for 2 days and symptoms are subsiding but still present. I was finally able to regain some appetite and eat again. I am sharing my story to let others know of the serious side effects of this medication."

• ESB...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 18, 2020

For GERD "I was prescribed 40 mg of Pantoprazole for GERD. The doctor prescribed me 30 tablets. Out of the 30, I've taken 22, and I've been experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, and feeling very lightheaded (dizzy) like I'm going to pass out. I was just released from the cardiologist, and everything was okay. So I decided to research patient reviews on this medicine, and I've read I'm not the only one with these side effects. I've even experienced daily headaches with leg cramping. This medicine isn't good for me, and I wouldn't want anyone else to experience these side effects. I've been to the ER twice since taking this medicine. The medicine made me think I was having a heart attack. There were several other tests run for them to say everything is normal."

• Mil...
• October 18, 2019

For GERD "I've been having acid reflux for a couple of months now, but it was never bad enough for me to want to take medication for it. My doctor had prescribed me pantoprazole, but I never reached for it because I was wary about it, and my symptoms were not severe. A week ago, my symptoms worsened slightly, and I decided to give it a try. With each day that I took it, my acid reflux got worse and worse, as well as my anxiety. I had intense nausea, an awful taste in my mouth, burning and squeezing sensations in my chest, and my throat was constantly tight. I thought that maybe it would get better, but my symptoms worsened so much that by the 3rd day, I couldn't tolerate it anymore. I stopped taking the pantoprazole, and it's been 3-4 days ever since, and I'm still battling the symptoms the drug worsened. I know this drug may work for some people, but it definitely didn't work for me, and I'd recommend not to take it."

• Jel...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 30, 2021

For GERD "I took 3x20mg tablets over the space of about 10 days. The first thing I started to notice was a pounding heartbeat and constant 'hot' headache which progressed to dangerous levels of blood pressure, blurred vision, chest pains, waking in the night having panic attacks, pressure in the left ear and whirring/ringing sounds. Sensitivity to sound as well. I honestly thought I was going to have a heart attack. I'm so glad I found this page but I'm so angry with my doctor for suggesting I take 2x20mg per day knowing I have an existing heart problem. I swear if I'd followed her advice I would've ended up in big trouble. It's been a week and I'm still experiencing the side effects."

• Ata...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2019

For GERD "I was put on this drug for GERD and gastritis. I wasn’t scoped, then I was just scoped a year later. I have acid reflux worse since starting this med. It gives me severe anxiety. I’m bloated 24/7 and constipated, brutal. My bowels reek foul. I have migraines and a sore chest. My back and abdomen gurgle. I tried getting off, but I get acid rebound so bad you have no choice. I’ve been in bed for 3 months. I’m exhausted from side effects. I wouldn’t take this drug ever again. I can’t even walk, barely nausea, bloating 8/10 24/7."

• mmu...
• April 20, 2020

For GERD "I've had pretty bad acid reflux for years now, probably about 6 years, and I finally went to the doctor to get it checked out. He put me on this medicine, pantoprazole, and I thought it worked for the first couple of days. But now I have severe chest tightness and pain, and my symptoms got worse. I'll be calling them and seeing if they can put me on something else."

• Liv...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 17, 2020

For GERD "Went on this medication due to reflux that couldn’t be fixed with over-the-counter medication. It did help with the burning sensation, but in return, I got chest pains that spread to my back and neck, constant burping, coughing, cold sweats, and a whole heap of anxiety. Heading back to my doctor tomorrow to hopefully find something else that will work."

• Ran...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2018

For GERD "I've always had heartburn, but not to the extent that it lasts 3 days straight in a row. I went to my family doctor, and he prescribed 40 mg Pantoprazole. That evening, I took 1 pill. The next 2 days were absolute hell. It started off with a huge headache, then both of my arms started to hurt, then my chest, the back of my neck started aching and burning, and then my jaw. I honestly thought I was having a heart attack. I will never take this medication again."

• Jor...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 9, 2019

For Erosive Esophagitis "I had an endoscopy, which revealed esophagitis. The GI doctor prescribed 40 mg of pantoprazole, and after 2 or 3 days on it, my chest was hurting, there was a disgusting taste in my mouth, and my throat became incredibly hot and sore. I stopped taking the medication, but it is over a week later and I am still suffering from these conditions. The taste in my mouth is driving me crazy. I am extremely concerned this drug gave me GERD, and I have no idea what to do. I have talked to three doctors, and none of them know how to help me. They all deny the drug can do this, but what else could have caused it? I have been anxious and depressed and terrified this drug did permanent damage to me."

