I have been on Omeprazole for 4 years and have experienced severe leg cramping at night. I have had multiple blood tests and also an EMG with no results. The doctor put me on Baclofen which is a muscle relaxer and this has not helped. Has anyone else experienced this because it's driving me crazy. I have now taken myself off Omeprazole but I'm experiencing nausea.
I've only been taking it for 4 weeks and have had unpleasant pins and needles/muscle weakness in my legs. I'm going to ask to try something else.
I have been on Omeprazole 20mg for 7 years ( for a time I was on 2x per day) and have
experienced SEVERE Leg and Feet Cramping. at night. I've had multiple blood tests with
no results. I am also on Baclofen 10mg 3 times a day. and it doesn't help. I've spent many
sleepless nights and sometimes my feet will curl to where I can't stand. This has been going
on for for well over 6 years and the episodes have increased over time.
I tried coming off omeprazole for 2-1/2 weeks but took Prilosec in the meantime. This did not help because I still suffered with the cramping and also acid reflux terribly. I've also taken myself off Baclofen because it did not help. I absolutely hate to go to bed at night because I know I will be up in a couple of hour with cramping. I just don't know what to do anymore.
Today I stopped the Omeprazole, But didn't have time to look for something to replace it, I plan on using baking soda to help curb my acid reflux.. I try to give myself a couple of hours, to alIow time for cramping. I average 30 mins to 2 hours of cramping per night, some of them were all night. I'm sorry your having to deal with this too, The pain gets pretty unbearable. The loss of sleep takes it's toll. I'm single and this seriously cramps my style, lol... Makes me a dull boy...:-)...
I just woke up after my second night of being off of Omeprazole, and so far No Cramping. I've been eating a bland diet, since I haven't found a replacement for it yet. My leg cramps have always been below the knee and does include my feet, It's usually 5-6 out of 7 nights per week. I'm more surprised when it doesn't happen. February in Colorado, I use an electric heating pad under my sheets and a down blanket.
Over time I've researched Omeprazole and Cramping and some websites state, stretching the muscle helps to stop the cramping. I wish it was that simple, yes I immediately jump from bed and try to stand before my feet have feet have time to curl, where I can't stand at all. Typically the cramping doesn't come on slowly, My muscles lock up and continue while I'm standing and stretching. I hold on to what ever i can for stability, trying not to fall, because I know I won't be able to get back up, I just never know how long the episode or episodes will last (avg 1/2 - 2hrs), when it comes it feels like it might never stop. I've had a few nights where this went on over 7hrs.
I'm going through exactly what you are going though word for word. Right down to holding onto my bureau when this is happening, afraid I might fall. I find getting into the bathtub and letting the hot water run on the cramping leg helps relieve it. As far as stretching the leg, it makes it much worse or brings on a cramp. A friend of mine told me to also come off of ice tea, which I have done also. I was drinking about 16 oz a day. I came off omeprazole for 2-1/2 weeks and still suffered the spasms. I also tried Zantac instead in the meantime because it doesn't contain omeprazole. Between the cramping and acid reflux, I went back on Omeprazole. I feel after 4 years of taking this med, the damage is done and causing the cramps. i wrote to the manufacturer of omeprazole this am and told them about this and asked if this was the common side effect. My sister laughed and said "you don't really think they are going to admit it, do you"........it was worth a try. I'll let you know if I hear from them.
Hello, I appreciate you trying to contact the manufacturer. I refuse to believe we're alone in this. You're Tough if you can get into the bathtub, or do you mean the shower? I'd be afraid I couldn't get out. My muscles will lock in a curled position, so I try to keep them straight. When it comes to Tea, and or caffeine, over the years I've tried both with and without. I do know that people that can't see, have no clue what its like, that includes the Dr's. My feet will curl to where its impossible to stand, but who will see it, if I'm alone when it happens. One Dr put me on Dilantin for Epileptic Seizures, and it worked but then my primary Dr took me immediately off it saying it could be toxic.or cause something else, i don't remember.
