Pantoprazole and Gas: What Users Say

• Pja...
• July 21, 2020

Pantoprazole for GERD "I started taking Protonix 40mg once daily after they took Zantac off the market. I started having a lot of stomach pain, gas, bloating, and watery diarrhea. It took me a while to figure out it was the Protonix. I stopped taking it and replaced it with Pepcid Complete once a day. Almost immediately those symptoms went away. I would be very careful taking this drug."

• 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."

• Sun...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• April 22, 2021

For GERD "I was put on pantoprazole almost 2 months now. I first started and it seemed to be working. I just received my COVID vaccine and thought I was having a bad reaction from the injection. I just out of the blue googled the side effects from pantoprazole and I have almost all of them. Crazy - I've been wondering why I'm so dizzy all the time with nausea, diarrhea, intense anxiety and more acid waking me up, gas, and burping. I'm done!! Tired of trying meds that don't seem to work."

• Ms ...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• May 26, 2020

For GERD "I took this for GERD. I took it twice. Horrible stomach ache/gas. It also made me feel weird. I even started feeling super anxious and depressed. I started crying and feeling hopeless. It also did nothing for my symptoms. Although I wasn’t on them long enough to help. They made my reflux worse!! Horrible medication. Never again!"

• Jim...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• March 27, 2013

Pantoprazole for GERD "Started taking this about 8 years ago after developing an ulcer from taking Aleve. Was fine for a few years, with only flatulence and loose bowel movements. For the last 3 years, I started developing asthma symptoms (phlegm in throat and lungs, coughing). Stopping Protonix cleared it up. Took 1 pill again and the asthma started again. Too bad, I really liked this medication."

• Nil...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 31, 2020

For GERD "Prior to taking this medicine, I had IBS, which had me vomiting daily and had years of diarrhea, gas, bloating, food restrictions, abdominal pain, and swelling. Just an overall feeling of unwellness. Food coming back up my throat when I lay down. Then, after my mom was diagnosed with GERD, my doctor prescribed me this medicine, pantoprazole, it changed my life. I woke up not sick. I felt alive again. My mind was more focused. I could do my job better. My body felt healthier. But if I miss a pill, even by an hour, my gas comes back and indigestion for a day, and then it evens back out again. Take your pills on time. I also take this at 4 PM every day, or try to."

• Bar...
• February 2, 2020

For GERD "I have been on pantoprazole prescribed by my primary doctor. About four weeks, 40 mg. The reason why my doctor put me on it was that the acid reflux was becoming worse by the day. In addition, I had an esophagram, and it confirmed that I had GERD. During this 4-week stretch, I feel worse by the day. On and off constipation, flatulence, sore throat, burning, insomnia, and constant hacking, coughing up white foamy phlegm that is syrupy. I know one thing that has caused this GERD to come on is tomatoes. I used to eat them in one fashion or another daily. My body rejects them and causes terrible heartburn. Now, I must make life changes in my diet. That’s not easy to do."

• jis...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• June 26, 2019

For Barrett's Esophagus "So what I read, this is supposed to be a 'short term' med. When my GERD acts up, I lose my voice and feel a constant lump in my throat. Nothing seems to help. I look on the web. I also have allergies/post nasal drip. Yes, even drinking water seems to make it worse. I eat a lot of bread, and I eat a lot of cottage cheese. Learned today that stuffed olives may even help - lol. I have had 2 scopes - both Barrett's, but the biopsy shows no cancer. Then I read this drug may cause stomach cancer. Started having problems again a few weeks ago with my throat - started back on drinking lots of water, allergy spray, and Pantoprazole only to have headaches, no energy, extreme gas, insomnia, and watery stools. After a week, I still have no voice/feeling weaker because of all the pooping. Also learned the med depletes Vitamin B?? I will not take it tonight or ever again - will go get Nexium, which I took in the past, and try to get my voice as well as my bowel habits back. BE VERY CAREFUL OF THIS MEDICATION."

• Mis...
• March 12, 2019

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "Took pantoprazole for 2 weeks. It helped the gastritis somewhat, but the side effects were not worth it. Bloated, gassy, constipated, and just plain miserable. Everywhere I went smelled like fart. Not like normal fart, but super mega supreme farts. My couch smelled, my bed smelled, and I even heard a couple complaints in the grocery store! My butt was constantly leaking rank farts beyond my control. At first, I had to use coffee to be able to go #2, but then I wasn't able to go at all. I even tried Miralax, which normally helps with occasional constipation, but even that didn't work, just caused fluid to get stuck in my bowel. You could press on my lower abdomen and hear squelching, but I could still barely go at all! 2 days after stopping this medication, my bowels finally released. It's been about 5 days now, and I've lost about 5 lbs from pooping. I weigh just under 130 lbs, so 5 lbs of crap is a lot on my small frame. I seriously looked prego. I'm going back to Pepcid."