• Xan...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 16, 2022

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "I had chest pain and heart palpitations and a stomach ache and had to go to the emergency room. After a 6-hour wait, I was diagnosed with gastritis and prescribed pantoprazole. I took it for a month with no improvement, so I got a refill from my doctor with hesitation. The second month, I started having anxiety attacks and was crying all the time. I felt this huge depression come over me and lived with unbearable stomach pain and gas. I could not eat from the nausea. I passed out three times, twice in the kitchen and the third time down the stairs. Something that has never happened to me before. I could not get out of bed. It got so bad I wanted to die. So I started Googling my blood pressure meds and anything I took. Then I started reading all the bad reviews on pantoprazole. So for me, it’s deadly, the worst medication I have ever taken in my life. I can’t believe it’s on the market, it almost killed me. Take at your own risk!"

• Fai...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 20, 2019

For GERD "I had my gallbladder out years ago, so long ago this medicine wasn't generic and very expensive. It was the only thing that relieved my pain. Since I've tried so many times to get off this medicine, but I experience heaviness in my chest and lots of pain. Trouble breathing. My body is now so dependent on this I'm stuck. I pray no one gets dependent on this or any other medicine with all these side effects."

• Sta...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 4, 2022

For GERD "I got put on 20 mg twice a day for gastritis, which I don’t believe I had, no heartburn, just a slight pain after eating. Was on them for 4 months until I took myself off them 2 weeks ago. Had very slight anxiety beforehand, but wow! Started having really bad heart palpitations, severe panic attacks, pains in left arm, pains in left calf, left shoulder blade, really bad shooting chest pains, jaw pain (been to A&E loads of times thinking I was having a heart attack). They did ECG bloods, and everything is perfect. Feeling not myself, keep having dizzy spells if I’ve been standing up too long, got really bad health anxiety all because of this medication! Why the hell are doctors giving this with such bad effects on people! After being off them 2 weeks, I am still having the chest pains and jaw pain. Anxiety feels like it’s getting a lot better. So glad I came across this page, it makes me feel a lot better. Wondering now how long I’ll still have the effects of this medication?"

• Zak...
• April 10, 2022

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "I was prescribed pantoprazole for gastritis and took it for 10 days, which was horrible. I get heart palpitations, chest pain, kidney pain, both ribs ache, I feel numbness and tingling in one arm, I feel dizzy, tight throat, tight head, and ringing in my ears. I feel weak and feel faint. Anxiety on the roof, my heart feels weak and nervous. Horrible drug."

• Air...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 22, 2018

For GERD "Took Protonix for about a week and had terrible side effects. The burning in my chest was excruciating, even when drinking water. Also, my chest hurt and my muscles felt very sore. I was miserable. I switched to Nexium and symptoms improved within 4 days. Never taking that drug again."

• Dav...
• September 29, 2018

For Barrett's Esophagus "Diagnosed with GERD years ago, was on Prevacid every day for a few months. Then as needed. This year, surgery to remove melanoma off the neck, so put all the way under with a general anesthetic. After that, I started having severe heartburn again with stabbing back, can’t sleep kind. They scoped me. Colon fine, but have Barrett’s esophagus. Back on Prevacid & famotidine. Had abdominal pains, so asked to switch to pantoprazole. I started having globus sensation in throat, chest pressure, lotta gas. Meanwhile, they said gallbladder had to come out 4 weeks ago. During recovery, went into AFib. It came back, went to ER and admitted me, ran heart tests. Heart muscle good. So now on heart meds & pantoprazole. I have heavy chest pains, globus sensation in throat they say is esophagus - doubled my pantoprazole. It seems like that is not going away. Now AFib is worse & keeping me up. I have insomnia, anxiety & lotta gas. Maybe AFib & chest, insomnia may be from pantoprazole. Have Prevacid left. I’ll try that again for a week and see. Maybe all this insomnia, gas, heart problem is from pantoprazole."

• Mar...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 21, 2022

For Barrett's Esophagus "I was prescribed Pantoprazole for GERD after being diagnosed with Barrett’s esophagus. I had been struggling with GERD during COVID and had been taking Omeprazole. During this time, I had chest pains so severe that I felt like I was having a heart attack. My blood pressure slowly increased to the point where I was prescribed medication. I knew this was not normal. I finally came to the realization that these problems started when I started taking the PPIs. I bought a Kardia app and started using it to monitor my heart. I found I was having PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) over 50% of the time. My doctor didn’t agree that the medication was causing the problem but told me to try coming off of it for a week and see what happens. The PVCs stopped when I discontinued the Pantoprazole. It was effective in keeping my GERD at bay and now I have to take medication to keep my Barrett’s from progressing, but I can’t damage my heart to do that. I will have to find an alternative."