It's been a while since I stopped taking the Omeprazole. and the cramps haven't happened nearly as much. But its midnight and I'm up with cramps in my legs and feet. I drink plenty of water, roughly one gallon daily.
Hi Phyllisaa6. I have been on Omeprazole for 1 year and have had at least 9 months of painful cramping in my lower legs and feet. I told my pain management and general practitioner about my problem and their response was to give me Methocarbamol(Robaxin). Thank you for this forum that I just stumbled upon. Now I can seriously discuss the cramps with my doctors. All of you are a Godsend for me. Thank You Sincerely Jeff7754
I've had acid reflux and bloating for a couple of years. Been on Ranitidine but doctor put me on 40 MG of Omeprazole after an endoscopy revealing a couple of small stomach ulcers and one polyp which he removed. My primary care has had me on 500 Calcium two times a day, plus Vit D. I also eat Tums all day long which is also calcium. My leg cramps at night have gotten so bad its tough to live with it. I think I have calcium overload, plus the Omeprazole causing its own form of cramps. I'm going to ER today to have it checked out, but fear they will only give me muscle relaxers instead of trying to regulate the calcium. What is your take?
I recently took Omeprazole and will NEVER take it again. I took it as Zegerid OTC. It only lasted from Aug. 9-Aug 19.
In the beginning it was amazing. I could eat anything. No heartburn. 6 days ago I had HORRIBLE anxiety. I stopped taking it on Aug 20. (11 pills).
I am currently still feeling some anxiety, horrible dry mouth, dry throat, and a slight burning tongue sensation at the tip. Has anyone else had these side effects? It is driving me crazy. I just want this medicine to wear off, I'll gladly take the heartburn back over these side effects, any day 😔
Hi kyle1024, I been feeling all those symptoms n more n let me tell you it's horrible there's times I can't even sleep. I toke omeprazole for 3mth cuz my doctor though I had acid reflux which i didn't so I stopped it and still feel bad hope all this side effects go away soon
It's the worst. If I could fast forward my life another week or so and get to the point where I no longer had these symptoms, I gladly would.
Today I woke up better, but as we speak, my anxiety is back (slightly) and I have a slight dry mouth and throat again. On to my 6th day without taking it. 10 days on it, now 6 off.
We'll see, I'll keep everyone updated. 😞
Omeprazole is now used as a treatment for iron overload disease because it causes an extreme decrease in iron stores. Low iron stores can cause leg pain and cramps. It can also cause/ aggrevates restless leg syndrome which can be very painful! Omeprazole also effects magnesium which can cause muscle cramps.
Ask your doctor to measure both your magnesium and your iron status (ferritin, transferrin, % saturation, etc, not just hemoglobin and total iron).
if ferritin is low, iron supplement should help the muscle cramps/ leg pain. So will magnesium and calcium supplements.
I have suffered the same affects from Omeprazole. Such bad pain,my VA PCP, told me that I was crazy, imagining the pain, because I have chronic spinal pain. I described how my leg bones hurt so bad and that they feel swollen. My knees, lower legs ankles, Blood tests, exrays, all negative.
I was hobbling to the front door, to let the electrician in, and asked what was wrong. He asked if I was taking Omeprazole, And warned that I stop immediately. I checked it out.
This was 2 or 3 years ago and I still walk like my legs are fused straight. I am 100 percent disabled.
It's frustrating and it needs to come off the market.
Sincerely,
DV Phil
Start weaning yourself off of prilosec (omeprazole) if you haven't already. Buy the over the counter pills (which are not absorbed as well as the Rx capsules) and take them with food first. If your heartburn/GI pain is not a problem, start cutting them in half. If you are taking it twice a day, just cut one dose in half and take a full pill the other dose. Give that some time, a few weeks, and if your pain is not worse or not controlled by baking soda or Zantac, cut the remaining full pilil dose in half and do the same over time. If a half is too much, try 1/3 or a 1/4. It takes time but if you're not doing anything to get off this drug your issues are not going to get any better. Start now and think you will find that you are getting better.