• Fif...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• July 30, 2019

For Erosive Esophagitis "After day 2 of taking this drug, I started with bad gas, bloating, stomach cramps, and then watery, nasty-smelling diarrhea. I've had it now several times a day for over a week. Stopped taking meds yesterday and still have the same symptoms. Does help the acid, though, but too harsh on stomach and bowels. Waiting on a call back from the doctor's office."

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• May 2, 2023

For GERD "I had reflux for a month or two and also had severe stomach pain. The doctor prescribed this, thinking I might also have an ulcer or gastritis. Almost 2 months later, I found this page and can’t believe I didn’t connect the dots. My reflux symptoms persist after 7 months of taking the drug daily. Here are some of the symptoms I had over the last 2 months (not knowing for certain if these are caused by pantoprazole): feeling like my lungs are irritated and occasionally cough, anxiety and panic attacks, feeling like something’s stuck in my throat, heart palpitations, confusion, random pains in my body, especially in my stomach, gas and belching, throat ache, breath smell. I took my dose today but can’t wait for the drug to be out of my system and see if all of this was because of 40 mg of daily pantoprazole."

• 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!"

• Gol...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 13, 2019

For GERD "I all of a sudden had terrible GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), much so that my whole throat felt like it was on fire, and I lost my voice. I was put on 40 mg of Protnix (by Urgent Care) for two weeks, once daily. By day three, I could hear terrible 'gut sounds,' and all of a sudden, my stool (it is embarrassing) smelled so bad that I was alarmed. Of course, I could not get into my Primary Care Doctor, so I just stayed on it. I have been off it for about two weeks. The GERD is basically gone, but every time I go to the bathroom, it still reeks. I can't go out and eat anything because I might have to go to the bathroom. Also gave me flatulence and a full feeling in the chest. I don't know what to do since my new Primary Care Doctor is almost impossible to get into. Be very careful before taking this drug! Has anyone had this happen, and if so, any holistic ways to get rid of the stool problem?"

• pan...
• August 14, 2023

For GERD "Well, since I took this medicine, my symptoms I get are bloating, increased hunger, weight loss, just really feeling worse than I did before I took this medication. I don’t recommend it, and I think it should be pulled off the shelf. The gas pains are horrible, and the bloating for some reason, all in my left side, and I feel so nauseous too. So I will stick to Pepsid one a day, I’d rather have a little heartburn than to feel like crap."

• 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."

• Rob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 4, 2016

For Erosive Esophagitis "I was prescribed this medication to assist with treating my eosinophilic esophagitis. I have never in my life experienced so many horrific side effects from a medication. Cramping, abdominal pain, intestinal pain, gas, it was so bad that I could only tolerate the medicine for a week."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• January 26, 2022

For Erosive Esophagitis "After an endoscopy revealed mild erosive esophagitis, I was prescribed this pill. I was told it was silent reflux. My only symptoms were severe GI gas and bloat. I have been on it 2 weeks today. I was taking 40 mg once a day every morning before meals. This only made my condition much worse, originally I had bloat and dry mouth, and this medication made it worse. I'm giving up my coffee and making sure I don't eat foods that will cause the esophagitis. This medication only made my bloat worse, with bad back pain and constipation, since I'm only on it 2 weeks. I'm taking it every other day for a few days and coming off of it. I am going to try natural ways to help. I believe my problem is from my hernia. I will make sure to eat small meals and replace my morning cup of coffee with chamomile tea. I'm sorry for the people who have had side effects as I have. When you take a medication and the side effects are not worth it, especially since it made the existing gas and bloating worse and caused constipation. What do I do?"

• Sad...
• March 23, 2021

For GERD "Was having issues with GERD. Come to find out it’s really common in my family. My grandmother has been on pantoprazole for years and swore by it. I made an appointment to see my doctor to get some. First couple of weeks were great. I could eat what I want, I could sleep laying flat again, etc. After my 30-day supply ran out, my symptoms started returning. After reaching out to my doctor for a refill, she recommended that I see a GI doctor instead of continuing the drug. Meanwhile, my grandmother had gotten a new prescription and gave me a bunch to get me by until I could get in to see him. This is when I started becoming very constipated and experiencing excess gas that made me constantly feel bloated and in pain. It’s been 4 days since I stopped taking it, and I’m still experiencing side effects."

