PPI Side Effects Question

[bradj]

I have been getting some wonderful info from this site and would like to pose a question regarding the "tingling and pins and needles" PPI side effect that some have reported.

I was on Prilosec (20mg daily) for approx. 6 months after having anti-inflamatory induced severe heartburn. I had been experiencing nighttime reflux for several years. I also had some gout episodes (I now suspect were aggravated by the Prilosec) and the doc put me on Allopurinol.

One month after I started the Allopurinol, I developed severe hives, complete with facial and lip swelling. My first thought was to stop the Allopurinol, which I did, but the symptoms persisted. I then suspected the Prilosec and stopped it. I was unaware at the time of the acid rebound phenomenon and started having terrible GERD symptoms...coughing, belching, etc. I then began a very destructive pattern of stopping and starting the Prilosec, trying to both manage the hives and the GERD symptoms.

I finally went to the doctor and he put me on Prevacid, but I stopped it after a few days when the hives persisted. He then put me on prescription Pepcid and Reglan. The hives continued. During this time I was taking large doses of over the counter benadryl and received an steroid injection for the hives.

I decided to stop all meds, restrict my diet, and make some environmental changes. I also switched to Claritan. Slowly the hives went away. I then added things back into my diet, including the Reglan, then the Prilosec, stopped the Claritan, and have not had any troubles with hives but I am bothered with Globus, gas pressure, constant belching (often with bile taste), regurgitation, coated tongue in th AM, some nausea, funny taste in the mouth, etc.

I then started experiencing tingling in my hands (mostly the palms) and fingers. At first I thought it was a result of sitting at a computer too much, but then I noticed similar senations in my feet (mostly in the arch). After seeing that this could be a side effect of the PPI's, I have once again stopped the Prilosec...my poor abused stomach! I am trying to manage the rebound symptoms with careful diet and Gaviscon.

After all that, my essential question is... if someone else has experienced this side effect of PPI's and has stopped them, how long did it take for the tingling/pins and needles phenonmenon to subside? I have been off all meds for a week now, and I am still having the sensations...they come and go during the day with varying intensity, but with amazing symmetry with regard to left versus right hands. I am now more concerned about this than I am the GERD problem, which obviously I need to be addressing.

Thanks,

bradj

[LSAT]

Bradj...The tingling in your hands and feet could be from the Reglan. Some people have severe side effects from Reglan. I have cut and pasted some precautions listed:

Precautions While Using This Medicine
This medicine will add to the effects of alcohol and other CNS depressants (medicines that cause drowsiness). Some examples of CNS depressants are antihistamines or medicine for hay fever, other allergies, or colds; sedatives, tranquilizers, or sleeping medicine; prescription pain medicine or narcotics; barbiturates; medicine for seizures; muscle relaxants; or anesthetics, including some dental anesthetics. Check with your doctor before taking any of the above while you are using this medicine.

This medicine may cause some people to become dizzy, lightheaded, drowsy, or less alert than they are normally. Make sure you know how you react to this medicine before you drive, use machines, or do anything else that could be dangerous if you are dizzy or are not alert.

Along with its needed effects, a medicine may cause some unwanted effects. Although not all of these side effects may occur, if they do occur they may need medical attention. Check with your doctor as soon as possible if any of the following side effects occur:
Rare

Chills, difficulty in speaking or swallowing , dizziness or fainting, fast or irregular heartbeat, fever, general feeling of tiredness or weakness, headache (severe or continuing), inability to move eyes, increase in blood pressure, lip smacking or puckering, loss of balance control , mask-like face, muscle spasms of face, neck, and back, puffing of cheeks , rapid or worm-like movements of tongue, shuffling walk, sore throat, stiffness of arms or legs, trembling and shaking of hands and fingers, tic-like or twitching movements, twisting movements of body, uncontrolled chewing movements, uncontrolled movements of arms and legs, weakness of arms and legsWith high doses
may occur within minutes of receiving a dose of metoclopramide and last for 2 to 24 hours
Aching or discomfort in lower legs, panic-like sensation, sensation of crawling in legs , unusual nervousness, restlessness, or irritability

[bradj]

Thanks for the info LSAT. I knew that Reglan had some possible neurological side effects, but I had not seen the tingling and pins and needles thing specifically listed. That's why my chief suspect was the Prilosec or Prevacid.

