Prilosec, Omeprazol, Protonix and weight gain

Physician, Diet and Exercise
I have acid reflux too and it's pretty much in the same way you describe. I take Nexium and I'm fine unless I stop taking it. When I do, within a day it's like a swallowed battery acid. So I make sure that I never run out.

However, that being said, I see no correlation with acid reflux and putting on weight. Why is it that you make that connection? Perhaps you should talk with your physician about this. Perhaps there's a different cause than you think.

Here's another theory...perhaps what you have done with the weight is you put on muscle or mostly muscle?

I spent my entire adult life at the proper weight within 5 lbs. However
I put on 15-20 lbs from the age of 50 to my present plumpness at 57. I feel that some of this gain could be attributed to the normal part of the aging process, and the rest to my not getting enough exercise.

I'd recommend seeing a good physician. Also consider looking at your diet AGAIN and making a log/diary of what your eating, too. Somewhere you may be eating the wrong foods..or you're eating more than you think.

Thyen again, I could be full of it, too!

Thank you for your feed back. I have contacted my physician and he has told me that those prescription drugs do infact cause weight gain in many cases. If you google weight gain and protonix, nexium etc etc you can find hundreds of forums of people taking these medicines experiencing long term weight gain, and finding no way to lose wieght through diet and excersize. I aslo have chrones and nearly starved to death 2 years ago when i was unable to eat or keep anything down for over 6 months. The first month i lost 58 pounds and it steadily decreased from there about 3-5 pounds a month until i gained control over it again. I am 6 ft tall and when in my healthy state have a very stocky athletic build. I typically weight around 190 but have recently gotten up to 210. I played all sports in highschool, ran track, football, and basketball and was always in prime shape. I could lose and gain weight when ever i felt like it. I have been dieting for two months now and lifting and riding long distance on bikes and have only gotten down to around 205. The only thing i can come up with is that protonix and omeprazol are causing me to gain weight and hold weight. My mom who also happens to be a nurse at Park Ridge Hospital in rochester ny also agrees with me. It does stimulate your stomach to break down food and digest faster. So it must also cause the break down and storage of more fat out of foods and liquids. Protonix also weakens and deplenishes your bones. Factually your likelihood of breaking or fracturing a bone in your body when on protonix goes up 200% !! scary statistic

Johnmg- Ask your doctor about calcitonin salmon.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/medmaster/a601031.html

It is primarily used for postmenopausal women in the treatment of osteoporosis, but can be used by men who have a tendency towards the disease. You need to take the spray with supplementary calcium.

Also, there is a drug for Crohn's disease called entocort EC.

http://www.entocortec.com/

It is a steroid that is made specifically for Crohn's disease. Supposedly, 90% stays in the gastro tract, with only 10% getting into the bloodstream. Because of this, the side effects are supposed to be less than prednisolone, which is often given for Crohn's.

It was prescribed for Mr. P. He could not take it, because he is wildly allergic to practically everything, but you might want to check with your doctor.

JohnMG: I'm curious as to why you didn't you say all that in the beginning?
You clearly have some complicated pressing medical issues regarding your weight gain and loss issues. Your physician (or another physician) is your best guide here.

I wish you good luck with this and the best of health.

I had the same problem with the weight gain from Omaperzle, Prilosec, and Nexium... because of my insurance I have had to switch back and forth between them all. I gain around 50 lbs. over 5 years before I found that I had a b-12 deficiency and it TOO is caused by the anti-acids. I found that once I stopped taking them I had tons of energy and started to lose weight, however I started to get my acid reflux back worse and worse. I then saw something about "taking a teaspoon of VINEGAR every time you have acid reflux" and as disgusting as it is, you get used to it and it helps better and faster than any acid reflux medicine I have ever used.

Duely noted about the vinegar. I find that making that my salad dressing (oil and vinegar)..or adding vinegar in different forms (apple cidar vinegar and/or rice wine vinegar) to certain recipes works for me.

I just recently had heard about the connection B-tween these meds and B-12 deficiency. I'm now getting B-shots monthly but only taking Omeprazole as needed. On the days that I don't take the omeprazole, I take a B-vits by mouth as part of a Multivitamin. This also means that I cut way down on coffee. which contribuited to the reflux.

I'm now within 12 lbs of the 'correct weight'.

I feel the same exact way you do. I have gain so much since i started taken prilosec which have now cause me to search for answers.