• c00...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 12, 2019

For Stomach Ulcer "I took pantoprazole for two days. It took away some of the symptoms, but I still have issues in the bathroom. I delayed taking the dose today just to see how I was doing because, for the most part, I felt alright while on it. But now I realize that it is just a band-aid to mask the symptoms so that I'll just think that it is working on the stomach when really nobody knows (yet) what my problem is and that medication is not guaranteed to help me get things sorted out. I can belch and fart if I'm lucky to get rid of the trapped gas that is there. I have gone for days without having to do anything except pee, and then I get lucky after I start to hear gurgling. The pain is constant, of course, and it travels. Sometimes nothing relieves it. I refuse to take anything for pain management. Would I recommend this? Only if you have a proper diagnosis. Other than that, nope."

• Chr...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• June 27, 2022

Pantoprazole for GERD "Awful! Ruined an entire ten-day vacation. Gas, stomach cramps, headache, alternating constipation and diarrhea. I had started taking a few days before the vacation and did not think much about it. I thought I had a stomach bug as it started just a few days into the vacation. On day ten, I realized it might be this med. I stopped, and within two days everything went back to normal."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2022

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "40 (F), diagnosed with celiac disease and duodenum damage worsened by long COVID. Prescribed 40mg pantoprazole for suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding (I have stinky black tarry stools, no appetite, and have lost 15% body weight in 6 weeks, I'm now underweight) while waiting to see my gastroenterologist. Stopped taking after 2 days. Urinary retention, kidney pain, severe nightmares, night sweats, disturbed sleeping pattern, and it actually *worsened* the trapped gas, flatulence, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Only positive effect is slightly firmed loose stool, but I think it is because I'm dehydrated despite drinking lots of water and electrolytes. Furthermore, it has made me severely depressed and hopeless-feeling. I can't stop crying at random things or motivate myself to want to do anything. I hope it gets out of my system soon. I have mental health issues (stabilized and medicated), but this was a shock. Do not recommend at all - discuss other options with your PCP/GI."

• Pat...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 3, 2022

For Gastritis/Duodenitis "40 (F), diagnosed with celiac disease and duodenum damage worsened by long COVID. Prescribed 40mg pantoprazole for suspected upper gastrointestinal bleeding (I have stinky black tarry stools, no appetite, and have lost 15% body weight in 6 weeks, I'm now underweight) while waiting to see my gastroenterologist. Stopped taking after 2 days. Urinary retention, kidney pain, severe nightmares, night sweats, disturbed sleeping pattern, and it actually *worsened* the trapped gas, flatulence, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Only positive effect is slightly firmed loose stool, but I think it is because I'm dehydrated despite drinking lots of water and electrolytes. Furthermore, it has made me severely depressed and hopeless-feeling. I can't stop crying at random things or motivate myself to want to do anything. I hope it gets out of my system soon. I have mental health issues (stabilized and medicated), but this was a shock. Do not recommend at all - discuss other options with your PCP/GI."

• Lad...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• December 27, 2017

For Stomach Ulcer "It only worked for a week properly. Although I don’t have heartburn anymore, I feel nauseous, bloated, and gassy constantly. During the second week, I developed pneumonia in one lung and pleurisy in the other. After being on antibiotics for 10 days, the effect of pantoprazole seemed to wear off. Would antibiotics cause this to happen?"

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 1, 2021

For GERD "I was prescribed pantoprazole to take for a few weeks in lieu of famotidine because I am going to be getting allergy skin testing done and the famotidine interferes with it. Day 1 of taking it, I felt perfectly normal in the morning (6 AM-9:30 AM). I took the pantoprazole with my breakfast around 9:30 AM. Within an hour, I had a migraine headache, extreme gas and bloating, and I was running to the bathroom with diarrhea. I ate the same breakfast that I normally do (some dairy-free yogurt mixed with Keto granola-I never have had a stomachache after eating this). I then began to get nauseous as the day continued and was running to the bathroom at work and having to fart embarrassingly loud in the bathroom. I was filled with more gas than ever. The headache raged on and light began to bother me. I began having stomach cramps and leg pain. I took a Zofran and Motrin and ended up not eating dinner because I felt so sick. I will never take this medication again, and I advise you to do the same. Stay far away."

• Dea...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 5, 2022

For GERD "I was taking 20-80 mg of pantoprazole a day for GERD. I noticed I was extremely gassy and bloated every day, constantly burping, weird stomach noises, etc. I thought something was wrong with me. So I stopped taking pantoprazole, and the bloating/gas went away for the most part. If you're taking this medication and also bloated and have the burps/farts all day, this medication may be why. I'm going to be trying a different drug for my GERD."