• Alm...
• March 29, 2022

For GERD "I think doctors have to screen their patients better before giving them pantoprazole or any other of the PPI inhibitors. The first time I took pantoprazole, I felt terrible with feeling out of it, dizzy, and chest pains, and a general feeling like I was going to die. Went off it right away, another year went by, and the doctor said to go back on it as my GERD was acting up. So I tried it again and had the same symptoms, and I told my doctor, and then he prescribed Dexilant, and again, I had terrible severe reactions to it, like I could not breathe and feeling dizzy and high anxiety. Went to the hospital, and the doctor there said maybe I am allergic to magnesium and said to take pantoprazole NA with sodium instead of magnesium in it. Well, I took one of those the next day, and they are time-released, and every 20 minutes or so, I would get a terrible metal/chemical taste in my mouth, and then dizzy and left arm feeling funny and more anxiety and headache and pains in my stomach, and that kept building and getting worse."

• Ano...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 1, 2020

For Peptic Ulcer "Had terrible heartburn/nausea that was just making it hard to eat things like a sandwich, and it made it hard to get through work because of the pain. Doctor said I probably had an ulcer. Took pantoprazole and it worked like a miracle, only had a lot of seasickness like I felt dizzy, like I was on a boat. Then I went from 2x a day to 1x for like 2 weeks, and I started feeling bad again, so I stopped. Immediately after I stopped, I started getting terrible stomach/chest pains, and now my acid is just abysmal. I think taking it actually left me worse off than when I started. I've never had acid regurgitation before, but now I started having it, and I feel so weak :("

• Blu...
• April 2, 2021

For GERD "I was on pantoprazole for about 4 years, and in that time, I had nothing but problems. My stomach felt raw all the time, and I was waking up in the morning throwing up because of the acid in my stomach, which later would cause chest pains. My doctor tried prescribing other meds to coat my stomach along with putting me on other meds short term. Nothing fixed the problem until I stopped taking them. It's now been a month, and my stomach feels fine. I'm no longer throwing up when I wake up, and I stopped throwing up as well. I never want to take this drug again."

• Lee...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 24, 2022

For Stomach Ulcer "Been taking pantoprazole since 2018. I've had nothing but bad depression, anxiety, sore stomach, bone aches, weird pain on my left side all the time. Doctors don't know what's causing it. The chest pains, pins and needles, headaches, brain fog, blurry vision, diarrhea, bloating, loss of appetite, nausea, and insomnia. I did stop taking them for about 3 weeks and felt great, but that yuk acidy taste came back, so I thought I'd take them again. Now feeling like rubbish again. Now I'll stop taking them for good."

• San...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 4, 2021

For Erosive Esophagitis "2 weeks I took the pill for 7 days straight. Some days were okay, others got a lot of nausea and anxiety. Even got 1 panic attack. Stopped it but was suffering from esophagitis. Undigested food, chest pressure, nauseous. Doctor told me to take it for 3 weeks. I restarted today, but I'm getting symptoms again, like nausea and anxiety. What are alternate options? I'm scared, not sure what to do. Doctors didn't believe me this medicine altered my anxiety levels. I got an anxiety pill, but it takes like 1 week to start working."

• Rya...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 21, 2022

For GERD "Took Protonix for two weeks. Have terrible leg and joint pain. I itch all over, and my chest hurts. I stopped taking it four weeks ago and still have all the side effects today. Had a check done. Come to find out I don’t have any acid reflux at all. Doctor now thinks maybe SIBO. Don’t take this med."

• Lin...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 5, 2021

For GERD "Terrible experience. Brain fog, fatigued, heart palpitations, chest tight from muscle spasms. I quit last week and am feeling better after a few days. Noticed a big difference, still have symptoms too, though. It will take a while before it gets out of the system. Watch out for this."

• Nev...
• August 12, 2021

For GERD "Started taking this a week ago for unknown origin chest pain. Was cleared by cardiology, so doctor prescribed this horrible med. On it for a week; heart racing, total anxiety, tightness in chest, dizziness. Wondering what the heck was wrong with me! Didn't help my symptoms at all, either. Done."

• Pug...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 13, 2020

For GERD "Taking pantoprazole twice daily, 40 mg, having chest pains, stomach pain, and shortness of breath."