This is what I found on a site call drug.com: Omeprazole Side Effects
Brand Names: Prilosec, Prilosec OTC
Please note - some side effects for Omeprazole may not be reported. Always consult your doctor or healthcare specialist for medical advice. You may also report side effects to the FDA.
Side Effects of Omeprazole - for the Consumer
Omeprazole/Sodium Bicarbonate
All medicines may cause side effects, but many people have no, or minor, side effects. Check with your doctor if any of these most COMMON side effects persist or become bothersome when using Omeprazole/Sodium Bicarbonate:
Diarrhea; gas; headache; nausea; stomach pain; vomiting.
Seek medical attention right away if any of these SEVERE side effects occur when using Omeprazole/Sodium Bicarbonate:
Severe allergic reactions (rash; hives; itching; difficulty breathing; tightness in the chest; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; unusual hoarseness); bone pain; chest pain; dark urine; fast, slow, or irregular heartbeat; fever, chills, or sore throat; red, swollen, blistered, or peeling skin; seizures; severe diarrhea; severe stomach pain or cramps; swelling of the hands, ankles, or feet; unusual bruising or bleeding; unusual or sudden weight increase; unusual tiredness; vision changes; yellowing of the eyes or skin.
This is not a complete list of all side effects that may occur. If you have questions about side effects, contact your health care provider. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. To report side effects to the appropriate agency, please read the Guide to Reporting Problems to FDA.

It is proven from my experience!!! I stopped taking protonix two months ago and lost 28 pounds. I was trying to go all natural and just experiment without it. I started taking protonix again two weeks ago since its the only thing that helped me with acid reflux and i have now gained 5 pounds.

Protonix (Pantoprazole) is a different drug and as such may have different side-affects. Omeprazole is not Pantoprazole and vice-versa.

The fact that you put weight back on is not necessarily proof of causality tro the medication. Granted, it could be a likelhood...but it still might be from another causality. However, another view is that you might be in a small minortity of those with such a side-affects.

I do recognize the reports posted of side-effects is weight gain.

However, it's hard to tell much from anecdotal evidence. Could be something as simple as a behavioral change due to the fact that when you don't have the burning feeling in your stomach you can eat more..hence the subsequent weight gain. Or that when not bothered by reflux or heartburn, the type of foods you now can eat cause you to put more weight on.

I, too gained a significant amount of weight on Prilosec ....though I just chalked it up to the fact that I could now eat any food (in any quantity) seemingly without consequence pain-wise. After researching long-term effects, I am weaning myself off the stuff. I understand it won't be pleasant, but it will be worth it.

Drink sufficient water and walk two hours daily. Eat low carb and protein rich diet and intake no fatty food. Do aerobics in Motning and Evening. If everything fails, you may have to undergo an gastrointestinal surgery to get cured from acid reflux and stop medicines associated with it.

I think he is right you can follow this tips and control your weight......

Ragman, I too take the proto pump inhibitor (PPI) Omeprazole for Gerd. I and my gastroenterogist are concerned that my Barret's Esophagous condition does not evolve into esophageal cancer (my father had that when he died at age 92). But I have recently cut my dose in half. No sign yet of a "rebound effect" which is one side effect of long term us of PPIs. Also there is some danger of atrophic gastritis, which I think is a result of too little digestive acids due to the use of PPIs. And, of course, I take daily calcium (reduced to 600 mgs from 1200 mgs because of possible cardiac side effects), magneseum and vitamiin D3 because of the possible side effect of weakening bones.
I have not gained weight during my more than a year of Omeprazole use.

I have the same problem. I am on Protonix, as I have GERD. I have to take it. I was on only 40 mg once a day, but now I find that I have to take it now twice a day. I have been 120 since I was 21 and now I am 55 and in the last 4 years have put on 30 lbs. I hardly eat and I am constantly exercising! It is not due to menopause, as I went through that at 40 and was done at 40! I know, my doctor said it shocked him too! He had never seen a women go through it like this. But the FSH test showed my ovaries were done at 40. So I am wondering last fall my gastroentrologist put me on twice a day and that is when I really started piling on the weight. I look like I am 9 months pregnant and I have always had such a flat stomach! I am also having heart arrythmias PAC's and PVC's.

Listening, wanting you well.

You will go back to that doctor or another one, won't you? I hope you will check with a good gastroenterologist.

Unless you're a sales bot, which looks pretty likely.

I have been on Protonix for 2 to 3 months, I have put on weight too, eat very little and mostly a few protein shakes a day, possible bile duct stone right now. I still take 3-4 gas x a day, which helps the most. I am on singulair, crestor, and protonix. I don't know how much it is helping to be honest and I too feel pregnant. I can go from regular pants in a.m. fitting just fine and by days end I have swelled up to 2 sizes bigger and can't close them? The bloating is horrific!! Wondering how many of these meds are causing issues.