I may have left the impression that I was still taking the Reglan. Actually, when I got the hives under control the Reglan was the first med I returned to. I took it for a couple of weeks, but was getting only minimal relief from the GERD symptoms, and had begun to feel terrible...anxiety, depression, etc. I stopped it and returned to the Prilosec. The last dose of Reglan was approximately two weeks ago. The Prilosec also provided minimal relief, but I felt so bad and was worried that the tingling was related to it, I stopped it approximately one week ago.

I know that all this stopping, starting, and changing meds is unwise. That's why I thought I should stop everything long enough to separate my symptoms from the meds or the rebound effect and then see a specialist if necessary. What a vicious cycle...

I know quite a few people who are taking PPI's, and many are having very unpleasant side effects. Doctor's are handing out scrpits for PPI's like candy and I believe the incidence of serious side effects is far greater than the pharmaceutical companies' research indicates. Reading many of the posts here confirms my suspiscions.

Once again thanks for taking the time to reply.

bradj

[Bob]

I believe all of my problems can from prilosec/protonix. I was on the prilosec first. Funny thing is I took prilosec for two years (when needed for recurrent ulcers) with no problems. I went through headaches,anxiety attacks, stomach spasms, Joint and muscle PAINS (bigtime, I would come home from work whip my shoes off go on the sofa and curl up in a fetal postion). I also had ringing in the ears, depression (not like me at all. I love life) and after six months of being on the pill my stomach went from bad to worse. (severe gastritis and duodenitis). I've been off for about 110 days. I feel much better, my stomach has heeled with some irritation (SP?) I don't have too much brain fog anymore ( I left that symptom out). Joints and muscles are starting to relax. I still have some anxiety though, It really screwed with my CNS. If you do a search from the main page (heartburn-help.com) for "Paul". I know he had a lot off tingling problems that he blamed on PPI's. Stay in touch Bob

[bradj]

Thanks for the reply, Bob.

I did a search for "Paul" but nothing came up. However, I did some other searches and ran into a few older threads regarding the tingling senations. Most importantly, I read that one should stop the B-12 supplement a few days before having blood work done, so as not to create a false reading. This is so obvious I overlooked it and was about to make an appointment with the doc in order to get some blood work done.

I felt pretty crummy while on the PPI's, and two weeks out I still feel pretty crummy...rebound is subsiding a bit, but I am still weak, having what feels like tension headaches, and the tingling/pins and needles thing. My instinct tells me my blood sugar or electrolytes has gone haywire, even though I have never had trouble with either. I miss the "good old days" when all I had was persistent heartburn!

bradj

[Bob]

You have to search from the main page (heartburn-help.com) search link is on the left. Bob

[bradj]

Thanks again, Bob. I was obviously searching from the wrong homepage.

Interesting how many people report tingling / burning / pins and needle sensations while taking PPI's and are then routed to neurologists by doctors who refuse to accept that such side effects are possible.

Although I will probably have some tests run to eliminate other possibilities, I am feeling a little relieved knowing that others taking PPI's have experienced similar sensations.

It is disheartening to read of so many who are not being well served by their physicians. I can't imagine how someone without the ability to research or communicate with others regarding treatment options copes in such an environment.

bradj

[Bob]

Hi Brad I was saying that to my wife. Think of the elderly who feel worse on a pill. And there DRs say not the pill, so then they just keep taking it. To a alot of elderly people their DRs are next to god. Good Luck Bob

[bradj]

B-12, Thyroid, and CBC came back normal, but apparently I do have elevated blood sugar. While diabetes can cause neuropathy, the doctor said my numbers are too low to suggest that any nerve damage has been done. He did admit that the neuropathy could be an "idiosyncratic" response to the Prilosec.

I am three weeks off Prilosec and the neuropathy symptoms appear to be slowly diminishing...one day this week I was virtually symptom free all day...hopefully those days will become more frequent.

bradj

[Bob]

Hi Brad I love hearing that. That about the same time table I was on. I'm now almost 4 months out, and I have a bad day once and a while, or even better a day half day or 1/4 day ance and a while. although after a couple of months with no stomach trouble I'm starting to get some pain down there. But at least I feel like I'm part of this earth again. Amazing uh. All my doc's said no way, not the pills. What where your symptoms again ? Take care and hang in there. Bob

PS Enjoy and do something fun on those good days, I beleive this helps you have more good days.