Also, omeprazole causes nutrient deficiencies. Check the medical literature if you want to be sure. Iron is a huge issue as well as magnesium, calcium, and most trace minerals. Also, protein digestion is impaired with omeprazole. As a nutritionist (PhD) I have found that supplementing with iron (fumerate form), a liquid calcium magnesium, and a good multiple with all trace minerals help the symptoms. But I don't take pills, I take capsules! Pills are formulated to digest at a normal gastric pH and people on omeprazole have a much higher pH. Capsules are the best choice. If you decide to try this, be sure to check with your doctor and have your iron status assessed before you start any iron supplements!! People with hemachromatosis (iron storage disease) should not take iron supplements. However, omeprazole is beginning to be used as a treatment for iron storage disease because it impairs iron absorption so badly. Be sure they check total iron, transferrin, and ferritin, not just hemoglobin! A lot of the muscle cramps will ease of if you get your ferritin levels above 40. When I was getting worked up for the leg pain, etc. at the University of California, San Francisco, the neurologist was very clear that alot of my problems would get better with iron supplementation and he was correct. Not gone, you need to get off Omeprazole for that, but better.
The other thing I do is use whey protein isolate. Not the concentrate, too much sugar, an isolate with no sugar, flavor, vitamins, etc. just whey protein. You can put it in anything from shakes to soup to oatmeal. This list goes on, be creative.
Last, drinking a lot of water everyday seems to really help. I drink a minimum of 3 of my 24 oz water bottles per day, sometimes more, + what I drink at meals and that seems to be helping a lot.
I am slowly weaning off the way i described above and i'll see how that goes. I've tried lots of other things in place of omeprazole and that way doesn't seem to work.
Good luck!
Prilosec is Omeprazole! if you want something different over the counter you'll need Zantac, etc.
I have been on omeprazole for 13 years .my doctor recently doubled my dose.I have had 2 emergency blood transfusions in October /November as I collapsed and was extremely low on iron. Vitamin B12 Vitamin C. Copper. magnesium. potassium. vitamin D and calcium.
I have read many many reports that the use of print pump inhibitors such as omeprazole directly cause the failure of the body to take up nutrients vitamins and minerals in our stomachs from the foods we consume.
At night in particular I have itchy hot ti glint and numbness in my legs I can't keep still for more than a minute like millions of insects are crawling under my skin .the itching is underneath not on the skin.I have terrible back pain hip pain (X rays revealed mild arthritis) I have a 9cm hiatus hernia and bleeding from the stomach lining ( not fixable Dr says).my sisters 5 of them all have similar health issues as mine with my younger sister going on to develop cancer of the oesophagus after 17 years on omeprazole.she has a very restricted diet after surgery liquid foods.and the skin they used to firm a food pipe has to undergo regular stretching .she is back on omeprazole for life.my other sister came off omeprazole as she has been vegetarian 50 years and was dangerously low in most things .like me her red blood count was very low .she now uses activated charcoal tablets takes no omeprazole and if she has the slightest acid she has a spoonful of gaviscon which I understand is seaweed based and coats the stomach .I'm seeing a different doctor tonight will keep you informed
Ask for a proper discussion appointment with your doctor.
Ring in advance explain what questions you want to ask in advance I have so he /she has the information you need .
I want to know exactly what I'm deficient in and by how much.
what amounts of each supplement of iron calcium copper magnesium potassium vitamin 12 and vitamin C and D do I need to take orally.?
Can I use activated charcoal tablets and / or gaviscon to control acid ? If so what quantity and how often. Before or after foods.?
What happens if I stop taking omeprazole and only use the charcoal and gaviscon ?
Why does my stomach bleed or why have I got a hernia or ulcer and what natural remedies or foods or supplements will help me ?